Washington Quarter Values

How Much Washington Quarters are Worth: Washington Quarter​​ Values & Coin Price Chart

Year
Mint
Variety
Designation
VG-8
F-12
VF-20
EF-40
AU-50
U-60
MS-63
MS-64
MS-65
MS-66
MS-67
1800
P
Plain 4- Stemless Wreath
Red-brown
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1200
1100

History of the Washington Quarter 

The quarter has been a widely used denomination in American commerce since the earliest days of U.S. coinage. Authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792 and first struck in 1796, the denomination quickly became an important part of the nation’s monetary system. Over the centuries, the quarter’s design has changed several times, but few designs have been more enduring than the Washington Quarter, first issued in 1932. 

The Washington type began as a planned one-year commemorative honoring the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The original concept was actually for a half dollar, and a design by Laura Gardin Fraser, based on the well-known bust of Washington by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, was chosen by the Bicentennial Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts. However, Congress ultimately passed legislation for the Washington Quarter instead, and the Treasury Department held a new design competition. 

Sculptor John Flanagan won that contest. Like Fraser, he used Houdon’s bust as the model for Washington’s portrait. His obverse shows a right-facing profile of George Washington with the word LIBERTY above and the date below. The reverse features a heraldic eagle with wings spread, perched on a bundle of arrows with olive branches below, symbolizing both strength and peace. 

This design was introduced in 1932 and, aside from a special Bicentennial reverse used in 1975 and 1976, remained essentially unchanged on the reverse through 1998. In 1999, the 50 State Quarters Program began, bringing five rotating reverse designs per year, each celebrating a different state. That program was followed by the 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories issues, and then the America the Beautiful Quarters Program from 2010 through 2021, which honored national parks and other sites of historical or natural significance. 

The obverse portrait of Washington has seen minor adjustments over the decades, including subtle changes in relief, spacing, and details, but it is one of the longest-running obverse designs in American coinage, second only to the Lincoln cent. 

Composition has also changed. From 1932 through 1964, Washington quarters were struck in 90% silver. As silver prices rose and the public began hoarding silver coins in the early 1960s, the government moved to base-metal coinage. Beginning in 1965, circulation quarters were made of a copper-nickel clad composition, though special 40 percent and later 90 percent silver issues were produced for collectors in select years. 

Rarest Coins in the Series 

Within the long-running series, certain dates and mintmarks stand out as notable rarities. The most famous are the 1932-D and 1932-S quarters. Both had relatively low mintages compared to other Washington issues. In higher grades, they are scarce and are highly sought after by specialists. 

Other notable semi-keys include issues where strike quality, mintages, or survival rates were lower than average. For collectors focusing on silver Washington quarters from 1932 to 1964, the early 1930s issues are generally tougher, especially in uncirculated condition. Proof-only varieties, special mint set issues, and modern errors, such as doubled dies or mintmark varieties, can also carry significant premiums.  

While most post-1964 pieces are common, there are a few standouts. Special proofs, low mintage silver collector issues, and dramatic errors can command high premiums relative to face value. Understanding these key and semi-key issues is central to evaluating Washington Quarter value within any collection. 

Types of Collections 

Because of the series’ length and variety, collectors can approach Washington quarters in many different ways: 

  • Complete Date and Mint Set (1932 to present): A traditional challenge that includes all regular issues from all mints, with 1932 D and 1932 S as the major obstacles. 
  • Silver Washington Quarters (1932 to 1964): Focused on the pre-clad era, this approach is popular with both silver investors and numismatists. 
  • Short Sets: For example, 1941 to 1964 or 1950 to 1964, which are more affordable and easier to complete in higher grades. 
  • Type Set: One representative example of each major design subtype, such as the classic eagle reverse, Bicentennial reverse, State quarters, Territories, and America the Beautiful issues. 
  • Commemorative Programs: Complete runs of 50 State Quarters, District of Columbia and U.S. Territories, or America the Beautiful, often saved from circulation or purchased in mint rolls and sets. 
  • High Grade or Registry Sets: Collectors work to assemble the highest-graded sets certified by third-party grading services, focusing on superb gem coins. 

Each approach offers a different balance of history, appearance, difficulty, and cost. 

Beginner vs. Advanced Collecting 

Beginner Collecting 

For new collectors, Washington quarters are a practical starting point. The coins are familiar, widely available, and modestly priced in most dates and grades. Beginners might start by: 

  • Searching change: Looking through pocket change or bank rolls to pull out interesting designs, especially State and America the Beautiful quarters. 
  • Building a modern set: Completing a set of State quarters or America the Beautiful quarters using basic album pages or folders. 
  • Adding a few silver examples: Purchasing common-date 1960s silver Washington quarters to see and feel the difference in weight and appearance compared to modern clad pieces. 
  • Learning grading basics: Using Washington quarters as a hands-on tool to learn how wear appears on high points of the design, which helps show how condition affects Washington Quarter value. 

At this level, the emphasis is on learning, enjoyment, and affordability. Most coins will be circulated, and purchases can be made at low cost from local shops, online dealers, or even spare change. 

Advanced Collecting 

Experienced collectors often pursue Washington quarters with more specialized goals: 

  • Full silver sets in high grade: These collectors search for coins often certified by grading services to build a premium set. 
  • Notable date and variety hunting: Focusing on 1932 D and 1932 S, as well as recognized doubled dies, repunched mintmarks, and other varieties that require careful study and magnification to attribute. 
  • Registry competition: Submitting coins for grading and assembling registry sets, where each coin grade contributes to an overall set ranking. 
  • Proof and special issues: Collecting proof sets from the U.S. Mint, including silver proofs, as well as limited mintage numismatic releases. 

Advanced collecting demands a deeper understanding of strike quality, toning, surface preservation, and market trends. These collectors pay close attention to population reports and recent auction results to refine their understanding of Washington Quarter value for each specific date, mint, and grade. 

Investment Potential 

From an investment standpoint, Washington quarters bridge the worlds of bullion and numismatics. Silver Washington quarters from 1932 to 1964 have an intrinsic value based on their 90 percent silver content. These coins are commonly traded in bulk as junk silver, tied closely to the spot price of silver. For investors looking for exposure to physical precious metals in a familiar form, bulk silver quarters are a convenient option. 

Numismatically, key dates and condition rarities offer additional potential beyond metal value. Coins like the 1932-D and 1932-S, especially in uncirculated or choice uncirculated grades, have historically appreciated as collector demand grows and high-quality survivors become harder to locate. Certified high-grade examples of common dates can also carry significant premiums, especially when they are among the finest known. 

Modern clad quarters, while generally not valuable individually, can become collectible in special forms such as error coins, limited-mintage silver proof issues, or coins with strong third-party grades. Complete sets of popular programs like the 50 State Quarters can retain long-term appeal due to their nostalgic and historical themes. 

As with any numismatic investment, success depends on knowledge. Understanding rarity, grading, and market cycles, buying quality examples, and working with reputable dealers or auction houses are all important. For collectors who combine an interest in history with careful research, Washington quarters offer a broad field where they can pursue both enjoyment and long-term potential. oin