Did you know that George Washington, the first US President, did not want to feature on coins? He thought it was too “monarchical” for any leader to have their face on any currency. However, he has been gracing the 25c coins, also known as quarters, since 1932. Similarly to previous quarters, the 1973 quarter value is special and fascinating to collectors.
While the quarters remained more or less the same for several decades, they underwent a minor change in 1974. This automatically increased the historical significance and value of the 1973 quarter. If you have one of these coins in your collection, you may be sitting on quite some fortune. The 1973 quarter value can be extremely high for rare coins and the ones with minting errors.
Let us start with a quick introduction to these coins and understand the different 1973 quarters out there.
Minted in 1973, these quarters are the last in the series before a design tweak was implemented in 1974. The 1973 quarter contains 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper.
These coins have a layered structure. While the inner layer is pure copper, it is coated with an alloy containing 75% copper and 25% nickel. This is how these quarters receive their silvery shine. They weigh 5.67 grams, are 1.75 mm thick, and carry a diameter of 24.3 mm. Every 1973 quarter has 119 reeds along its edges.
The obverse side of the 1973 quarter features a left-facing portrait of George Washington. Along the reeds and above the portrait, you can see the inscription “LIBERTY.” The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” is engraved on the portrait’s left.
You can see the mint mark (if present) behind the ribbon tying George Washington’s ponytail. The right of his neckline features the designer’s initials “JF” for John Flanagan.
The reverse of a 1973 quarter features a bald eagle with spread-out wings. You can see it holding thirteen arrows representing the thirteen states forming the union. The top of the coin’s reverse features “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” can be seen between the American Eagle’s wings.
A major factor contributing to the 1973 quarter value is the mint it was produced at. These quarters came from three mints: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. While the ones minted in Philadelphia carry no mint mark, the ones coming from Denver and San Francisco have the mint marks “D” and “S” respectively.
Considering the grading scales of NGC and PCGS, let us explore the values of different 1973 quarters.
These are the quarters produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The Mint had produced 346,924,000 quarters in 1973. These coins carry a value that is significantly higher than their face value. A Philadelphia Mint 1973 MS 67 quarter was sold for $1,468 in May 2013.
As of August 2023, the value of an MS 67 1973 quarter was $550. However, the coins graded MS 67+ were valued at $1,300 during the same time.
The quarters produced at the Denver Mint carry the “D” mint mark. This Mint produced 232,977,400 quarters in 1973. One of these coins was sold for $2,750 on eBay in August 2022. As of August 2023, the value of an MS 67 Denver Mint 1973 quarter was $250, while an MS 67+ quarter was valued at $1,800.
The 1973 quarters coming from the San Francisco Mint are all proof coins. They carry a unique shine due to the use of special proof dies for minting them. Scrubbed with horsehair, these dies give a sleek and shiny look to the 1974 quarters, increasing their overall value. The San Francisco quarters were also pickled with digital laser or acid to give them a unique texture. The blanks used to mint these coins were tumbled in stainless steel to enhance the aesthetic appeal.
In 1973, the San Francisco Mint produced 2,760,339 proof coins. All of them carry the “S” mint mark. They are given the grades of DCAM (Deep Cameo), Cameo, and simple proof coins. In February 2017, a PR 70 DCAM quarter was sold for $5,875 at Heritage Auctions. The value of these coins as of August 2023 was $4,100.
Here is a table summarizing the 1973 quarter value for different coins:
| Coin | MS 60 | MS 64 | MS 65+ | MS 66+ | MS 67+ | PR/PF 70 DCAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 (P) No Mint Mark Quarter | $1 | $5 | $28 | $125 | $1,300 | - |
| 1973-D Quarter | $1 | $5 | $20 | $65 | $1,800 | - |
| 1973-S Proof Quarter | $2 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $4,100 |
The 1973 quarter value is higher for the coins containing errors. These rare coins are hard to find, giving collectors a good value for them.
Here are some of the most sought-after 1973 quarters with errors and their value:
A coin is typically struck twice to ensure that the design is transferred effectively. However, if the blank moves around between subsequent strikes, the imprint will fall differently. This leads to overlapping images on the coin’s design. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin was deformed due to 855 and 95% misalignment of strikes. Such a coin graded MS 62 is valued at $1,000.
By a rare mistake, a Mint may accidentally strike a coin on a blank made for a different denomination. This 1973 quarter was struck on a blank made for a penny, slicing off some of its design elements. A 1973-S proof 67 RD has been valued at $3,100. Moreover, a 1973 (P) quarter carrying an MS 64 grade has been sold for $1,495.
This 1973 proof quarter was not only struck on a blank made for a penny but also double-struck as the blank moved between subsequent strikes. Leading to overlapping images and an incomplete design, a PF 68 RB quarter was sold for $4,600.
Coming from the Denver Mint, this 1973 quarter was struck with a planchet (blank) made for a dime. The design elements sliced off here are even greater than the penny, as a dime’s size is smaller. Such a coin lacks the portrait’s head and the LIBERTY inscription. Graded MS 64, such a coin is valued at $ 1,900.
The US Mint also produces coins for other countries. Minting errors are not limited to the coins circulated within the US. Here, a 1973-S proof quarter design struck a 1-piece coin minted for Nepal. A coin graded PF 64 is valued at $4,800.
This is a 1973 quarter struck using a planchet made for a nickel at the Denver Mint. These coins contain a design where the elements at the top are slightly removed. Graded AU 50 to 58, these quarters are valued at $145.
Such an error involves two coins getting jammed together. Even if the two coins carry different grades, the cumulative 1974 quarter value of both coins will be much higher due to the error. A combo of PR 65 and PR 66 coins is valued at $4,553.
Let us quickly understand what brockage is. When a blank sticks to the die and blocks another blank above or below, it results in a die cap. Brockage error is nothing but the coin in the way. Here, both the coins are minted with missing or disfigured images. The quarter here is half-capped, half-empty, and has no reverse with a mirrored brockage. Graded AU 48, it is valued at $690.
This error occurs when the collar mechanism is while minting a coin fails. Such a situation makes the coin’s rim flatter and wider. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, one of these coins is valued at $115.
Such an error occurs when a 1973 quarter flips while getting out of the press. This coin gets double-struck, with the design elements on its reverse appearing on the obverse side. Graded MS 65, such a quarter is valued at $370.
This is a combination of two quarters, one struck with a blank made for a dime and the other being a die clash quarter. A die clash occurs when two dies strike each other without a coin in between. This combo of PR 64 and PR 68 coins is valued at $1,700.
During rare occurrences, a blank’s top layer may peel off when a die hits it. Such a lamination error can result in either the entire coin surface coming off or a small gash in it. Here, the coin is missing its obverse layer. Carrying an MS 64 grade, such a coin is valued at $75.
It is always advisable to buy a graded 1973 quarter as it helps you determine its true worth and quality. Almost all coin dealers rely on NGC and PCGS, the two most trusted third-party coin grading services. They assign a grade to every coin using the Sheldon scale. Here, in the 1973 quarter, the quality will range from Poor (PO 1) to Mint State (MS). The numeric value assigned to each grade ranges from 1 being the poorest to 70 being the highest.
Now that we have understood a plethora of different 1973 quarters and their values, you can go ahead and get yourself these coins for your collection. If you already possess a coin collection, you may scan through it to find a quarter carrying a handsome value.
So, don't overlook the 1973 Quarter Value. Who knows, you may be sitting on thousands of dollars without even knowing it!
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