1977 Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
What is the value of a 1977 quarter? This is a question that many people ask, and it can be difficult to determine the answer. The value of a 1977 quarter depends on its condition, rarity, and other factors.
In this blog post, we will discuss the value of a 1977 quarter in detail. We will also look at the history and features of this coin.
So if you’re wondering “what is the value of a 1977 quarter?” then keep reading! This post is for you.
1977 Quarter Value Chart |
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Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
1978 No Mint Mark Quarter | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $6.65 |
1978 S Quarter (Proof) | / | / | / | $4.52 |
1942 D Quarter | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $6.65 |
1977 Quarter Value Guides
Now that we have discussed the history and features of 1977 quarters, let’s look at their value.
These coins range in value based on condition — Good condition, Fine condition, Extremely Fine condition, and Uncirculated condition. Let’s look at each condition of the 1977 quarter, categorizing by their US Mint location.
1977 No Mint Mark Quarter Value
The 1977 no mint mark quarter comes from the US Mint location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For most of its history, besides a couple of rare occasions, it hasn’t used a mint mark on its coin.
This quarter is not as rare or valuable as some other version of this coin. There were 468,556,000 of these coins minted! This means that no matter which condition it is in, whether it is Good, Fine, Extremely Fine, or Uncirculated, then it will probably be worth around face value, which is twenty five cents.
However, the most valuable version of this coin is a brilliant Uncirculated coin, where it’s in extremely pristine condition. This one could bring in about $6.65. There is an outlier quarter, though, which in near-perfect condition sold at auction for about $200.
1977 D Quarter Value
The 1977 D Quarter, or the 1977 Denver Mint quarter, is the second most common version of this coin. There were only 256,524,978 of these coins minted and released into circulation.
This means that if it’s in Good condition, Fine condition, or Extremely Fine condition, it will probably be worth around twenty five cents (or face value). However, its value increases a little at the Uncirculated condition level. An Uncirculated 1977 D Quarter can fetch about $6.65 in pristine condition on average. There has been one coin at a near-perfect condition that sold recently at auction for $430, so it is possible to find the exception to the rule.
1977 S Quarter Value
The 1977 S quarter was minted at the San Francisco, California US Mint location, and it is the least common of all three minted quarters. In fact, only 3,251,152 of these little coins were minted here!
These coins are considered Proof coins from 1977. Proof coins are coins that are specially made to look mirror-like and are meant for collectors and not for business circulation.
Proof coins are only really worth much if they are in Uncirculated (or essentially near-mint) condition. They are worth face value (twenty five cents) at Good, Fine, and Extremely Fine condition, and at perfect condition, the 1977 S quarter is worth about $4.52.
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However, one exception was a Proof quarter that was an absolute perfect condition coin. It sold for $340, which is pretty impressive.
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1977 Quarter Errors
If you have a 1977 quarter with some kind of error or variety (coins that have been made with mistakes or abnormalities during production), then your coin could be much more valuable than just twenty five cents. This is because these types of coins are considered valuable and rare.
Some common errors that might be found on 1977 quarters include (but are not limited to) errors such as double die coins, double struck designs, or misaligned die (off center) images.
You can find 1977 quarter error coins like these at online auction sites like eBay or sometimes at local pawn shops. Let’s take a look at a few 1977 quarter error coins that have sold recently at auction.
1977 Broad Struck Quarter Error
One 1977 quarter that sold at auction recently had a broad strike error. A broad strike is when the die (the device used to stamp the image onto the coin) isn’t properly secured during minting and the design of the coin appears stretched out or enlarged.
This 1977 error quarter sold at auction for about $65.
Another similar 1977 quarter had been broad struck but also multi struck, which means it was struck multiple times. The way it ended up, the fluted rim design was spread across the outside of the obverse design, rather than along the rim. It sold at auction for about $95.
Another variation of the broad struck quarter includes one that was struck on a curved clip planchet. That means the piece of metal that was used for create the quarter had a piece clipped out of it, making the shape a little bigger than a half circle. It sold for about $50 at auction.
1977 Struck on a Silver-Clad Planchet Quarter Error
One 1977 D quarter (Denver US Mint location) sold at auction recently was made on a silver-clad planchet, rather than the standard copper-nickel blend. This is an extremely rare coin error.
This happened by accident because in the year prior (1976), when the US Mint created the special quarters to commemorate the bicentennial, a few of those coins were meant to be 40% silver. One of those planchets had slipped by and was used in 1977 to make a quarter.
This coin weighs 5.7 grams instead of the usual 5.67 grams, and it sold for an amazing $4,900! Wow!
1977 Off Center Quarter Error
An off center 1977 quarter was sold at auction recently. The more off center the design, the more it is worth, generally. This particular 1977 quarter had been struck with the obverse design being slightly off center, so it sold for about $15.
1977 Quarter Struck on a Five Cent Planchet Error
Another auctioned 1977 D quarter was struck on a five cent planchet, meaning it was made with the wrong metal – metal that was meant for a Jefferson nickel!
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It was sold for about $55.
1977 Quarter Struck on a One Cent Planchet Error
Finally, another 1977 D quarter was sold at auction recently that had been struck on a one cent planchet. This means it was made with metal that was meant for a Lincoln penny! How exactly these two planchets were confused is anyone’s guess, but regardless, it happened and it made this copper colored quarter worth a lot of money.
This coin sold for an amazing $1,100!
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History of the 1977 Quarter
First, let’s look at the history of the 1977 quarter.
The 1977 quarter is one of what’s known as Washington quarters. It’s one of the most iconic coins ever, known the world over as the United States’ twenty five cent (quarter dollar) coin.
The Washington quarter was first introduced to the public in 1932, as part of the United States Mint’s commemorative coin series. The coin was meant to honor George Washington, the first President of the United States, for his 200th birthday.
The obverse (front) of the coin features a bust of George Washington, while the reverse (back) features an eagle clutching a cluster of arrows over a couple of olive branches. This design symbolizes the United States’ readiness to defend itself but also its desire for peace.
This design of George Washington was created by the sculptor, John Flanagan. John Flanagan was an accomplished sculptor and was responsible for a number of medal plaques and other notable coinage in the United States, but the Washington quarter is his biggest lasting legacy. Not everyone gets a chance to have their artwork immortalized on a coin, recognized by the entire world!
The Washington quarter remained in circulation until 1998, when it was altered to make room for the 50 State Quarters Program. In this program, the obverse of the quarter still contained Washington’s face, but the design was updated by a sculptor artist named William Cousins. The eagle on the reverse side of the coin was replaced by images of each of the 50 states.
The only time this quarter’s design changed from 1932 to 1998 was in 1975 to 1976, the two years directly before our article’s 1977 quarter. They changed it at that time to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial.
While there were no notable changes to the quarter’s design in 1977, there is still value to be had with this coin, depending on the mint, condition, and errors. We will explore all of that in upcoming sections.
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how to identify 1977 Quarter
Now that we have a deeper understanding of the 1977 quarter’s history, let’s look at its features, such as the quarter’s design, metal composition, mint marks, and size and weight.
The Obverse of the 1977 Quarter
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The obverse (front) of the 1977 quarter features a bust of George Washington looking left. As we mentioned before, it was designed by sculptor John Flanagan in the 1930s. He created it by looking at a 3D sculpture that someone else had made of the first president back when George Washington was alive. The word “LIBERTY” arcs across the top, above his head, the date 1977 is printed down below him, and the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” are inscribed along the left side toward the bottom. The coin is rimmed and fluted in order to give the coin some definition and distinction from other coins of similar size.
You will also find the mint mark, if there is one, on the lower right side of the coin.
The Reverse of the 1977 Quarter
The reverse (back) side of the 1977 quarter features a valiant eagle with his wings outstretched toward the rim of the coin. He is clutching a cluster of arrows in his talons and flying above two olive branches.
The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “QUARTER DOLLAR” are printed on the upper and lower rim of the coin, respectively, and the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is written in small letters just above the eagle’s head.
Other Features of the 1977 Quarter
There are a handful of other features to be looked at when you are examining a 1977 quarter. Let’s look at the metal composition, the mint marks, and its size and weight.
Metal Composition
The 1977 quarter is composed of a mixture of copper (91.76%) and nickel (8.33%), which gives it durability. Decades before this, the quarter was constructed out of silver, but all of that changed in order to save a little money and preserve the silver for other uses.
Mint Marks
Mint marks are small letters that identify which US Mint location that the coin was made at. It is a letter code, with “S” representing the San Francisco Mint, “P” representing the Philadelphia Mint, and “D” representing the Denver Mint.
The 1977 quarter was made at all three mint locations.
Size and Weight
The quarter is not the largest coin used in the United States, but it is on the bigger end and also is widely used. The diameter is 24.3 millimeters, and the weight is 5.67 grams.
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FAQs
We have learned so much about the 1977 quarter. Let’s now look at some of the most frequently asked questions about this interesting coin.
What is Special About a 1977 Quarter?
The 1977 quarter is a special coin because it can have valuable errors that make it worth more than twenty five cents. It is always important to keep an eye out for these errors as they can often be worth a lot of money.
How Do I Know if My 1977 Quarter is Worth Money?
You can tell if your 1977 quarter is worth money by looking for errors, such as double die coins, broad strikes, off center strikes, or being struck on the wrong planchet. If you find any of these errors then your coin could be worth more than twenty five cents.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – everything you need to know about 1977 quarters!
As you can see, every-day 1977 quarters are usually worth face value (twenty five cents), but they can be quite valuable if they have errors. These error coins are highly sought after by collectors and can fetch prices well above their twenty five cent face value.
If you have a 1977 quarter that looks out of the ordinary in any way, make sure to get it professionally evaluated. It could be an extremely rare and valuable 1977 quarter error or variety! Good luck and happy hunting!
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