How Much Are Silver Quarters Worth?

Written by Joshua on September 28, 2008 | Comments (2)

The category of "silver quarters" is quite broad and, thus, includes a number of different designs, dates of production, and values.

In fact, until 1965, all quarters produced in the United States contained silver. In 1965, the U.S. Mint was forced to switch quarter compositions over to copper-nickel clad as silver prices were rising very quickly; the value of the silver in the quarter was actually worth more than the face value of the coin.

Furthermore, people all across the country were pulling silver coins out of circulation, creating a national coin shortage.

Where To Find Silver Quarters

While the U.S. Mint has stopped producing silver quarters for circulation, the Mint does still strike silver quarters for collectors. In fact, the U.S. Mint's online catalog shows that the 2008 50 State Quarters are being offered in a 90% silver format, as have all issues of the 50 state quarters program.

Furthermore, the U.S. Mint has been offering silver Washington quarters for collectors since 1992. Silver Washington quarters of the recent era (minted since 1992) are proofs, and are found in special collector's sets that the U.S. Mint assembles and sells annually.

In 1975 and 1976, the U.S. Mint struck collector's Bicentennial quarters with a 40% silver composition.

How Much Are Silver Quarters Worth?

Well, that depends on which silver quarter we are talking about.

Generally speaking, common silver quarters of the 20th century in well-worn grades are worth between $5 and $10. Certain scarce dates are valued much higher than that.

Here are a few of the rarest dates of 20th century silver quarters and their values:

1901-S Barber Quarter: $6,200 in Good, $17,500 in Fine, $37,500 in Mint-State 60
1913-S Barber Quarter: $1,650 in Good, $4,300 in Fine, $15,000 in Mint-State 60
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter: $3,900 in Good, $8,750 in Fine, $16,500 in Mint-State 60
1918/7-S Standing Liberty Quarter (Overdate) $1,900 in Good, $4,000 in Fine, $20,000 in Mint-State 60
1923-S Standing Liberty Quarter $390 in Good, $700 in Fine, $3,000 in Mint-State 60
1932-D Washington Quarter $190 in Good, $260 in Fine, $1,600 in Mint-State 60
1932-S Washington Quarter $210 in Good, $250 in Fine, $585 in Mint-State 60
1934 Washington Quarter Doubled-Die Obverse $60 in Good, $135 in Fine, $950 in Mint-State 60
1937 Washington Quarter Doubled-Die Obverse $130 in Good, $325 in Fine, $2,650 in Mint-State 60

With the exception of 1999-S silver proof 50 state quarters, which are worth around $40 to $50 each, all proof silver quarters minted since 1992 are worth, on average, between $5 and $8 apiece.

For More Information

To find out more about the prices of silver quarters, check out the Professional Coin Grading Service's price guide

I would also encourage you to browse through a current copy of A Guide Book of United States Coins by R.S. Yeoman and Kenneth Bressett (Whitman Publications) to learn more about silver quarters, grading silver quarters, and to find out more about their values.

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