Top 10 Most Expensive U.S. Quarters Coins of All Time
Top 10 Most Expensive U.S. Quarters Coins of All Time

Many of the coins in the list below are not likely to be hiding in your attic since they are tremendously rare, but not all of them are super expensive either. Some more recent examples (coins from the 20th century) may be relatively affordable and those are more likely to be tucked away someplace quiet or in a safe deposit box at your parents’ bank.

Yet, before you empty pockets and raid piggy banks for these valuable quarters, here are some quarter-collecting facts:

  • The first quarters were made in 1796 and included Lady Liberty on the front and an eagle on the back.
  • The first time a quarter had 25c marked anywhere on the coin was in 1804. Where it was inscribed on the reverse.
  • In circulation, there are 504-million quarters. In comparison, there are 2.2-billion pennies, 737-million dimes, 379-million nickels, 3.4-million 50-cents, and 2.9-million dollars.
  • Between 1999 and 2008 the U.S. Mint released State quarters. Each quarter included a uniquely designed reverse (making them very collectible).

This collectability has made numismatists (coin collectors) a very popular pass-time. With an estimated 10-million numismatists in the U.S. alone.

Below our top-10 is a section dedicated to finding the most expensive quarters.

What are the Most Expensive U.S. Quarters Coins of All Time and Its Value?

1. 1873-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $627,465

2. 1804 Draped Bust Quarter – $192,750

3. 1796 Draped Bust Quarter - $171,187

4. 1827 Capped Bust Quarter: Original - Curl Base 2 in 25c - $141,112

5. 1823 Capped Bust Quarter: 3 Over 2 - $109,508

6. 1873-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $108,385

7. 1870-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $108,384

8. 1842-O Seated Liberty Quarter: Small Date - $84,493

9. 1822 Capped Bust Quarter: 25 Cent Over 50 Cent - $84,484

10. 1871-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $75,105

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Top 10 Most Expensive U.S. Quarters Coins of All Time

1. 1873-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $627,465

Photo: usacoinbook
Photo: usacoinbook

In 1873, The United States Mint coined well over a million quarters at its Carson City, Nevada, facility. All of these quarters had an arrowhead on each side of the date except five of them. The arrows were added to the design to denote a change in the weight of the coin from 6.22 to 6.25 grams. The romance and allure of owning a coin from Carson City, combined with its extreme rarity, drive the value of this coin to new heights.

2. 1804 Draped Bust Quarter – $192,750

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

The United States Mint first minted quarters in 1796. Quarters were not minted again until 1804 with an extremely small mintage of only 6,738 coins produced. Experts estimate that less than 200 coins of the original mintage exist today and less than five coins remain in original mint state condition. And out of that handful of uncirculated mint state coins, this is the finest example of an 1804 Draped Bust quarter in existence today. If you want to land this "beauty" in your collection, be prepared to pay a king's ransom for it.

3. 1796 Draped Bust Quarter - $171,187

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

The Draped Bust Quarter was designed following guidelines of the Mint Act of 1792. According to Spruce Craft, the production of five silver denominations that included half dimes, quarters, dimes, a half dollar, and silver dollar began in 1796. Experts believe that only about 700 of the trial quarters that were mint exist today. This figure makes the 1796 Draped Bust Quarter a rare commodity. This coin has been preserved and well protected for more than 200 years. It was made with high-quality materials that have made it the most valuable quarter in the United States quarters.

4. 1827 Capped Bust Quarter: Original - Curl Base 2 in 25c - $141,112

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

The 1827 Proof Capped Bust Quarter was minted with an over-date. The mint firm producing these coins in Philadelphia made the 1823 quarters using the original die, which was used to make the 1822 quarter. The die was modified to make 1827 by replacing the numerical 3 with 7. The outstanding mirrored field and the entire frosted cameo devices on these coins’ surfaces make them look flashy with an excellent appeal. This has pushed their values to over three-quarters million dollars.

5. 1823 Capped Bust Quarter: 3 Over 2 - $109,508

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

Here is another unique coin from the early 1800s. This 1823 Proof Capped Bust quarter has a pre-punched date or overdate. During this time, dates were punched into the coin die manually. If the die sinker did not strike the date punch with enough force, he would strike it again. If the punch was not lined up perfectly, an over-date mint variety would result.

It is not clear if an engraver at the United States Mint was trying to correct an error or reuse a coin die from the previous year. Regardless, there was only one Proof quarter made in 1823 and to own this coin will require a large expenditure when it comes to the auction block again.

Finding Quarters Worth Money?

On your quest to find quarters worth money, you could put your focus on finding the most valuable State quarters, valuable quarters after 1965, or the ultra-rare U.S. quarters:

(From 1965, U.S. coins were made from 75-percent copper and 25-percent nickel – with the exception of the Kennedy Half Dollars).

However, when it comes to valuable quarters, the first step in most collectors' journeys is finding a Washington quarter.

6. 1873-CC Liberty Seated Quarter without Arrows- $108,385

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

As the presently offered 1873-CC Without Arrows Liberty Seated dime is a superbly satiny gem and shows no evidence of circulation, it seems likely that it was reserved for inspection by the Assay Commission, which met in Philadelphia on Wednesday, February 11, 1874, to review the prior year's gold and silver production from all the mints. Parcels of coins from the various mints were opened, and random representative pieces were selected by Assay Commission members and were destructively tested in the Mint laboratory for weight and precious metal content.

Only a few coins were actually tested; most were later melted or placed into circulation. Under this scenario, a numismatist-quite possibly a member of the Mint staff or perhaps the Mint Cabinet curator-asked for and received this untested coin for the face value at the time, simply by exchanging another dime for it. The coin was retained at the Mint and kept with care.

Flags, Symbols & Currency Of The United States

7. 1870-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $108,384

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

According to Cointrackers and USA Coinbook, this coin is potentially worth between $103,142 to $150,000 (respectively) in uncirculated mint condition.

A circulated version of this coin is worth around $8,000 to $10,000:

This coin’s circulated value is double that of the most expensive coin on this list.

8. 1842-O Seated Liberty Quarter: Small Date - $84,493

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

The 1870-CC Seated Liberty Quarter was struck in the first year of production at the Carson City Mint. The branch mint had been established in order to produce silver coins from the famous Comstock Lode.

The Carson City Mint struck only 8,340 quarters during its first year of operation. With the region in desperate need of circulating coinage, the issue saw heavy circulation. As a result, the surviving 1870-CC Quarters are found almost exclusively in circulated grades. Many of these examples are impaired by cleaning, damage, or corrosion.

Only a single example of the coin is known in mint state grade. The coin was once part of the Eliasberg Collection and has been graded NGC MS-64. It was last sold at auction for $187,000 in 1997. Since this time, examples graded AU-55 have sold for similar prices, suggesting a much higher current valuation.

9. 1822 Capped Bust Quarter: 25 Cent Over 50 Cent - $84,484

Photo: Youtube
Photo: Youtube

A new die marriage has been attributed for the 1822 Capped Bust quarter dollar, bringing the number of known varieties for the date and denomination to three.

Numismatic Guaranty Corp. authenticated, attributed and graded the coin About Good 3. The variety is cataloged as Browning 3, following the system set forth in Ard W. Browning’s seminal 1925 reference, Early Quarter Dollars of the United States 1796–1838.

The discovery coin was submitted to NGC by its Illinois owner at a show after the collector initially contacted Heritage Auctions. Heritage officials advised that the collector meet with NGC’s director of numismatic research, David W. Lange. Lange examined the coin before acceptance for certification, and it was submitted along with other coins.

10. 1871-CC Seated Liberty Quarter - $75,105

Photo: pcgs
Photo: pcgs

The Carson City branch of the United States Mint opened in 1870 with the purpose of turning the glut of silver on the West Coast into United States coins. During this time, the West was wild and coins from the Carson City mint produced during this period have a certain allure to coin collectors. From an extremely small mintage of only 8,340 coins, experts estimate that only three survive in mint state conditions. Since this coin is one of the finest, it commands such a high price.

According to Cointrackers and USA Coinbook, this coin is potentially worth between $71,473 and $115,000 (respectively) in uncirculated mint condition. A circulated version of this coin is worth around $1,500 to $3,000. Amazingly, this coin has a higher melt value of $4,000.

The Most Valuable Washington Quarters?

Some of the most valuable coins after 1965 include the Washington quarters. This is what you need to know:

  • In 1967 1.5-billion Washington quarters were put into production.
  • They did not include a mint-mark and were made from nickel and copper.
  • They have a diameter of 24.3 mm and a weight of 5.67 grams.
  • A Washington quarter that has signs of circulation (scratches) is worth 25-cents.
  • A mint-highly graded Washington quarter could be worth $4,000 to $8,000 at auction.
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