In 1966, the US Mint was hustling to keep the nation stocked with coins. Prior to 1965, all coins, from the dime to the half dollar, were 90% silver. The economy was at a standstill as people stockpiled every coin they could find, even the ones without silver.
All 1966 Washington Quarters were minted in Philadelphia, with over 821 million quarters produced. Surprisingly, you can still find 1966 quarters in circulation today, and some are in nearly pristine condition! Check out this article to discover more about the 1966 quarter value and its history, design, and errors.
In 1932, the US Mint released Washington quarters for the first time in honor of George Washington's 200th birthday. The Commission approved Laura Gardin Frasewhile's design, which went on to win the competition. However, Mr. Mellon, the Treasury Secretary at the time, selected John Flanagan's design.
The thin relief made striking easier with the designer's simple, inventive solution. Though, the US Mint made several design changes and produced coins with various Motto appearances. 90% silver was used to make the first Washington quarters, which were in circulation until 1964.
Due to the rising price of silver that year, people hoarded coins, resulting in a severe shortage. As a countermeasure, the idea of minting additional 1964 silver coins decreased the silver stock even further.
The US President at the time, Lyndon Johnson, declared that silver would no longer be included in quarters and dimes due to the rising prices of precious metals. Consequently, in 1965, cupronickel Washington quarters took the place of silver ones.
Remarkably, the mint mark was absent from every quarter that was struck between 1965 and 1968. In addition, the change in coin composition resulted in a delay in minting, meaning that the 1966 Washington quarters weren't released until August of that year.
This mint produced and released 821,101,500 regular coins (without the mint mark) over the following five months. Nevertheless, no proof coins featuring the year 1966 on the front were available. Alternatively, collectible coins from the Special Mint Set are available.
George Washington was the first president of the United States and a founding father. Since he is regarded as one of the most important individuals in the nation's history, the Mint celebrated his bicentennial in 1932. Having been in circulation for more than nine decades, the Washington Quarter is among the most enduring obverse designs.
When viewed from the obverse side, the prominent feature is Washington's left-facing profile.
The word LIBERTY is above the bust, and the year 1966 is beneath it. The phrase "IN GOOD WE TRUST" is displayed on the left side of the field, aligned with the nape of Washington's neck. The initials JF, which stands for coin designer John Flanagan, are visible beneath its right side.
The heraldic eagle, with its widely spread wings and arrow beam encircling its claws, is depicted on the reverse quarter side. Between the national name and the eagle is the phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the upper edge of the coin is framed by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The coin's denomination is tidily located at the bottom.
The entire series of coins produced this year lacks the mint mark. The uncirculated 1966 quarter value is greatly based on their grade.
| Grade (MS) | Price Range ($) |
|---|---|
| 60 | $1- $1.20 |
| 61 | $1- $1.20 |
| 62 | $1- $1.20 |
| 63 | $1- $1.20 |
| 64 | $2.00 |
| 65 | $8.40 |
| 66 | $18- $21.60 |
| 67 | $180- $250 |
| 68 | $6300- $7000 |
| 68+ | $21000 (most expensive) |
Washington 1966 Quarter Value (Special Mint Set)
The US Mint released Special Mint Sets in place of proof coins. These coins were meant for collectors but were of a slightly lower quality and cost than proofs. However, they were of higher quality than the coins that were in use.
When these coins are in the MS 60 to MS 63 grades, you can buy them for $1. Coins with higher rankings always have a higher price.
| Grade (MS) | Price Range ($) |
|---|---|
| 60- 63 | $1 |
| 64 | $2 |
| 65 | $4 |
| 66 | $7 |
| 67 | $8 |
| 68 | $35+ |
| 68+ | $450 |
Washington 1966 Quarter Value (Special Mint Set CAM)
You can also find coins with cameo contrast at the specified prices in addition to the standard beautiful coins from the Special Mint Set.
| Grade (MS) | Price Range ($) |
|---|---|
| 65 | Approximately $15 |
| 66 | Approximately $20 |
| 67 | Approximately $20 |
| 68 | $600 |
| 68+ | $4112 |
1966 Washington Quarter Value (Special Mint Set DCAM)
There are just two grades available for the 1966 DCAM quarters that were made for collectors. The value of those graded MS 67 is $1,500, but they can fetch even higher prices.
| Grade (MS) | Price Range ($) |
|---|---|
| MS 67 | $1500 |
| $3738 in October 2021 | |
| SP 68 | Approximately $3000 |
There are errors in every coin series. Given that thousands of coins are produced daily, there is always a chance that the minting apparatus will malfunction. Furthermore, human error is a possibility.
1966 coin errors take various forms, and the type you get will depend on what went wrong.
When the coin dies unintentionally imprints the design twice, producing a doubled image, this is known as the double-die error. Sometimes, only a small section of the design is impacted, which makes the mistake subtle and difficult to find unless you're very experienced. Depending on its condition, a 1966 quarter with this particular flaw can be worth several hundred dollars or just a few dollars.
When something foreign gets in the way of the dies and the planchet during minting, a struck-through error occurs. A photo of that object is left in the wake of this. This error can cost a quarter, anywhere from five dollars to several hundred dollars. It is dependent upon the magnitude of the error and the state of the coin.
This error causes the off-center image. It arises when the dies strike the design on a misaligned planchet. This exciting error can add an average of $5 to $50 to the coin's value.
In conclusion, the 1966 Washington quarter coin is a very interesting artifact that tells the story of when the US Mint stopped making silver coins. Even though this coin may not be rare, a particular 1966 quarter value is more than you think, depending on its condition and its rarity.
From its design that pays tribute to Washington to the wide variety of types and grades, the 1966 quarter continues to be regarded as one of the most sought collector’s coins. If you have come across the 1966 quarter for the first time, then this is a great chance to see what Global changes have influenced American coinage.
Happy collecting!
The highest selling price for a 1966 quarter was $21,000 at a Heritage auction in July 2023 for an amazing specimen graded MS68+. Six additional quarters with an MS68 grade have sold in the last five years, bringing in prices between $900 and $11,750. This illustrates that a high selling price is not always guaranteed by a coin of the highest grade.
The 1966 Washington Quarters are common coins. They are significant only because they are copper-nickel minting pieces from the second year. Only a selected few uniquely preserved coins and error coins have the potential to be valued at more than a few dollars.
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