Maybe you already know this, but I will tell you anyway. Before 1965, US quarters were made of 90 percent silver. That means that due to the silver alone it would be worth about $3.50 (depending on silver prices). After 1964, the quarter is just made of nickel and copper and worth just 25 cents.

The US dime was also changed from 90 percent silver in 1964 to nickel and copper. So, older dimes are worth more than 10 cents.

Maybe it doesn’t matter, but the US penny is currently made of mostly zinc. Pennies made before 1983 are mostly copper.

The US nickel is currently made of copper and nickel. The only recent ones of value are the War Nickels (from 1942-1945). These nickels contain copper and silver instead of nickel and copper. These partial silver nickels were made without nickel because that material was important in the creation of steel (which was used during the war).