The quarter is a U.S. worth $0.25, weighs 5.67 grams, has a 24.26 diameter, and has an edge with 119 reeds.
It has been a staple in American currency since its inception in 1796, undergoing various changes over the years, both in design and composition, making it a fascinating piece of history for coin collectors and enthusiasts alike.
History of Quarters
Quarters were authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, which set up the U.S. Mint and led to the development of all current American currencies.
Production began in 1796 with the first quarter, which was silver and featured a bust of Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. This design remained generally unchanged till 1930 with minor touches like a seated Liberty instead of a standing liberty.
In 1932, Liberty, on the obverse, was replaced with George Washington, a design change that has stuck to date.
Below are all the different types of quarters throughout U.S. history:
- Draped Bust Quarter: 1796 – 1807
- Capped Bust Quarter: 1815 – 1838
- Liberty Seated Quarter: 1838 – 1891
- Barber Quarter: 1892 – 1916
- Standing Liberty Quarter: 1916 – 1930
- Washington Quarter: 1932 – 1998
- Washington 50 States Quarters: 1999 – 2008
- Washington D.C and U.S. Territories Quarters: 2009
- Washington America the Beautiful Quarters: 2010 – 2021
- Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarters: 2021
- American Women Quarters: 2022 – 2025
Composition
The Washington Quarter was originally made of 90% silver and 10% copper, but in 1965, due to a silver shortage, the mint began producing the coin with a cupronickel-clad composition comprising 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. The composition remains unchanged to date.
Value of Quarter Today
The value of the quarters in the collector’s market varies depending on the type and condition. Trends also shift the valuation of these coins, but generally speaking, older coins with richer history and pristine conditions sell for the highest prices. The value goes even higher if they feature rare mint errors and unique variations.
The most valuable quarters with the highest recorded sales are the 1873-CC Seated Liberty Quarter worth $500,000 or more, the 1823 Capped Bust Quarter (3 Over 2) variety worth more than $400,000, and the 1871-CC Seated Liberty Quarter worth more than $300,000.
Coins from the 1800s are generally more valuable in their raw form. Coins from the 1900s are valuable if they feature one-of-a-kind misprints and errors like the $30,000 1918-S Standing Liberty Quarter (8 Over 7) and $35,000 1970-S Proof Quarter (Over 1941 Canadian Quarter).
Newer coins from the 2000s are generally worth their face value or a few hundred dollars if they have errors.
Knowing the real value of a quarter with all these varying attributes can be quite confusing. To make the valuation process easier, we have curated a collection of in-depth resources to help you pinpoint the true value of each type of quarter.
