United States Quarters
Draped Bust to Washington • 225+ Years of American Coinage
Quarter Dollar Coins Value Overview by Series
The ranges below are broad estimates for common-date, circulated quarter dollar coins in each series. Because every quarter dated 1964 or earlier contains silver, those series never trade much below melt value, even in heavily worn condition. For complete date-by-date values, open the guide for each series, check our full coin price guide, or use What's My Coin Worth to size up a specific coin.
| Series | Years | Composition | Common Date Range | Guide | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draped Bust | 1796–1807 | .8924 Silver | $1,500–$25,000+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Capped Bust | 1815–1838 | .8924 Silver | $100–$3,000+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Seated Liberty | 1838–1891 | 90% Silver | $25–$300+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Barber | 1892–1916 | 90% Silver | $12–$40+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Standing Liberty | 1916–1930 | 90% Silver | $12–$50+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Washington (silver) | 1932–1964 | 90% Silver | $12–$18+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| Washington (clad) | 1965–present | Cu-Ni Clad | $0.25–$3+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
| State & ATB Quarters | 1999–2021 | Cu-Ni Clad | $0.25–$5+ | View Guide → | Shop eBay → |
Every U.S. Quarter Series
The quarter denomination spans six major design eras, plus a deep field of mint errors. Click any series below for a dedicated guide with date-by-date values, key dates, and grading information.
Early Quarters
Seated Liberty Quarters
Barber Quarters
Standing Liberty Quarters
Washington Quarters
Quarter Error Coins
The History of U.S. Quarter Dollar Coins
The quarter dollar was authorized in the Mint Act of 1792. Unlike the dollar and half dollar, however, it wasn't an early priority for the Mint. The first quarters weren't struck until 1796, and even then only 6,146 pieces of the Draped Bust design were made, a one-year-only type with the small eagle reverse. Production then stopped completely and didn't resume until 1804, now with a heraldic eagle reverse. After 1807 it halted again for a seven-year gap tied to coin shortages during the War of 1812. As a result, the early decades of the series read as a string of short runs rather than a steady start, and Capped Bust production after 1815 had further interruptions through the 1820s.
Quarter production finally became consistent in 1831. Since then the Mint has struck quarters every year, with the sole exceptions of 1922, 1931, and 1933, when Depression-era demand for coinage collapsed. The Seated Liberty design (1838–1891) introduced the .900 fine silver standard for the denomination, and that purity held until the switch to copper-nickel clad in 1965. In particular, the quarter carried five major circulating designs before Washington's portrait arrived in 1932 to mark the bicentennial of his birth. That design, in modified form, is still in production today, nearly a century later.
Silver Content Across the Series
Quarter composition changed twice in ways that matter for melt value. From 1796 through 1837, quarters were struck in .8924 fine silver, a slightly lower purity than later coinage. Starting with the Seated Liberty quarter in 1838, the Mint moved to the .900 fine standard that continued through 1964, which gives each coin about 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. In 1965, however, the same silver shortage that hit the dime and half dollar forced a permanent switch to copper-nickel clad, which remains the standard for circulating quarters today.
For that reason, the date alone tells you most of what you need to know about a quarter's bullion value. Any quarter dated 1964 or earlier is silver, while any quarter dated 1965 or later, including every State, America the Beautiful, and American Women quarter, is clad and worth face value unless it carries a collector premium. The one catch is the special silver proof versions the Mint has sold to collectors since 1992. Still, these are clearly marked and sold separately from circulating coinage. For more on how 90% silver coins trade by weight, see our silver bullion guide.
Collecting the Quarter Denomination
The quarter's long design history makes it an excellent denomination for type collectors. For example, a type set of Draped Bust, Capped Bust, Seated Liberty, Barber, Standing Liberty, and Washington quarters tells the story of American coin art across more than two centuries in just six coins. Because common dates of the later silver series are widely available and affordable, a meaningful type set is within reach for most collectors. Even so, the earliest types, such as the 1796 Draped Bust and the 1804 quarters, command serious premiums even in heavily worn condition because so few survive.
Collectors focused on silver content often start with pre-1965 quarters, which the bullion trade sells as junk silver when they're worn and common. That route builds silver holdings while keeping some numismatic character. PCGS and NGC both grade quarters across every series, and certification matters more as a coin's value rises. This is especially true for 18th and 19th century types and well-known key dates like the 1796, 1823/2, 1901-S, and 1916 Standing Liberty, where authentication and condition drive the final price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest U.S. quarter series?
Why wasn't the quarter struck every year from the start?
How can I tell if my quarter is silver?
What is the most valuable quarter series?
Are old quarters a good investment?
What is a good starting point for collecting quarters?
A Guide Book of Washington Quarters - Full-color illustrations, current market values, and an appendix on the America the Beautiful silver bullions coins
'
