VaultMint Guides
Rare Quarters Worth Money: Mint Marks & Errors to Look For
Most quarters in circulation are face-value, but a handful of dates, mint marks, and minting errors can be worth hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. This guide walks through the rare quarters collectors actively search for — what to look for, why it's valuable, and what a clean example typically sells for.
How to spot a valuable quarter
- Check the date and mint mark. Mint marks (D, S, P) sit under the wreath on pre-1999 quarters and to the right of Washington's ponytail on post-1999 quarters.
- Look for doubling. Doubled die varieties show extra outlines on lettering — especially "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST".
- Weigh suspected silver coins. 90% silver quarters weigh ~6.25g; clad quarters weigh ~5.67g.
- Use a 10× loupe. Many errors (extra leaves, repunched mint marks) are too small to see without magnification.
Key rare quarters and current values
1932-D Washington Quarter
$140 – $12,000+Lowest mintage of the Washington series (436,800). Look for the small 'D' mint mark below the wreath on the reverse.
1932-S Washington Quarter
$130 – $5,500+Second-lowest mintage (408,000). 'S' mint mark on reverse. Authentication strongly recommended — frequently counterfeited.
1937 Doubled Die Obverse
$75 – $3,000+Strong doubling visible on 'LIBERTY' and the motto. Premium values for higher Mint State grades.
1950-D / S Over D
$30 – $900+A repunched mint mark error: a 'D' was punched over an 'S'. Look closely at the mint mark with a loupe.
1965 Silver Transitional Quarter
$5,000 – $10,000+Mistakenly struck on a leftover 90% silver planchet after the switch to clad. Weighs ~6.25g instead of 5.67g.
1970-S Proof Quarter Struck on 1941 Canadian Quarter
$25,000 – $35,000+One of the most famous U.S. mint errors. Reverse shows traces of the underlying Canadian design.
1983-P Washington Quarter (High Grade)
$25 – $1,800+Few high-grade examples were saved because no Mint Sets were issued in 1983. Premium prices in MS65+.
2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf (High / Low)
$75 – $1,500+Die gouge created an apparent extra corn leaf on the reverse. Two variants exist: 'High Leaf' and 'Low Leaf'.
2005-P Minnesota Doubled Die (Extra Tree)
$15 – $300+Multiple doubled-die varieties produce extra evergreen trees on the reverse landscape.
1976 Bicentennial Quarter (Silver, No Mint Mark Errors)
$5 – $19,000 (rare errors)Most are common, but 40% silver Proof issues and rare doubled-die or off-metal errors command big premiums.
Get yours valued
Think you have one of these? Run a quick AI valuation by photo or description, or book an in-person appraisal for high-value pieces.