All the Different Kinds of American Quarters: From 1796 To 2026
While novice numismatists want to maximize their benefits and only take on the rarest and most expensive tokens, experienced ones know that the market is changing lightning fast.
And coins that were worth very little back in 2010 can now cost a lot of money, such as 1776 to 1976 quarter coins.
First Silver Quarter Coins (1796–1891)
Draped Bust Quarter (1796; 1804–1807)
Year 1796 Small Eagle: The front side shows the head of Liberty with a cloth around her, and the back side has a small eagle on a branch with a circle of leaves.
Years 1804–1807 Heraldic Eagle: The back side design was changed to a large, official-looking eagle with a shield on its chest, holding arrows and an olive branch in its claws.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1796 | from $20,000 to $100,000+ |
1804 | from $2,500 to $15,000+ |
1806 | from $800 to $5,000+ |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Capped Bust Quarter (1815–1838)
Big Size (1815–1828): These coins were wider and had the writing E Pluribus Unum above the eagle on the back side.
Small Size (1831–1838): The coins became smaller and thicker, and the writing E Pluribus Unum was taken away from the back side.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1823/2 | from $35,000 to $150,000+ |
1815 | from $1,500 to $10,000+ |
1831–1838 | from $150 to $1,500+ |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Seated Liberty Quarter (1838–1891)
Without a Motto (1838–1866): The coin did not have the famous saying.
With Arrows (1853–1855): The arrows were put on the coin because the Mint changed the coin's weight to be less silver from 6.7g to 6.22g when the price of silver became lower.
With a Motto (1866–1891): The saying IN GOD WE TRUST was added on a ribbon above the eagle on the back side.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1870-CC | from $3,000 to $25,000+ |
1853 (With Arrows and Rays) | from $200 to $1,500+ |
1879–1891 | from $30 to $200 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
The End of the Silver Time (1892–1930)
Barber Quarter (1892–1916)
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1901-S | from $4,000 to $40,000+ |
1896-S | from $500 to $3,000+ |
1916 (P, D, S) | from $15 to $150 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Standing Liberty Quarter (1916–1930)
Type 1 (1916–early 1917): Liberty stands between two tall columns, and her chest is not covered.
Type 2 (late 1917–1930): The Liberty's chest is covered with armor now; also, the stars were moved to the bottom, and the saying IN GOD WE TRUST was moved to a higher place.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1916 | from $3,500 to $40,000+ |
1918/7-S | from $1,000 to $10,000+ |
1925–1930 | from $15 to $150 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
The Time of the Washington Quarter (1932–Today)
Washington Quarter: Classic Eagle (1932–1998)
Silver Coin (1932–1964): At first, it was made with 90% silver, 10% copper, and the back side showed a strong bald eagle with open wings, standing on a group of arrows and olive branches.
Copper-Nickel Clad Coin (1965–1998): Because of a law about making coins in 1965, and to stop people from taking the silver coins out of money use, the Mint changed the coin to a mix of copper-nickel layer on top of a copper inside, but the eagle design on the back stayed the same until 1999.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1932-D and 1932-S | from $300 to $5,000+ |
1950-D/S | from $500 to $4,000+ |
1964 (Silver) | from $6 to $30 |
1965–1998 (Clad) | from $0.25 to $5 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Bicentennial Quarter (1776–1976)
Special Things: All these coins, made in 1975 and 1976, had the special double date 1776–1976 on the front side.
Back Side Design: The Mint chose the design made by Jack L. Ahr, showing a Colonial Drummer, and 13 stars around him.
Coin Metal: Most of these coins were made from copper-nickel clad for people to use, but the San Francisco Mint made some with 40% silver inside.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
1776–1976 P/D (Clad) | from $0.25 to $1 |
1776–1976 S (40% Silver) | from $5 to $15 |
1976-D (DDO) | from $50 to $200+ |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
The Time of Sets and Programs (1999–Today)
50 State Quarters Series (1999–2008)
Total Coins: There are 50 different back sides.
Design: Every back side showed special things, history, places, or famous people from that state, and the Washington face on the front side stayed the same.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
Wisconsin 2004-D | from $50 to $500+ |
New York 2001-P/D | from $0.25 to $1 |
All States (Proof Silver) | from $15 to $40 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarters (2009)
The place called the District of Columbia.
Five places that belong to the US: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Total Coins: There are 6 different back sides in total.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
Puerto Rico | from $0.25 to $10 |
American Samoa | from $0.25 to $10 |
All Territories (Proof Silver) | from $10 to $300 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
America the Beautiful Quarters Series / National Parks (2010–2021)
Total Coins: There are 56 different back sides, and the Mint made five new coins every year.
Design: The back side showed famous views, buildings, or animals that belong to that special national place.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
Normal Coins (Clad P/D) | from $0.25 to $10 |
5-Ounce Silver Coins (Bullion) | Depends on the price of silver |
Gateway Arch (2018-W) | from $10 to $50 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Washington Crossing the Delaware (2021)
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
2021-P/D | from $0.25 to $10 |
2021-S Proof | from $5 to $150 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
American Women Quarters Series (2022–2025)
Special Things: The front side of the coin has a new, older-style picture of George Washington, which Laura Gardin Fraser made in 1932, but the Mint did not use it until 2022.
Back Side Design: Every year, the Mint makes five coins with different pictures of important American women.
Variation | Approximate Cost (USD) |
Maya Angelou 2022-P/D | from $0.25 to $10 |
Sally Ride 2022-P/D | from $0.25 to $10 |
Any Coin (Proof Silver) | from $10 to $30 |
Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
Semiquincentennial: 250th Anniversary, 2026
In 2026, the Mint plans to make a new set of special Quarter coins to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States; this program promises new and important designs.
Conclusion
So, collectors choose several ways to create their own album, either a variant of each token from each series, or focus on a single series and try to recreate it all, but as a private possession.
You can build on your capabilities, mainly from the local market, to make it easier for you, and only then you can visit and access more global markets.