Do you have an old 1973 Washington quarter in your old coin jar? If yes, you could instantly become rich! This old coin featuring George Washington’s profile on its front can command premium prices today, even surpassing $5,800! But not all 1973 quarters are precious!
Scroll down to find out all the rare features that can transform an old 1973 Washington quarter dollar coin from a mere change to a hidden gem worth thousands!
Spotting a Real 1973 Washington Quarter (Design & Features)
To ensure your old 1973 Washington quarter dollar coin is real and authentic, you must precisely identify its design details on both sides and its physical characteristics. Here’s a breakdown of these details.
1973 Washington Quarter Obverse:
- A left-facing profile of George Washington
- “IN GOD WE TRUST” to Washington’s left
- “LIBERTY” above Washington’s head
- The mint date “1973” at the bottom
- “D” or “S” mint mark, if present, near Washington’s ponytail
1973 Washington Quarter Reverse:
- A left-facing eagle with spread-out wings and arrows in claws
- Two olive branches connected by a knot below the eagle
- “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the upper half-edge
- “E. PLURIBUS UNUM,” in small fonts above the eagle’s head
- The denomination “QUARTER DOLLAR” on the bottom
1973 Quarter Coin Composition, Weight & Size
The 1973 Washington Quarter followed the same cupronickel composition initiated in 1965, along with other physical dimensions as shown in the table.
| 1973 Washington Quarter | Key Facts |
| Coin Composition | Copper-Nickel-Clad (75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center) |
| Minting Location | Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco |
| Year of Minting | 1973 |
| Weight | 5.67 g |
| Diameter | 24.26 mm |
| Thickness | 1.75 mm |
| Designer | John Flanagan |
| Face Value | $0.25 (25 cents) |
| Mint Marks | D – Denver Mint S – San Francisco No Mint Mark – Philadelphia |
| Total Mintage | 582,661,739 coins |
Finding a 1973 Washington Quarter Value (3 Key Factors)
The average value of an old 1973 Washington quarter dollar in circulated state is around 25 cents to $5. However, the value can drastically change based on factors like condition, mint marks, proof finish, and rare minting errors. Let’s understand how!
1. Coin Grades
The first and the most important factor influencing a 1973 Washington quarter value is its condition, which is assessed on the Sheldon Scale. Ranging from Poor (P-1) to Perfect Mint State (MS-70), the high grades on this scale indicate a flawless, new-like coin, which is worth the most!
For 1973 quarters, MS-67 and higher grades can command premium prices of $10 up to a thousand dollars or more.
2. 1973 Washington Quarter Mint Marks
The 1973 Washington quarters were produced at three facilities with their unique mintage numbers and mint mark, which directly impact the coin’s value.
1973 No Mint Mark Quarter Value (Mintage – 346,924,000)
The Washington quarters produced at the Philadelphia facility are known for their no mint mark obverse. Due to the highest mintage, a 1973 no mint mark quarter is the most common variety, with the most expensive example being sold for $1,486 on Great Collections!
The estimated values of a 1973 P Washington quarter based on grades are:
- MS-60 to MS-64: $1 to $5
- MS-65: $10-$30
- MS-66: $30-$65
- MS-67: $300-$550
1973 D Washington Quarter Value (Mintage – 232,977,400)
The Denver Mint produced fewer Washington quarters in 1973, making them more valuable than no mint mark variety. The highest value of a 1973 D quarter was released to be $2,750 on an eBay auction!
Here are the typical average values of a 1973 D Washington quarter:
- MS-60 to MS-64: $1 to $5
- MS-65: $7-$15
- MS-66: $15-$50
- MS-67: $150-$380
- MS-68: $2,750
1973 S Washington Quarter Proof (Mintage – 2,760,339)
The San Francisco Mint only produced over 2.7 million proof Washington quarters in 1973, known for their sharp strike and a reflective finish. Due to the lowest mintage, 1973 S quarter proofs are the most valuable coins.
The proof coins have three designations based on their finishes: Standard Proof (with regular mirrored fields), Cameo (with strong contrast between mirrored background and frosted devices), and Deep Cameo (with the sharpest contrast on the surface)
Among these, the Proof and Cameo Proof 1973 quarters are typically worth $10 to $25, while high-grade Deep Cameo examples can reach up to a few thousand dollars, like this PR70 DCAM example sold for an auction record price of $5,875 on Heritage Auctions in 2017!
The estimated price of a 1973 S quarter proof in Deep or Ultra Cameo finish is:
- PR65-PR66: $5-$10
- PR-67: Around $10-$12
- PR-68: $10-$25
- PR-69: $25-$35
- PR-70: $2,280-$5,875
3. Valuable 1973 Quarter Mint Errors
The value of your old 1973 can significantly change if it possesses any of the following notable mint errors:
Struck on Cent Planchet
One of the most dramatic wrong planchet errors occurs when a 1973 quarter design is struck on a copper cent planchet. This creates an undersized coin with a distinctive copper color. This rare quarter coin will have a weight of around 3.11 grams and smaller size.
Being a rare error, this one can fetch up to a thousand or more in mint state, like this MS65 Red 1973 quarter struck on penny planchet sold for $1,410 on Heritage Auctions!
Struck on Five Cent Planchet
Similar to the cent planchet error, this error happens when a 1973 Washington quarter design is struck on a nickel planchet, creating a coin with different dimensions and composition, like a diameter of around 21.2mm and weight of around 5 grams.
This error can be found on regular coins as well as proof coins, which will be more valuable. For example, an MS64 1973-D quarter struck on nickel planchet sold for over $275, while a 1973-S PR67 Cameo quarter proof with the same error sold for a stunning price of $4,080 on Heritage Auctions!
Mated Pair
A rare error where two 1973 quarter coins are struck together, creating matching indentations that fit together like puzzle pieces in uncommon shapes. A rare example of this error is a PR65 and PR66 1973-S Washington Quarter proof mated pair that was auctioned on Heritage Auctions for an exceptional price of $3.760!
Double Struck on Cent Planchet
This combines two major error types – wrong planchet error struck on a penny and multiple strikes – creating an exceptionally rare and valuable error. Due to its rarity, this error can command high prices from $2,000 to $5,000.
For example, a PR68 Red and Brown 1973 quarter double struck on penny planchet was released for a whopping $3,840 on Heritage Auctions!
Flipover Double Strike
One of the most dramatic and valuable errors found on 1973 Washington Quarters, the Flipover Double Strike occurs when a coin, after receiving its first strike, somehow flips over before receiving a second strike. The result is a coin showing overlapping designs on both sides, with one impression being inverted relative to the other.
The value of this rare 1973 error quarter can range $100 to $1,000 depending on the clarity of both strikes, like this MS64 example sold for over $370 on Heritage Auctions.
Off-Center Strike
An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not properly centered between the dies during striking, resulting in part of the design being missing and a blank crescent of metal. Based on the off-center percentage, the value of this 1973 quarter error can range from $15 to $200.
A rare AU58 example of a 50% off-center 1973 quarter combined with full brockage error sold for $690 on Heritage Auctions!
Double-Struck in Collar
This error occurs when a coin receives multiple strikes while still in the collar die (a ring-shaped die that gives the coin its proper diameter). These rare 1973 quarters show overlapping design elements, with values ranging from $200 to $800.
Obverse Clad Layer Missing
This error occurs when the copper-nickel coating separates from the copper core on the obverse side of a 1973 Washington quarter, either during or before striking. This rare quarter will have a red-orange color instead of a silvery color.
The value of a 1973 Washington quarter with missing obverse clad layer can range from $100 to $500, like this MS64 example sold for almost $140!
Broadstrike Error
This error is created when a 1973 Washington quarter dollar is struck without the collar die in place, allowing the metal to spread outward during striking. You can expect this error coin to fetch $75 to $300, like this MS66 that was bought for over $115 in a coin auction!
