Jump to: Design | Historical Significance | Mint Marks | Rarity and Collector's Demand | Coin Grading | Composition | Face Value | 1967 SMS Quarter | Price Chart | Variations and Errors | FAQs
The Washington Quarter series is an important piece of American coinage depicting the first president of the United States, General George Washington. He is an iconic figure who evokes feelings of patriotism and unity, reminding citizens of the principles on which the nation was founded.
In this article, we will further discuss the aspects involved when assessing a 1967 quarter value, which includes its composition, historical significance, grade, variations, and more.
Factors Affecting 1967 Quarter Value
Design
In 1932, the U.S. Mint introduced the George Washington Quarter in order to celebrate George Washington's 200th birth anniversary (February 22, 1732). The new design, by John Flanagan, replaced the Standing Liberty Quarter and shows the effigy of George Washington, which is the current design. The word LIBERTY is above Washington's bust, and below it, the mint year. On his left is written the United States motto: IN GOD WE TRUST.
The reverse of the coin is an eagle with its wings spread out. The Bald eagle is the United States' national animal and symbolizes strength and freedom. Above the eagle, there are the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and then E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means "out of many, one". The face value of the coin is placed at the bottom.
Historical Significance
In 1965, as the price of silver was getting higher, the value of silver coins was almost higher than their face value. So, civilians started to hoard silver coins because of their silver value, which caused a coin shortage at the time.
This phenomenon forced the United States Mint to change the composition of the Dime, the Quarter Dollar, and Half Dollar. They went from 90% silver to a clad alloy of copper-nickel outer layers over a core of pure copper.
Besides the changes in the composition, throughout 1965–1967, all the new copper quarters were minted without a mint mark.
Learn more on who is on the Quarter.
Mint marks
According to the U.S. Mint, a mint mark has the primary purpose of identifying the coin's origin and holding the facility marked accountable for the coins' quality. Mint marks are still present in the U.S. coinage. They are: "D" for Denver (CO), "P" for Philadelphia (PA), "S" for San Francisco Mint (CA), and "W" for West Point (NY).
To further understand, back in the day, when coins were made out of precious metals, there was a commission that would ensure that each facility followed the coins' quality specifications.
In the first years of the U.S. Mint, the Philadelphia branch was the only one operating, so there was no need to mark where the coinage came from. Even after the first mint marks appeared on American coinage in 1838, together with other facilities, the habit of not identifying coinage from the Philadelphia mint persisted.
This would only change after 1942, and since then, the mint mark "P" appeared a few more times.
The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated mint marks in order to deter collecting, as the Mint focused on fulfilling the nation's coinage demands. With that being said, no mint marks appeared on circulating coins from 1965 to 1967, including the 1967 Washington Quarter.
Coin collectors sometimes want coins from specific places due to their historical significance. In the example mentioned, the absence of a mint mark on a 1967 quarter adds to its numismatic interest because it indicates a period when coinage production was standardized across all mint facilities due to a historic coin shortage.
Rarity and Collectors' Demand
Rarity alone does not guarantee a high value on a coin. There must also be demand among collectors and investors. In that way, coins that are both rare and highly sought after tend to command the highest prices.
When a coin is scarce, meaning there are fewer specimens available, demand tends to outweigh supply. This scarcity can skyrocket the prices as collectors and investors compete to acquire the limited number of coins available.
The U.S. Mint struck over 1.5 billion 1967 Washington Quarters for circulation. Coins graded MS67 and above are more difficult to find, especially older coins.
Coin Grading and Professional Coin Grading Service
Coin Grading is an essential numismatic tool based on a numeric scale from 1 to 70, in which 1 means poor quality and 70 means excellent quality or mint condition. It is crucial when assessing a coin's condition, and the current system used by the professional grading services NCG, PCGS, and others:
Sometimes, the term Uncirculated can be used by mints to refer to coinage minted for collection and not for circulation purposes.
Even though there are different uses of the term, when it comes to condition, these are the coins graded from MS60 to MS70.
Circulated coins
Coins in circulated condition are coins that have lost their original brand-new aspect and gained dents and bruises. A circulated quarter will usually be graded between 1 and 59. When assessing a Washington Quarter condition, George Washington's hair is usually the first part of the design that indicates signs of wear. A circulated quarter will usually have this part clearly worn.
Uncirculated coins
Usually classified among higher grades, uncirculated coins are called that way because they were able to maintain their original luster, almost as brand new. They are usually graded between 60 and 70 and will carry the acronym MS, which represents Mint State.
On this logic, a coin could go into circulation and, by luck, still be graded uncirculated if it retains its Mint State, with no signs of wear or stains and other imperfections.
Metal Composition
Actually, the value of the copper-core Washington Quarter die will be mainly based on its numismatic value once the copper composition makes the 1967 quarter coin cheaper than it would be if made out of silver.
Precious metal coins, in turn, will have a price mainly defined by the current market price of the precious metal in the composition. And because of the manufacturing costs, one should expect to pay a few more dollars.
Check out the spot price for precious metals.
Face Value
Washington quarters have a face value of 25 cents. But as mentioned above, the coin was minted at a certain moment in history, which makes it an interesting piece of numismatics. When it comes to numismatic coins, their value will have almost nothing to do with their actual price in the open market.
Take the American Eagles, for example. As of February 2024, the price of silver in ounces fluctuates around 23,06. It is impossible to buy a one-ounce American Silver Eagle at the spot price because they require certain work to be produced. We call those added costs a "premium". The premium corresponds to the work involved in the design, the polishing, the inspections, and the fact they are fully backed by the United States Mint.
1967 Washington Quarters are not made of silver, but they are worth more than their face value because of their historical value and collectibility.
Although this quarter does not contain any silver in its composition, there are some that are made out of silver. Explore how much silver is in a quarter in our detailed article.
1967 25C SMS (Special Strike)
1967 sms quarter. SP Quarters were the earliest versions of the modern definition of Proof coins.
SMS quarters, or Special mint sets, are special strikes derived from the Washington Quarter series. The difference between this special mint set and its regular strike counterpart is its proof-like finish.
A CAMEO variant can fetch around $22 if graded SP-65 and $4,500 in higher grades. On the other hand, a DCAMEO (deep cameo) can be worth around $135 in MS65 and even $5,750 in MS68.
The record price for this variety was in 2016, when a Specimen was auctioned for $4,700.
Price chart
1967 Washington Quarter (25 cents) |
||||||
Type: Copper-Nickel Clad |
||||||
Grade |
65 |
66 |
67 |
68 |
69 |
70 |
SP |
||||||
1967 SMS |
$15 |
$20 |
$32 |
$165 |
$1,600 |
- |
1967 SMS DDR FS-801 |
$125 |
$165 |
$200 |
- |
- |
- |
1967 SMS DDO FS-101 |
160 |
205 |
205 |
450 |
- |
- |
CAMEO |
||||||
1967 SMS |
24 |
34 |
100 |
850 |
4,500 |
- |
1967 SMS DDR FS-801 |
$165 |
$275 |
$550 |
- |
- |
- |
1967 SMS DDO FS-101 |
240 |
385 |
450 |
- |
- |
- |
DEEP CAMEO |
||||||
1967 SMS |
175 |
500 |
2,150 |
5,750 |
- |
- |
Data: PCGS |
Notable Variations and Errors
Error coins are valuable due to their scarcity, uniqueness, and historical interest. These coins diverge from the standard production process, making them relatively rare and highly sought after by collectors.
Check below the three of the most famous errors in the Washington quarter series.
1967 Struck On Nickel Planchet Quarter Error
This example is a planchet error. It happened because a Washington quarter was struck on a Nickel (5 cents) planchet. As shown above, the proportions do not match, as a quarter planchet is bigger, and on a nickel planchet, the designs will fade out of the borders.
This one was sold for $188 at heritage auctions in 2013.
Off-Center Strike
As the name suggests, the error occurred probably because the planchet was not correctly positioned on the press, which resulted, as you can see on the coin images below, in the design being struck on just a portion of the coin and not on the center as it should have been.
Center strikes errors are usually worth around $100. But this particular coin was sold for $79.99 at eBay.
Double die obverse
On a double-die coin error, a second design is stamped above the first one. This usually results in a shadow-like effect and sometimes is not easily identifiable.
According to the PCGS price chart, they are worth between $45 and $450 in mint state.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we covered the various features that can interfere with the 1967 Washington Quarter and coins in general. We went over their valuable variations and errors, as well as concepts such as condition, rarity, demand, and even how their composition affects their value. We hope to have clarified what to consider when evaluating a 1967 quarter price and how to assess fair prices.
Understanding the value of 1967 quarters is important not only for their potential financial worth but also for the insights they provide into history, culture, and the world of numismatics. Whether as a hobby, an investment, or a learning opportunity, knowing the value of coins enriches the experience of collectors and enthusiasts alike.
FAQs
Is a quarter from 1967 worth anything?
According to the PCGS price guide, a 1967 quarter can be worth between $20 and $6,000 in Mint State condition. However, collectors' demand can affect the price, as well as rarity. In 2017, a rare 1967 quarter in ungraded MS68 was sold for $8,813 at Heritage Auctions.
What is the error in the 1967 quarter?
The most well-known errors in the 1967 Washington quarters are the off-center strike error, which is worth around $100, and the double die variant, which can fetch $450 in uncirculated conditions.
Which quarter is worth $35000?
According to the PCGS price guide, 1947 Washington quarters made out of 90% Silver and 10% Copper can fetch around 35,000 in Mint State. Moreover, the variety 1934 Washington Quarter from Denver, with a Heavy Motto, conserved in Mint State (or uncirculated condition), which is also 90% silver, is appraised at around 35,000. Check out the complete list of quarters worth money.
What quarters in the 60s are worth money?
Even though every quarter from the '60s has a certain numismatic value, quarters produced until 1964 contained 90% silver. As a result, these 'pre-1965' quarters not only hold numismatic significance but also carry intrinsic value (or melt value) due to their silver content. What about the value of the 1965 Quarter?
Are 1776 to 1976 quarters worth anything?
1776-1976 quarters, often referred to as the Bi-centennial reverse, hold significant value among collectors. Due to their commemorative nature, with a different design on the reverse side, these coins are relatively rare and are not commonly found in circulation. In Mint State conditions, they can sell from $34 to as high as $4,350, particularly in high grades.