Collecting coins can bring you a lot of good things in return. First is the feeling of accomplishment that many collectors feel when they finally acquire the coin they sought after for so long.
The second one is happiness since many numismatists truly enjoy the thrill of seeking the golden grail among the coins. The third benefit is the financial gain if you decide to sell them or trade them.
One of the very popular group of coins among coin enthusiasts is the Washington quarters. This article will answer the most burning question – does Washington quarters worth money? Read on and see if you can learn something you already don’t know.
Brief History Of Washington Quarters
The very first Washington quarter was minted in 1932 to symbolically commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. However, the public liked this coin so much that congress chose to permanently replace the Standing Liberty quarter with Washington’s quarter.
The original Washington quarter design was in the use from 1932 and discontinued in 1998. The coin features the portrait of George Washington facing left, with “Liberty” written above the head, and the date below. Around the left side of the coin, you can see “In God We Trust”. The back side of the coin depicted an eagle with wings outspread on a bundle of arrows.
The original design contained 6.25 grams of 90% silver until 1964. After that, the metal composition changed to 75% copper and 25% nickel. This is what they called a clad coin. It features a copper-nickel sandwich technique which you can see on every regular coin in your pocket.
Most clad coins are worth only as the face value states, however, there are some rare valuable Washington quarters made with clad technique.
Ultimate List Of The Most Valuable Washington Quarters
| Name | Mintage | Metal composition | Diameter and weight | Varieties | Year | Estimated value for uncirculated coins |
| (2000)-P Sacagawea Dollar — Muled With Statehood Washington Quarter Obverse — MS66 PCGS | N/A | 88.5% copper
6% zink 3.5% manganese 2% nickel |
26.5 mm
8.1 grams |
Yes | 2000 | $192,000 |
| 1932-D Washington Quarters | 436,800 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1932 | $89,125 |
| 1949-D Washington Quarters 25C PCGS MS68 CAC | 10,068,400 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1949 | $43,475 |
| 1948-P Washington Quarter. MS-68+ (PCGS). CAC. | 35,196,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1948 | $43,200 |
| 1932-S | 408,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1932 | $43,200 |
| 1964-D Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS). CAC. | 704,135,528 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1964 | $38,400 |
| 1947-P Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS). CAC. | 22,556,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1947 | $32,400 |
| 1950-D Washington Quarters | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.3 grams |
Yes | 1950 | $31,200 |
| 1950-S Washington Quarters | 10,284,004 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.3 grams |
Yes | 1950 | $29,375 |
| 1941-S Washington Quarters 25c PCGS MS68 | 16,080,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1941 | $28,750 |
| 1962 Washington Quarters 25C MS67+ PCGS Gold Shield | 39,374,019 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1962 | $26,400 |
| 1961-D Washington Quarter. MS-67+ (PCGS). CAC. | 83,656,928 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1961 | $24,000 |
| 1963-D Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS). | 135,288,184 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1963 | $24,000 |
| 1948-S | 15,960,000 | 90% silver
20% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1948 | $23,500 |
| 1943 | 99,700,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1943 | $23,000 |
| 1937-P Washington Quarter 25c PCGS/CAC MS66 (Doubled Die Obverse) | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1937 | $22,250 |
| 1943-P Washington Quarters | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1943 | $22,250 |
| 1934-D Washington Quarters 25C Medium Motto MS67 PCGS. | 3,527,200 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1934 | $21,850 |
| 1952-D Washington Quarters 25C PCGS MS67+ CAC | 49,795,200 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1952 | $21,150 |
| 1941-D Washington Quarters, | 16,714,800 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1941 | $20,700 |
| 1945-D Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS). | 12,341,600 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1945 | $20,400 |
| 1976-S Washington Quarter, | 11,000,000 | 40% silver
60% copper |
24.3 mm
5.75 grams |
Yes | 1976 | $19,200 |
| 1943-S Washington Quarters Doubled Die Obverse | N/A | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1943 | $18,800 |
| 1962-D Washington Quarters 25C MS67 PCGS | 127,554,756 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1962 | $18,400 |
| 1951-D Washington Quarter 25C PCGS MS68 | 35,354,800 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1951 | $17,750 |
| 1949-P Washington Quarters | 9,312,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1949 | $17,625 |
| 1940-D Washington Quarters, | 2,797,600 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.26 grams |
Yes | 1940 | $17,500 |
| 1954-P Washington Quarters, | 54,645,503 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1954 | $17,250 |
| 1937-S Washington Quarter. MS-67+ (PCGS). CAC | 1,652,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.26 grams |
Yes | 1937 | $16,800 |
| 1942-D Washington Quarters, | 17,487,200 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1942 | $16,800 |
| 1944-D Washington Quarters, | 14,600,800 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1944 | $16,800 |
| 1983-P Washington Quarter Overstruck on an Amusement Token 25C MS65 NGC | 673,535,000 | 91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 24.3 mm
5.67 grams |
Yes | 1983 | $15,862 |
| 1953-P Washington Quarter, | 18,664,920 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
2.65 grams |
Yes | 1953 | $15,600 |
| 1946-S Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS). CAC. | 4,204,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1946 | $14,950 |
| 1951-S Washington Quarter 25c MS68 | 9,048,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1951 | $14,950 |
| 1938-P | 9,480,045 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1938 | $14,400 |
| 1939-D Washington Quarter. MS-68 (PCGS) | 7,092,000 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1939 | $14,400 |
| 1955-D Washington Quarters, | 3,182,400 | 90% silver
10% copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
Yes | 1955 | $14,100 |
| 1966-P Washington Quarters | 821,010,500 | 91.67% copper 8.33% nickel | 24.3 mm
5.67 grams |
Yes | 1966 | $11,750 |
Which Material Composition Worth The Most?
Not all quarters are made from the same material composition. For example, your regular pocket change is made from a combination of copper, nickel, and a small amount of silver. These coins don’t worth more than their face value.
What is very important for coin collectors who hunt Washington Quarters is their material composition. All Washington Quarters into their various can be sorted into three different groups by composition:
- Silver composition 1932-1964;
- Clad composition 1965-1998;
- Bicentennial design 1976.
Silver composition
All Washington quarters minted before 1965 were made from at least 90% silver in composition, and the rest was copper. Nowadays these coins are worth more than all other Washington quarters. The final series of these coins were released in 1964 due to the shortage of silver.
This forced the U.S. Mint to change coin policy, and make changes in design. The values of Washington Quarter that is made before 1965 vary depending on the date, condition, and current price of silver.
Clad composition
A clad composition features multiple types of metal. Most U.S. clad coins sport a core made of pure copper, surrounded by layers of a nickel-copper alloy that gives coins the silver-like finish like U.S. Quarter and Half Dollar have.
On the other hand, Presidential Dollars, which have a gold-like finish, are also clad in composition. Their core is made from copper, but the outer layers are made from an alloy of zinc, nickel, manganese, and copper mix. This composition was in use from 1965 until 1998.
Bicentennial design
Bicentennial design is specifically made for the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birthday. This type of coin is made of 40% silver and 60% copper. These coins were released in circulation, in fact, almost 1.6 billion coins were in use. You can come across one even today.
The uncirculated coins are very sought-after among coin collectors and they are pretty rare nowadays.
How To Identify A Rare And Valuable Washington Quarter?
If you want to know how to check if your silver quarter is a real thing there are three simple steps you need to make.
- Check for the date and mint mark – Dates hold the key to identifying a real value. Only three mints were hired to produce these coins. Check for the S, D, or P marks. In case the coin does not have these marking your coin probably does not worth more than its face value. Keep in mind that Denver and Philadelphia didn’t mint coins in 1933. Also, the S mint mark is placed on the back side of the coin just below the olive branch. On the other hand, the D and P mint marks are placed just right above the ER.
- Condition – The condition of the coin has a large impact on the value and the final price. A circulated coin in a good condition can fetch you a nice amount of money. But if you have an uncirculated coin in a protective case in a fresh-out-of-mint state then you hit the jackpot. You can watch this video and see how to do it properly.
- Look for special qualities – All you need to do is a little bit of research and see which Washington Quarters are rare and specific. Make sure you separate the sought-after pieces that are crafted before 1965 and take them to professional grading.
Where Can I Found Rare Washington Quarters?
If you want to invest in Washington Quarters, or you have some for selling the best thing you can do is visit some reputable local coin dealers. They will help you with the process of buying/trading/selling and make sure there are no complications involved at all.
However, if you want to do some research on your own you can visit the following web pages:
In case you want to look for some advice or more information you can always join the discussion on the Coin Community forum.
FAQ
Which Washington Quarters are the most sought-after?
Most Washington Quarters that are made before 1965 will get you a nice amount of money, mainly if they are in uncirculated condition, or very good circulated condition. However, the following Washington quarters, no matter the condition, will bring you a lot of money.
- 1932-D
- 1932-S
- 1934 Light Motto
- 1934 Heavy Motto
- 1934 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)
- 1942-D Doubled Die Obverse
- Doubled Die Obverse
- 1950-D D over S RPM
- 1950-S S over D RPM
The last two specimens with the extremely rare error are very hard to find, so in case you think you have one visit some coin specialist to make sure your coin is real.
What errors should I look after on Washington Quarters?
Not all coins come out of the minting factory in perfect condition. Some end up with some rare errors that make them very valuable. Here are some errors you should look for.
The rarest error on Washington coins is the lack of the collar. This happens when the hot metal oozes out and the end result is a misshapen rim also known as a “broad struck”.
The next error is overstruck, the example is Washington Quarter from 1983. Luckily, the coin is still pretty clear and readable which is why it’s so valuable.
The third very wanted error is “mule”. Mules are formed when a dye that was never intended for use on a specific coin ends up there. In most cases, they form small dots on the rim of the coins.
Do Washington Quarters that are minted after 1964 worth anything?
The answer is yes, but not as much as the coins minted before this date. The main difference between these two types of coins is their composition. The more metal combinations the coin has the less value it has.
Coins that are almost pure in gold or silver or platinum will always earn higher grades and prices.
In The End, Does Washington Quarters Worth Money?
The only answer I can give you is – depends. As you noticed through the article I mentioned a few times that there are over 1.6 billion Washington Quarters and the majority of them only have face value.
But, there are a particular amount of very rare and valuable coins that can earn you a fortune. To be able to earn that money you will need to know the key dates, rarities, and varieties that make a big difference in the price. Take for instance the overstruck 1983 Washington Quarter, this coin without an error has a 25-cent value, but with the error, its value jumps above $15,000.
If you are interested in this specific group of coins make sure you study the pictures and read all descriptions carefully to not miss out on a real deal. In case you are a specialist in this field, please share some valuable knowledge with us in the comments section.
Also Read:
- 1974 Washington Quarter Value Chart: Learn To Approximate How Much These Coins Are Worth
- 1982 Washington Quarter Value Chart in 2023 (Most Valuable in History Auctioned for $10,200)
- 5 Most Valuable Quarters After 1965 (Between $5000 And $10,000)
- Ultimate List Of Most Valuable State Quarters (Cost Upto $17,250)
