Got a jar full of old vintage coins? Well, you might want to dig through it right now! A lucky collector recently discovered a 1988 Washington Quarter with a rare error and sold it for an incredible $3,500!
These fascinating mint errors, along with other varieties from 1988, are turning ordinary quarters into treasure. So, join me to get some expert tips for finding a valuable 1988 quarter and assess its true value today!
Identifying a 1988 Washington Quarter (Design & Physical Features)
The first step to identifying a genuine 1988 Washington quarter is to verify its design details on both sides. The next step is to authenticate the coin’s composition, weight, and other physical attributes.
1988 Quarter Obverse Design:
- Washington’s portrait faces left with sharp, detailed features
- “LIBERTY” appears along the top edge
- The phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the left field
- The mint date “1988” positioned at the bottom
- The Mint mark P, D, or S (if present) behind Washington’s tied hair
1988 Quarter Reverse Design:
- Spread-winged eagle dominates the center
- “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the top
- “QUARTER DOLLAR” appears at the bottom
- “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is inscribed above the eagle
- Two olive branches frame the bottom
- Detailed eagle breast feathers are clearly defined
Coin Composition, Weight & Other Features
The 1988 Washington Quarter continued the copper-nickel-clad composition introduced in 1965. Below are other details of its physical characteristics:
| 1988 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 | 1988 |
| 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 P – Philadelphia |
| Total Mintage | 1,162,125,636 coins |
3 Key Factors to Find a 1988 Quarter Dollar Value
A circulated 1988 Washington Quarter is typically worth its face value of 25 cents. However, uncirculated coins can often range from $5 to $2,000, depending on their condition, mint mark, and presence of errors.
1. Coin’s Condition and Grades
The value of your old 1988 Washington quarter largely depends on its value. For coins, the condition is professionally assessed on the Sheldon Scale which ranges from Poor (P-1) to Perfect Mint State (MS-70).
For 1988 quarters, most uncirculated examples fall between MS-60 and MS-67, with values ranging from $5 to $1,500, considering other factors.
2. 1988 Washington Quarter Mint Mark
The United States Mint produced the 1988 Washington Quarter Dollar at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco facilities. Quarters from each facility have a unique mint mark that impact their rarity and values.
1988 D Washington Quarter Value (Mintage – 596,810,688)
The Denver Mint produced the largest number of Washington Quarters in 1988, identified by the D mint mark. The value of a 1988 D quarter can range from $5 to $1,500 in mint state, like this most expensive MS67 D quarter sold for $1,645 on Heritage Auctions.
Here are the estimated values of a 1988 D quarter dollar coin:
- MS-60 to MS-64: $1 to $5
- MS-65: $5-$15
- MS-66: $20-$90
- MS-67: $350-$1,650+
1988 P Washington Quarter Value (Mintage – 562,052,000)
The Philadelphia-minted 1988 Washington quarters are known for their standard details and the P mint mark. With a similar mintage to that of the 1988 D quarter, these coins are valued between $5 and $800.
Here are the estimated values of a 1988 P quarter dollar coin:
- MS-60 to MS-64: $1 to $15
- MS-65: $15-$20
- MS-66: $30-$130
- MS-67: $400-$750+
1988 S Washington Proof Quarter Value (Mintage – 3,262,948)
The San Francisco Mint produced only over 3.2 million Proof versions of the 1988 Washington Quarter. These coins can be identified by their S mint mark, sharp details, and mirror-like surface.
While the proof coins have three designations: Standard, Cameo, and Deep/Ultra Cameo, the 1988 quarter proofs are only found in the Deep Cameo variety with values ranging from $12 to $400 in PR68 to PR70 grades, like this example sold for $403 on David Lawrence Auctions!
3. Valuable 1988 Quarter Errors
Minting errors are another crucial factor to influence your coin’s value. For the 1988 Washington quarter, here are the most notable errors to look for!
Wrong Planchet Errors
One of the most valuable and intriguing errors in the 1988 quarter series occurs when a quarter design is struck on the wrong planchet, such as a nickel or dime planchet. This dramatic error happens when a different planchet accidentally makes its way into the quarter production line.
You’ll immediately notice these error quarter coins by their weight and size, which will be different from a standard 1988 quarter. These rare quarter coins can be worth premium prices of $200 to $1,000 or more!
Off-center Strike Error
Off-center strikes result from misaligned planchets during the striking process causing the design to be off-center and leaving part of the planchet blank. The strike ranges from barely noticeable 5% shifts to dramatic 95% off-centers, impacting its value.
The value of an off-center 1988 Washington Quarter can range from $50 to $200, depending on strike percentage, coin’s condition, and date visibility. An MS62 example with 15% off-center sold for almost $100 on eBay!
Broadstruck Error
When the collar die fails to contain the planchet during striking, it creates a broadstruck error. These quarters lack edge reeding and can expand to 26mm in diameter. The expanded design elements and distinctive “splash” patterns at the edges make them easily identifiable.
The latest auctions show that the value of a 1988 Broadstruck quarter can be worth $15 to $400, like this MS63 1988-P quarter example sold for $15 on Heritage Auctions.
Partial Collar Error
The distinctive “bottle-cap” effect of partial collar errors results from the collar die’s incomplete engagement during striking. This 1988 quarter will show uneven thickness around the rim and partial reading with distorted lettering. Depending on condition and deformity, the value can range from $15-100.
Die Break Error
Die breaks happen when the striking dies break with use, creating tiny raised lines to major raised lumps on the coin’s surface. The most valuable examples show major breaks affecting Washington’s portrait or the eagle design. You can expect this error coin to fetch $10 to $200.
