The history of U.S. quarters goes back to April 2, 1792, when the Mint Act was passed, leading to the creation of several silver coins, including the quarter. Quarters, along with other denominations like half dollars and dimes, became part of America’s monetary system. Although first minted in 1796, quarters saw a gap in production until 1804 due to low demand.
Over time, the U.S. quarter has seen several design changes, making certain versions rare and highly valuable today. Collectors are particularly interested in coins that are not only old but also in excellent condition. If you happen to own one of these rare quarters, it could be worth a small fortune.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these quarters that are worth a lot of money and the history behind them.
The Evolution of the U.S. Quarter
Since its creation, there have been seven basic designs of the U.S. quarter, many of which are recognized by the images on the front of the coin. One exception to this is the Barber quarter, which was named after its designer, Charles Barber.
A key moment in the quarter’s history came in 1932 when a commemorative quarter was released to mark George Washington’s 200th birthday. This design became so popular that it continues to be used on modern quarters today.
Despite the popularity of modern commemorative quarters, the value of older quarters depends largely on their rarity and condition. Some of the most valuable quarters are those that were produced in small quantities or kept out of circulation, long before coin collecting became a widespread hobby.
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Rare Quarters That Are Worth a Fortune
1927-S Full Head Standing Liberty Quarter
Sold at Auction: $175,000
This coin, minted in San Francisco in 1927, had a very low production run with only 396,000 quarters made. Of these, about 3,900 featured a “Full Head,” a term used to describe the detailed depiction of Liberty’s face. Today, only 65 Full Head examples are known to exist, with just two being finer than this one, making it highly valuable to collectors.
1919-S Full Head Standing Liberty Quarter
Sold at Auction: $235,000
The 1919-S Standing Liberty quarter had a production of 1,836,000 coins. However, due to extensive circulation, many of these coins lost their date markings. Very few remain in mint condition today. Only three quarters of equal quality to this one are known to exist, increasing its value significantly.
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1901-S Barber Quarter
Sold at Auction: $258,500
In 1901, the San Francisco Mint produced just 72,664 Barber quarters. Most were heavily circulated in the western U.S., leading to very few surviving in mint condition. The coin mentioned here is one of only two examples that have received a “Gem” rating by grading authorities PCGS and NGC, making it a prized collectible.
What Makes These Quarters So Valuable?
There are a few factors that make these quarters incredibly valuable. The most important of these is rarity. Coins with low mintage numbers are naturally more scarce and thus more appealing to collectors.
The condition of the coin is another crucial factor, with coins in near-mint condition fetching higher prices. Finally, market demand plays a role, as collectors are always on the lookout for rare and unique coins to add to their collections.
For example, the 1927-S Full Head Standing Liberty quarter is considered extremely valuable because of its low mintage and the rarity of its Full Head detail. Similarly, the 1901-S Barber quarter is sought after for its scarcity and the fact that so few of these coins remain in mint condition.
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Conclusion
Many people don’t realize that the change in their pockets could include a coin worth thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars. Rare quarters like those mentioned above are proof of just how valuable certain coins can be.
If you’re a coin collector or someone who enjoys holding onto older coins, it might be worth having your quarters appraised. Who knows? You could be holding onto a small fortune without even realizing it.