1833 Capped Bust Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1833 Capped Bust Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in a silver-copper alloy of approximately 89.24% silver. Guide estimates for this year range from about $132.00 in well-worn condition up to $4,974.00 at higher uncirculated grades, depending on the specific version and its preservation.
Condition, finish and originality of surfaces all matter when placing your coin in that spectrum.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1833 Capped Bust Quarter
The quickest way to start figuring out what your 1833 quarter is worth is to upload clear photos of both the front and back. Our identifier can give you a preliminary read on which version you may have and its approximate condition.
Good lighting and a sharp image of the date, stars and eagle reverse will help the most.
1833 Capped Bust Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1833 Capped Bust Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1833 Capped Bust Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1833 business strike can reach $4,974.00 at the MS63 guide level according to USA Coin Book, making higher-grade survivors the ones to watch.
- Always confirm mint, finish and surface originality first — cleaning, damage or a bright polished look does not make a coin rare or valuable.
Step 1: Identify Your 1833 Capped Bust Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Every 1833 Capped Bust Quarter came from Philadelphia. There is no mintmark to hunt for on this coin.
The design uses the reduced-diameter format introduced in 1831, which dropped the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM from the reverse. If your quarter is larger and carries that motto above the eagle, you have an earlier type, not an 1833.
Two branches exist for this date: the regular business strike (1833) and the proof (1833 PR). A proof is a specific method of manufacture using polished dies and planchets, not simply a shiny coin.
Business strikes that have been cleaned or lightly circulated can fool you into thinking "proof," so look for squared, mirrored fields and sharp rims rather than just brightness.
The coin is composed of a silver-copper alloy with approximately 89.24% silver content. Weight, diameter and edge reeding should be consistent with other reduced-size Capped Bust quarters if you want to rule out a counterfeit.
Step 2: Check Your 1833 Capped Bust Quarter Grade
Start by checking Liberty's hair directly above the ear and the folds of the cap. These are the first areas to lose definition from circulation wear.
On the reverse, the eagle's breast feathers and the tops of the wings show wear earliest.
A coin grading around Good-4 will have a readable date and outline of the design, but most interior detail is gone. Mid-grade pieces show partial hair curls and some feather separation.
At Mint State (MS60 and above), there should be no wear at all, though bag marks and contact marks are normal.
Don't confuse a weak strike with wear. Some 1833 quarters left the press with softer detail in the centers, which is a manufacturing trait, not damage from use.
Look at the high points and the fields together: luster in the fields plus soft centers usually means strike weakness, while flat high points with dull fields usually means wear.
Compare your coin against the reference image for this type. Examine surfaces under good light at an angle to check for cleaning, which dulls original luster and can leave fine hairlines that reduce value.
Step 3: Check 1833 Capped Bust Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1833 Capped Bust Quarter
The 1833 business strike is the version most collectors will encounter. It was produced at Philadelphia with no mintmark visible on either side.
USA Coin Book lists guide estimates of $132.00 at G4, $2,692.00 at MS60 and $4,974.00 at MS63. These are retail guide figures, not guaranteed sale prices.
Original, problem-free surfaces matter a lot with this date. A coin that has been cleaned, harshly wiped or damaged will trade well below these guide levels regardless of the remaining detail.
When evaluating yours, look for even, natural toning and undisturbed luster in the fields.
Coin Value Lookup is a handy starting point if you want to look up guides for other dates in the Capped Bust Quarter series or compare across denominations.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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G 6
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VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1833 Capped Bust Quarter — PR
The 1833 PR (proof) is a separate manufacturing category, not a grade above Mint State. Proofs were struck from polished dies onto carefully prepared planchets, producing mirrored fields and exceptionally sharp design elements.
Very few were made in this era, and they were typically distributed to dignitaries or collectors by special arrangement.
No supported numeric guide estimate has been adopted for this version, so individual assessment by a professional grading service is the practical path if you believe you have one. Authentication matters here because a cleaned or prooflike business strike can superficially resemble a proof.
True proofs will show squared die-strike characteristics, deeply mirrored flat areas and consistent sharpness that differs from even the best regular strikes. Surface haze, light hairlines and any prior cleaning all affect collector value on a proof.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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