how can you tell if there is silver in the coin, i know they stopped making them in 1964 but was there any made in 1965 accendentaly
Weight is the most accurate method. The .900 silver quarters minted from 1932-64 weighed 6.25g. The standard clad quarters from 1965-present weigh 5.67g. I've never heard of any 1965 silver quarters being found. However in 1975-76 the bicentennial quarters with the dual dates 1776-1976 came in a standard clad composition, and in a silver clad version weighing 5.75g. Also, since 1992 there have been silver proof quarters minted (at San Francisco only) with the pre-1965 weight of 6.25g. There are also definite differences in the "ring" sound of silver, clad, and silver clad coins when dropped on a hard surface, but you have to listen to a lot of known coins being dropped and have pretty good ears to base decisions on the sound. Silver tranishes differently than copper-nickle, so the so-called "toning" of silver and clad coins is also different, but in these days of deliberate tarnishing - oooops "toning" - that too is a difficult read.
Well, I know this isn't what you mean, but there were a lot of silver quarters made in 1965 -- it's just that they are dated 1964. It wasn't until rather late in the year that they started making 1965-dated clad coinage.
There are known examples of the 65 date in silver. First thing to check is the edge of the coin. No copper core, then move onto weight.
Silver coins dated 1964 were produced until March 1966, at the same time as the clad coins for those years. This was the governments attempt to convince the public that the silver coins were not being hoarded. Its is reasonale to assume the a few silver planchets may have slipped under the '65 &'66 dies. There may be a few clad '64s out there also.
Try the tissue test. Now this may sound crazy - but trust me it works Take a coin you know is clad - lay your quarter down next to it. Place an ordinary white tissue over both coins. Look at them. The clad coin will have a greyish cast and the silver coin - if it is silver - will appear to be whiter. It's just that simple
