1936 Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
In 1931, Congress directed issuing a commemorative quarter to mark Washington’s 200th birth anniversary. However, the one-year piece became the new design that entirely replaced the Standing Liberty quarter in 1934.
Since the US Mint still mints these coins, the series is among the longest-lived American coinage. The 1936 quarter value is relatively high since they are old pieces made of silver, but high mintage prevents them from being precious. Only a few highly collectible coins were paid ten thousand of dollars. Let’s see.
1936 quarter value Chart |
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| Condition | 1936 No Mint Mark quarter | 1936 D quarter | 1936 S quarter |
| Good | $6.24 | $15 | $6.24 |
| Very good | $6.24 | $24 | $6.24 |
| Fine | $6.24 | $29 | $8.36 |
| Very fine | $6.24 | $41 | $10.85 |
| Extra fine | $7.42 | $65 | $15 |
| AU | $9.60 | $287 | $57 |
| MS 60 | $29 | $585 | $136 |
| MS 65 | $136 | $1,228 | $373 |
| PR 65 | $1,657 | / | / |
1936 Washington Quarter Value Guides
Even though three mints produced 50,505,837 quarters in 1936, only the one located in Philadelphia minted proof coins. Besides these pieces, this mint had the highest regular mintage. Less than a fifth of the total pieces minted that year came from the other two mints.
1936 No Mint Mark Washington quarter Value
The Philadelphia mint had record production in the 1936 quarters, with 41,300,000 pieces from the regular strikes. Since these coins are almost eight decades old, their prices are significantly higher than their face value.
1936 Washington quarter value |
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| Condition | 1936 quarter | 1936 D quarter | 1936 S quarter |
| Good | $5.14 | $5.14 | $5.08 |
| Very good | $5.14 | $5.64 to $6.14 | $5.08 |
| Fine | $5.64 to $7.80 | $8 to $18 | $5.58 |
| Very fine | $7.25 to $10.80 | $22.50 to $48 | $8.50 to $14.40 |
| Extra fine | $9.50 to $12 | $50 to $102 | $14 to $26.40 |
| AU | $12 to $19.20 | $125 to $408 | $38 to $72 |
| MS 60 | $20 to $24 | $490 to $588 | $84 to $100.80 |
| MS 61 | $21 to $25.20 | $510 to $612 | $90 to $108 |
| MS 62 | $22 to $26.40 | $520 to $624 | $96 to $115.20 |
| MS 63 | $25 to $30 | $540 to $648 | $105 to $126 |
| MS 64 | $30 to $36 | $600 to $700 | $110 to $132 |
| MS 65 | $65 to $78 | $760 to $912 | $200 to $240 |
| MS 66 | $85 to $115 | $900 to $1,080 | $260 to $330 |
| MS 67 | $265 to $360 | $2,600 to $3,000 | $750 to $1,100 |
| MS 68 | / | / | $25,000 to $31,000 |
You can expect to pay $5 to $20 for coins released in circulation as soon as after minting, where they spent years before wearing out. Saved specimens in the mint state typically cost $20 to $350 on the open market.
However, some rare quarters with this date on the obverse but without the mint mark can be pricey. Their prices can be particularly high when offering them at auctions. For instance, one owner sold his coin in an MS 68 grade for $9,000.
1936 Washington proof quarter Value
Besides quarters from regular strikes, the Philadelphia mint also minted 3,837 proof coins in 1936. These pieces are expensive nowadays because of low mintage, the quality of preserved quarters, and their rarity on the current coin market.
1936 Washington proof quarter value |
|
| Condition | 1936 proof quarter |
| PR 60 | $400 to $480 |
| PR 61 | $440 to $528 |
| PR 62 | $480 to $576 |
| PR 63 | $525 to $630 |
| PR 64 | $575 to $690 |
| PR 65 | $700 to $840 |
| PR 66 | $1,000 to $1,200 |
| PR 67 | $5,000 to $6,000 |
Collectors are prepared to set aside $400 to $850 for these coins in decent condition, while the best ones can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The best-graded are proof quarters with a PR 67 rating that can cost $5,000 to $6,000.
You might be entirely wrong if you think it is the best you can get. One of these coins won the auction record after its owner sold it twenty years ago at an auction for $10,925.
1936 D Washington quarter Value
The Denver came up with 5,374,000 Washington quarters from the regular strikes in 1936. Even though coins in the lowest collectible grades cost the same as those from Philadelphia, better-rated ones are significantly more expensive.
Believe it or not, you should set aside up to $400 for quarters with the D mint mark in circulated condition. As expected, those with the best grades are worth much more.
You can get $500 to $1,000 for most pieces, but those in an MS 67 grade reach $2,600 to $3,000 at auctions. The most pricey piece from this mint was sold in January 2004 for $17,250.
1936 S Washington quarter Value
The lowest mintage in 1936 is why Washington quarters minted in San Francisco are the most expensive in a set. This mint released 3,828,000 coins into circulation, and their price is about $5 to $70, depending on the preservation level.
On the other hand, uncirculated specimens are more costly, and their prices range is $85 to $1,100 on average. However, rare pieces in top-notch condition are those in an MS 68 grade.
Most collectors with an unlimited budget would be happy to set aside $25,000 to $31,000 for such a piece. The most expensive coin in the set won the auction record even higher than the highest estimated value. One collector purchased it for $31,200 in March 2021.
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1936 Washington Quarter Errors
Error coins are not particularly often among 1936 Washington quarters, but you can recognize a few typical for the series. In most cases, these pieces are more expensive than regular ones, and a few can be really pricey.
1936 Washington Quarter Doubled die
This error occurred when the die hit the planchet at least twice, but it sometimes happened a few more times. Double die obverse is the most popular 1936 Washington quarter error, with visible doublings on the date or lettering.
The most expensive coin with this imperfection is the 1936 MS 66 DDO Washington quarter, sold at Heritage Auctions in September 2018. One collector paid precisely $6,600 for this unique piece.
1936 Washington quarter error value |
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| Condition | 1936 DDO quarter |
| MS 62 | $900 to $1,080 |
| MS 63 | $1,100 to $1,320 |
| MS 64 | $1,300 to $1,560 |
| MS 65 | $1,600 to $1,920 |
| MS 66 | $2,600 to $3,250 |
1936 Washington Quarter Off-center
Off-center coins occurred when the die struck the planchet out of the center. These errors can be 5% to 99% off-center, but the most desirable and collectible are pieces with 50% error and visible minting year.
1936 Washington Quarter DDO and off-center
The weirdest error coins are those with a combination of two flaws. The error on an error is exceptionally rare and includes a double die strike on the obverse and the off-center error on both coin sides.
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The 1936 Washington Quarter History
In 1931, an idea about issuing a commemorative half-dollar to mark Washington’s 200th birth anniversary occurred. However, Congress directed the creation of the quarter instead, and Americans adored the new coin minted in 1932.
Therefore, the new coin entirely replaced the Standing Liberty quarter, and production continued in 1934. Since the US Mint still mints these quarters, they are one of the longest-lived American coinage designs.
1936 Washington quarter |
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| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1936 No Mint mark quarter | 41,300,000 |
| Philadelphia | 1936 proof quarter | 3,837 |
| San Francisco | 1936 S quarter | 3,828,000 |
| Denver | 1936 D quarter | 5,374,000 |
| Total | / | 50,505,837 |
Unfortunately, these coins’ history was accompanied by a great injustice towards Laura Gardin Fraser. Despite winning the competition, she was denied the honor of creating this significant coin.
The most likely reason is the then-Treasury Secretary’s chauvinistic attitude that women were not up to such a demanding task. Therefore, he accepted John Flanagan’s work despite numerous objections.
By 1999, these coins looked the same as those minted in the first years, but their composition was changed in 1964. The lack of silver and its high prices forced the US Mint to start issuing quarters made of less expensive metals.
Since pieces minted in 1936 belonged to the early series, they were made of 0.900 pure silver. Unfortunately, this year was not particularly special, and coins struck in all three mints were standard without collectible variations and errors.
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How to Identify The 1936 Washington Quarter?
Since 1936 Washington quarters were a part of the early series, they were made of silver. That ensures their collectibility nowadays, regardless of the time spent in circulation, their condition, and the mint where they were minted.
The 1936 Washington quarter obverse
Like other Washington quarters from the early series, these struck in 1936 are silver coins with George Washington’s image on the obverse. His bust facing left shows his elegant profile and hair tied with an elegant bow.
Besides the portrait of the first American President who served from 1789 to 1797, you can also see inscriptions required for American coinage, including:
- The word LIBERTY along the top rim
- The motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the left
- The DATE along the bottom rim
- Letters JF, the designer’s initials, on the President’s neck truncation
The 1936 Washington quarter reverse
The complicated reverse symbolizes everything the US is, so you can see that design shows the following:
- An American bald eagle
- The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding the eagle’s wings on the composition top
- The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM below the country name
- A bundle of arrows in the eagle’s claws that symbolizes readiness for war
- Two olive branches below the bird’s image that symbolize an effort to preserve the peace
- The QUARTER DOLLAR, the denomination, on the bottom
- The MINT MARK (S or D) below the olive branches
1936 Washington quarter |
|
| Face value | 25 cents ($0.25) |
| Shape | Round |
| Compound | 90% silver – 10% copper |
| Coin thickness | 1.75 mm (0.06890 inches) |
| Coin diameter | 24.3 mm (0.95669 inches) |
| Coin weight | 6.25 g (0.20094 troy ounces) |
| Silver weight | 5.62 g (0.18069 troy ounces) |
| Edge | Reeded |
Other features of the 1936 Washington quarter
The 1.75 mm (0.06890 inches) thick 1936 quarters are among the first 25-cent coins in the series. These round-shaped pieces are made of 90% silver (0.18069 troy ounces or 5.62 g) with added 10% copper. Their total weight is 0.18069 troy ounces (5.62 g), and their diameter is 0.95669 inches (24.3 mm).
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What makes any of the 1936 Washington quarters scarce?
Practically nothing makes quarters minted in 1936 special, and most coins are ordinary without significant errors and key dates. Reasons for these pieces to be valuable are their age, silver content, and historical significance.
Which 1936 Washington quarters are the most valuable?
- The 1936 S MS 68 Washington quarter sold for $31,200 at Stack’s Bowers in March 2021
- The 1936 D MS 67 Washington quarter sold for $17,250 at Heritage Auctions in January 2004
- The 1936 PR 67 Washington quarter sold for $10,925 at Heritage Auctions in September 2002
- The 1936 MS 68 Washington quarter sold for $9,000 at Heritage Auctions in August 2022
- The 1936 MS 66 DDO Washington quarter sold for $6,600 at Heritage Auctions in September 2018
How much do the 1936 No Mint Mark Washington quarters cost?
Most Washington quarters minted in 1936 are collectible and valuable pieces. You can find those in low grades for $5 to $20, while specimens in uncirculated condition cost up to $350.
However, beautiful coins struck in Philadelphia this year can reach high prices at auctions. One such coin was paid $9,000 in August 2022.
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