Expert: Joe Hylas - 5/6/2011

Question
Hi Joe,

I buy junk silver from Apmex. They have rolls of Statehood quarters they are selling as having 90% silver. When I offered to sell them mine, the buyer told me mine don't have any silver because they are circulated coins. I asked how they knew the difference, and I was told because they get theirs from the mint. If this is the case, the coins must have some distinguishing mark so one can tell a 90% silver quarter from one that doesn't, one would think.

Were any statehood quarters made with 90% silver? Do they have a special mark? If not, how can one tell a 90% coin from one without silver?

Thanks,
Chuck

Answer
Statehood Quarters from the San Francisco mint were struck in both copper nickel, and silver.  They would be proof coins.

If you search for PROOF SILVER Statehood Quarters, this will be confirmed.  Chances are that they have broken open the proof sets to get the silver quarters which makes sense with silver at these levels.

I hope this helped.

Regards
Joe Hylas
www.AllCoins.US