The 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter is worth anywhere from $15 in worn condition to over $350 in high-grade mint state. As the final year of this beautiful series, finding one in your change or an old collection is a thrilling discovery for any American history enthusiast.

Condition	Estimated Value (No Mint Mark)
Good (G-4)	$12 – $15
Fine (F-12)	$22 – $28
Extremely Fine (XF-40)	$55 – $70
Uncirculated (MS-63)	$180 – $220
Gem Uncirculated (MS-65 FH)	$500+

The History and Appeal of the 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter

The Standing Liberty Quarter is often cited as one of the most beautiful coins ever produced by the United States Mint. Designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, it features Lady Liberty stepping through a gateway, holding a shield and an olive branch. By the time 1930 rolled around, the design had undergone several modifications, most notably to protect the date from wearing away too quickly—a common problem with earlier versions.

If you have discovered one of these coins and want to identify it instantly, using a top coin identifier app can help you distinguish between the different mint varieties. The 1930 issue serves as a “swan song” for the series, as production was halted in 1931 due to the Great Depression, and the design was replaced by the Washington Quarter in 1932 to celebrate the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth.

Because 1930 was the last year of production, many people at the time saved these coins as souvenirs. This means that while they aren’t “common” in the way modern quarters are, they are more easily found in better condition than quarters from the late 1910s. For the everyday person, this means your 1930 quarter might actually still have crisp details that boost its market price significantly.

Identifying the No Mint Mark Philadelphia Issue

When people talk about a “No Mint Mark” coin, they are referring to coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint. During this era, the Philadelphia branch did not use a mint mark (unlike San Francisco, which used an ‘S’, or Denver, which used a ‘D’). If you look closely at your 1930 quarter, check the area to the left of the date near the bottom of Lady Liberty’s gown. If that space is blank, you have a Philadelphia strike.

Determining the exact 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter price depends heavily on the coin’s physical state. Collectors are particularly interested in the “Full Head” (FH) designation, which refers to the level of detail visible on Lady Liberty’s helmet. If the hairline and ear are clearly visible, the value can skyrocket.

For those using the CoinKnow app, you can simply snap a photo of the coin’s obverse to see if the strikes are sharp enough to qualify for a premium. Even without a professional grading service, knowing whether your coin has a mint mark or not is the first step in realizing its true potential. Most Philadelphia strikes from 1930 are considered accessible for beginners, but high-grade examples remain a prize for advanced collectors.

Value Breakdown by Coin Grade

Grading is the process of evaluating a coin’s wear and tear. For an everyday American who just found a 1930 quarter in an old jar, the grading scale (from 1 to 70) can feel intimidating. However, most coins fall into a few simple categories: Good, Fine, About Uncirculated, and Mint State.

A “Good” coin will be heavily worn, with the date barely legible and the details of Lady Liberty’s shield smoothed over. A “Fine” coin will show some feathers on the eagle’s breast and some lines in the gown. As you move into “Uncirculated” territory, the coin should look like it just left the mint, with a shimmering surface known as “luster.”

Grade Name	Physical Appearance	Philadephia Value
VG-8 (Very Good)	Major details visible but flat.	$18 – $20
VF-20 (Very Fine)	Moderate wear; gown lines clear.	$35 – $45
AU-50 (About Uncirculated)	Slight wear on high points; some luster.	$90 – $110
MS-60 (Mint State)	No wear; may have contact marks.	$150 – $175

Wait, What is a “Full Head” Standing Liberty Quarter?

If you are researching the 1930 Standing Liberty coin value, you will inevitably come across the term “Full Head” (FH). This is a special designation given by grading services like PCGS or NGC. Because the head of Lady Liberty was the highest point of the coin’s design, it often failed to strike fully or wore down almost immediately.

A 1930 quarter with a Full Head must show a clear, distinct line between the helmet and the face, and the ear hole must be visible. For the 1930 Philadelphia strike, a Full Head version is quite rare in higher grades and can command a 50% to 100% premium over a non-FH coin.

When you use an app like CoinKnow, you can zoom in on the portrait to see if those fine details are present. If you see hair detail and a sharp chin, you might be holding a coin worth hundreds of dollars. This specific detail is what separates a $150 coin from a $500 coin in the world of high-stakes numismatics.

Comparing the 1930-P with S and D Mint Marks

While this article focuses on the “No Mint Mark” Philadelphia coin, it is helpful to know how it stacks up against its siblings from San Francisco and Denver. In 1930, Philadelphia minted roughly 5.6 million quarters. San Francisco (1930-S) minted about 1.5 million, and Denver (1930-D) was not produced at all that year.

Surprisingly, despite the lower mintage of the 1930-S, the values for the Philadelphia and San Francisco versions are relatively close in lower grades. However, in “Gem” condition (MS-65 and above), the Philadelphia version is often tougher to find with a Full Head strike than the ‘S’ mint.

Mint Location	Mintage	Rarity Note
Philadelphia (No Mark)	5,632,000	Last year of issue; common in AU grades.
San Francisco (S)	1,556,000	Lower mintage; highly collected.
Denver (D)	0	No quarters were minted in Denver in 1930.

Tips for Selling Your 1930 Quarter

Before you rush to a pawn shop, remember that pawn shops usually offer “melt value” or a small fraction of the collectible value. A 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter is made of 90% silver, meaning it has a “floor” price based on the current price of silver, but its historical value is almost always higher.

Use CoinKnow to get a baseline price and then consider visiting a local coin shop or listing the coin on a reputable auction site. Be careful not to clean the coin! Cleaning a vintage coin with polish or even soap and water can create microscopic scratches that ruin the “numismatic” value, potentially cutting the price in half.

If your coin looks exceptionally shiny or has no scratches, it may be worth getting professionally graded. Coins graded by PCGS or NGC are much easier to sell at their full market price because the buyer has a guarantee of the coin’s authenticity and condition.

FAQ

Q: Is the 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter made of silver?

A: Yes, all Standing Liberty Quarters minted from 1916 to 1930 consist of 90% silver and 10% copper. This makes them valuable for their “bullion” content even if they are in poor condition, though the collector value for a 1930-P is usually higher than the raw silver price.

Q: Where is the mint mark on a 1930 quarter?

A: The mint mark is located on the front (obverse) of the coin. Look just to the left of the date, next to the star. If you see an ‘S’, it was made in San Francisco. If you see nothing, it was made in Philadelphia and is a “No Mint Mark” variety.

Q: Why is my 1930 quarter’s date so much clearer than my 1920 quarter?

A: In 1925, the Mint changed the design to “recess” the date. This means the date was placed lower than the surrounding metal so it wouldn’t wear away as quickly. This is why 1930 quarters are much easier to identify than those from the earlier years of the series.

Q: What is the most a 1930 Standing Liberty Quarter has ever sold for?

A: While standard circulated copies sell for $20-$50, high-end “Gem” examples graded MS-67 with a Full Head have sold for over $5,000 at professional auctions. Condition is everything in the world of coin collecting!