We think of quarters as basically change in our pockets, in general. But then, of course, there are some very rare quarters-among which are worth as much as you could ever dream of. One specific Bicentennial Quarter recently sold for about $201,000, while the worth of several others exceeds $25,000. We are going to talk about these precious coins and point out seven quarters that change your loose change into money.
Bicentennial
The Bicentennial Quarter for 1976 was issued as a commemoration of two hundred years of independence of the United States. Even though most Bicentennial Quarters have only a couple of pennies in value, one rare type with forty percent silver content sold for a little over two hundred thousand dollars. The magnificent quality, historical importance, and rarity of this quarter are the main things that have catapulted it into an extremely valuable coin. It was created as part of a special mint set for collectors, and with that appreciated in value for its rarity.
1932-S Washington
The real boom for this particular quarter is it was graded by professional grading agencies and was associated with the nation’s bicentennial. A deviation from the compositions of standard copper-nickel, the forty percent silver content adds to the appeal of this product. The money one could get for selling one of these if they are in an excellent condition could totally change your life.
1943 Copper
Then there is the 1932-S Washington Quarter. One of the lowest mintage Washington quarters ever minted because it was produced only at the San Francisco mint and only 408,000 were struck. One minted flawlessly will get you over $25,000. The “S” mint mark makes the coin so exclusive to begin with and now that it is just so hard to find, collectors looking to close out their Washington quarter series are most interested in acquiring it.
1950-D/S Overmintmark
Inside the realm of coin collecting, there is little doubt that the 1943 Copper Quarter is a real oddity. Although quarters were minted in 1943, they were supposed to be made of silver. In fact, a few of them were actually made of copper. This extremely rare fault in minting makes the coins very costly; even a well-maintained copy can fetch over $25,000 on the market. A numismatic gem for collectors, it’s a product of its one-of-a-kind history, as well as the error that occurred in its making.
1964-D Doubled Die Reverse
The 1950-D/S Overmintmark Quarter is another exquisite coin to gaze at. In this coin, a “D” mint mark, standing for the Denver Mint, was overpunched onto a “S” mint mark, which is represented by the San Francisco Mint, and so it is an example of a misprint. Since the error has been made, the coin is very rare and expensive. Of good quality specimens, the value can go as high as over $25,000. What gives the 1964-D Doubled Die Reverse Quarter almost a really obvious characteristic is the easy noticing of the doubling of the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the back. The misalignment that caused the doubling during its minting process gave value to collectors for this doubling, and if it is in pristine condition, the price can go to more than $25,000. Because of its rarity and due to the clear mistake, this has been a number one collector.
1970-S Small Date Lincoln
Another is the 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Quarter. The coin has a difference in lettering style that is slight yet remarkable-for example, the date of this coin is smaller compared to the one in the large-date lettering style usually used for that year-and in and of itself, this small minute detail adds greatly to the value of the coin, especially if it is in mint condition. Because the specimens of this quarter were auctioned for over $25,000, true collectors surely must have it.
1983-P Washington
Finally, the Washington Quarter from 1983-P completes our detailed catalog. Though it’s not as old as some of the other coins that were discussed, it’s exceptionally rare in uncirculated condition. Because the majority of quarters struck in 1983 were well distributed, fine-quality specimens are next to impossible to discover. You may be sitting on a coin worth $25,000 if you inadvertently possess a mint state 1983-P quarter.
Given the scarcity of higher-grade representations of this relatively recently minted coin, it is clear that fairly recently minted coins can indeed cost a pretty penny if they are of good quality.
| Quarter | Key Feature | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Bicentennial Quarter (1976) | 40% silver composition | Nearly $201,000 |
| 1932-S Washington Quarter | Low mintage (408,000 produced) | Over $25,000 |
| 1943 Copper Quarter | Minting error (copper instead of silver) | Over $25,000 |
| 1950-D/S Overmintmark Quarter | “D” mint mark punched over “S” | Over $25,000 |
| 1964-D Doubled Die Reverse Quarter | Doubling on reverse text | Over $25,000 |
| 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Quarter | Small date font variation | Over $25,000 |
| 1983-P Washington Quarter | Rare in uncirculated condition | Over $25,000 |
Closer inspection would reveal that these rare quarters carry so much worth in them. Their face value would be highly low due to the mint error or slight change.
It is certainly worth a good look, however, if you are a coin collector or even just possess an empty jar full of spare change. You never know when one of these precious gems might be hiding in plain sight.
FAQs
How can I sell it?
Contact dealers or auction houses.
Are bicentennial quarters still circulating?
Yes, but mainly collected now.
What defines a rare coin?
Limited mintage or unique characteristics.