In the hobby of collecting coins, the coins that are in really good condition usually sell for the most money. However, there are some coins that are worth more than their original value, even if they have been touched and spent. Let’s explore some of these valuable coins!
We will look at some of the most expensive quarters people use. We will show you how to find them and why collectors find them special.
If you want to learn more, come this way!
How Are Quarters Valued?
Before we talk about different quarters and you check your extra coins, it’s important to know how coin values are decided and why some quarters are worth more than others.
When collecting coins, sellers usually consider many things when deciding on prices for coins, such as:
Mintage
Coins are usually valuable based on how many there are and how difficult they are to find. The number of coins made at first, called the mintage, is important. Proof coins, which are special early versions, are worth more because there aren’t many of them.
Surviving Population
No matter how many coins were made at first, a lot of them get lost or damaged once they start being used. Some get melted down for metal or just disappear. So, the number of coins left from the original batch affects how much they’re worth. If a coin is rare, collectors will pay more for it.
Demand
Many things affect how much people want to buy coins. For example, they might have a cool design that is no longer made, a special mark from a certain branch of the United States Mint, or a mistake made by the mint. The more people want a coin, the more valuable it becomes and it could be one of the most popular coins to collect right now.
Melt Value
Another thing that affects how much a coin is worth is its melt value. This mainly applies to coins made of gold or silver. When the value of precious metals goes up or down, a coin made of those metals might be worth more than its original value. This means that old silver quarters, made before the U.S. stopped using silver in coins, are worth a lot more than newer quarters made of copper and nickel.
Condition
Of course, how good the coin looks is important for its value in coin collecting. Most valuable coins are in perfect condition, not used. Coins in great condition are always worth more than ones in okay condition.
Expensive Quarters To Look For
1. 2019-W And 2020-W Washington Quarters
The Washington quarter coin was made from 1932 to 1964. It is named after George Washington, the president, whose picture is on the front.
Nowadays, the Mint sells special coins in different denominations to collectors. These coins are made in large numbers. Regular coins for everyday use are also made in large quantities and usually aren’t worth more than their stated value.
But in 2019, the Mint decided to do something different with some quarters. Two million were made at the West Point mint facility in five different designs. Instead of being available to order, they were put into circulation with coins from other places.
The way things were done in 2020 kept going, but then it stopped. No quarters with the W mark have been made since.
Currently, the PCGS doesn’t say how much these coins are worth if they’ve been used. But because there weren’t many made and the West Point mint only made them for a short time, they might be valuable to collectors later on.
2. 1932-D Washington Quarter
The 1932 Washington quarter was the first one made. It was produced in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Not many were made in Denver and San Francisco. Only 436,800 were made in Denver, and 408,000 in San Francisco.
You can tell a Denver quarter apart from others by looking for the letter “D” on the back of the coin near the word “QUARTER.” There are only about 44,000 Denver quarters from 1921 that are still around today.
Coins are given a score from 1 to 70 based on their condition. A coin with a grade of 1 is very worn and only has enough detail to show its year and value. A coin with a grade of 70 is perfect. Coins with grades between 60 and 70 are in mint condition.
The most valuable coins are the ones that have never been used, like mint state coins. If you come across a 1932 Denver quarter in your spare change, it’s still worth a lot more than 25 cents.
The value of a 1932 Denver quarter can vary depending on its condition. A 1932 Denver quarter graded 2 is worth $70 according to the PCGS. If the coin is graded 6, its value goes up to $100. A coin graded 30 is worth $180.
Surprisingly, coins in really bad shape can be worth more. The PCGS says a 1932 Denver quarter graded 1 is valued at $225.
If you find a coin in really good condition, it’s worth a lot more. These coins look almost new and shiny, like they were never used. They are graded as 55 on the PCGS scale and are worth $525.
3. 1984-P Clad Type 2 Washington Quarter Business Strike
In 1924 and again in 1930, Congress made committees to plan for the Washington Bicentennial. This event celebrated 200 years since George Washington was born. He was a Founding Father and the first U.S. President. People wanted a special coin to remember the occasion.
But back then, coins made for celebrations were too expensive for the government. President Herbert Hoover said no to the idea. Instead, they decided to make a coin that could be used every day. They originally wanted a Half Dollar, but they settled on a Quarter for just one year.
4. 1963-D Silver Washington Quarter Regular Strike
The mint and group had a competition to make a coin, and Laura Gardin Fraser won. Her husband, James Earle Fraser, who was also a well-known sculptor, was her former art teacher. He designed the Buffalo Nickel.
Laura was well-known for her sculptures. She made the Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar in 1926 and worked with her husband on other coins. However, her design for a Washington sculpture was not chosen for the coin.
5. 1999-S Delaware Proof Deep Cameo Washington Quarter
Instead, Andrew W. Mellon, who was in charge of the Treasury, chose a design by John Flanagan. This design was used on the Washington Quarter until 2021. In 2022, the American Women Quarters were introduced with Laura Gardin Fraser’s design on the 25-cent coin.
In the middle, Flanagan’s design was changed by William Cousins to make room for other things on the coin. Most quarters have Flanagan’s initials on the front, but coins from 2022 onwards have different initials. Coins from 1999 to 2021 have both sets of initials. The backs of the coins are different.
6. 2004-D Wisconsin 50 States Quarter, Extra Leaf, High
As you might expect, the 2004 Denver quarter with the extra leaf is worth more because it is rare. But exactly how much more is it worth?
The difference is not very big. The coin will be worth more if it is in better quality and condition.
If you see a coin with an extra leaf facing up, it might be worth about $45 if it’s graded 30. Coins graded 30 are called “very fine” and show wear all over, with some details starting to flatten.
Coins with a grade of 45 are still considered “very fine.” They have wear on the high points of the design, and some of the coin’s shine may still be seen. This makes the coin worth about $30 more.
For a coin graded as “about uncirculated” at 55, the value goes up to about $105.
7. 1934 Washington Quarter, Double Die Obverse
A “double die obverse” is a mistake that happens when the coin-making tool is struck more than once to get all the details right. If the tool moves between strikes, you end up with a double image on the coin.
The two images are copied onto every coin made with the stamp. If there’s a mistake on the stamp with the front image, it’s called a “double die obverse” or DDO.
Some Washington quarters made in Philadelphia in 1934 have the most noticeable doubling of any in the series. It can be seen most clearly in the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and also in “LIBERTY.”
Even if it’s not in great shape, this rare coin can still be valuable. The PCGS says an example in decent condition is worth $45, and that value goes up to $90 for a coin in really good condition.
A very good coin graded 45 is worth about $235, while a slightly better one graded 55 is worth about $440.
8. 1943 Washington Quarter, Double Die Obverse
The 1934 Washington quarter made in Philadelphia has the most noticeable doubling, but it’s not the rarest. That title goes to the quarter made at the same mint nine years later.
The 1943 Washington quarter made in Philadelphia had around 100 million coins. But there are only a few with the double die mistake, making them worth a lot more than their regular value, no matter how good or bad they look.
The doubling is easy to see without a microscope or magnifying glass. Check the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIB” in “LIBERTY” and the date.
The PCGS gives a value for coins graded as low as 3. These coins are usually worth around $135. Prices range from $1,050 for a coin graded “fine” 15 to $3,000 for an “extremely fine” coin graded 45.
And if your coin is almost in perfect condition, it will be worth a lot of money. A 1943 Washington quarter with a double die front and rated as being in slightly used condition is valued at $8,500.
9. 2022-P Maya Angelou Washington Quarter Regular Strike
So, why did these modern coins need to look different? In the past, coins were made of gold or silver. But because the prices of these metals changed a lot, it was more affordable to use other metals. This is important because money serves two purposes in an economy.
First, it gives a reliable and regular trading tool. Second, it brings in money for governments through seignorage. Seignorage is the extra money made from making coins or notes that cost less to produce than their value, acting like a tax for the mint. More seignorage means more profit.
10. 1964-D Silver Washington Quarter Regular Strike
As economies grew, coins became less important because they couldn’t buy as much. But the U.S. government still wanted to make money from making coins, so they came up with ways to get people to use and collect new coins. The State Quarters were the first example.
This asked Americans to gather at least 50 new coins, which made the government a lot of money. National Parks and Monuments included another 56 coins, plus 6 from D.C. and Territories. And for those who care about social issues, American Women coins added 20 more.
We hope you liked our list of the most expensive quarters in circulation! These coins show that collectors like more than just new coins.
Important dates and coins with mistakes can be worth a lot more than they seem. Get a magnifying glass or microscope and check for double images on the front of coins, or mintmarks that have been stamped over.
Thanks for reading. I hope you find it interesting.
Read More: What Do You Know About Quarter Coin?
