1983 Washington Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Most 1983 Washington quarters are worth their 25-cent face value if they show any wear at all. That said, high-grade uncirculated examples can be surprisingly rewarding — a USA Coin Book guide estimate for a 1983-P in MS65 reaches $81.
The reason is simple: the U.S. Mint did not sell ordinary uncirculated mint sets in 1983, so pristine business strikes had to survive on their own. Proof, variety, and error coins each carry their own identity and grade-dependent value.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1983 Washington Quarter
The quickest way to get a preliminary read on your 1983 quarter is to snap clear photos of both the front and back, then upload them to our identifier. Good lighting and a straight-on angle help the tool distinguish mintmarks, surface condition, and potential varieties.
This is a starting point for identification, not a certification or exact grade assignment.
1983 Washington Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1983 Washington Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1983 Washington Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- 1983-P quarters in MS65 or higher are worth checking — guide estimates reach $81 at MS65, partly because no standard mint sets were sold that year.
- The 1983-P Spitting Eagle die-clash variety sold for $504 in MS66+ at Heritage Auctions in March 2018, making it the standout attributed variety for the date.
- 1983-D quarters also reward high grades, with an MS65 guide estimate around $56 from USA Coin Book.
- Error coins such as off-center strikes, broadstrikes, and wrong-planchet strikes each carry their own premium depending on condition, visibility, and authentication.
Step 1: Identify Your 1983 Washington Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Look near the date on the obverse for the mintmark. A "P" means Philadelphia, a "D" means Denver, and an "S" means San Francisco proof.
If the mark is missing or obscured, do not automatically assume Philadelphia — you need supporting evidence.
All three versions are copper-nickel clad, weighing about 5.67 grams at 24.3 mm diameter. An S mintmark does not mean silver for this year.
Check the edge for the telltale copper-colored stripe of a clad coin, but do not try to authenticate alloy by surface color alone.
One important variety exists: the 1983-P Spitting Eagle. This is an attributed die-clash variety where a raised ridge appears below the eagle's beak on the reverse.
It is not a random scratch, an incuse line, or a generic die crack — it has a specific, recognized origin and location.
Step 2: Check Your 1983 Washington Quarter Grade
Start by examining the hair detail above Washington's ear and along the cheek and jawline. Then flip the coin and check the eagle's breast feathers.
Friction shows up in these high points first. The key is separating actual wear from a weak strike — a weakly struck coin may look worn but still have original luster in protected areas.
Use the comparison image to gauge where your coin falls. Original mint luster matters a lot for uncirculated grades.
Contact marks (bag marks from other coins) and cleaning hairlines both knock a coin down, sometimes severely.
For proofs, that mirrored finish and any frosted contrast (cameo) are manufacturing characteristics, not grades. A proof can still be low-grade if it has scratches or haze.
Step 3: Check 1983 Washington Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1983 Washington Quarter — P
The 1983-P is a copper-nickel clad business strike from Philadelphia, carrying the standard Washington obverse and heraldic eagle reverse. Because the Mint skipped regular uncirculated sets this year, finding a clean, lustrous example is harder than you might expect.
Rolls that were put away at the time are the main source of gem survivors.
A USA Coin Book guide estimate places the MS65 value at about $81. Circulated pieces are worth face value.
If your coin has full original luster and minimal bag marks, it is worth a closer look and possibly professional grading.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 64 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1983 Washington Quarter — D
Denver's 1983-D quarter shares the same copper-nickel clad composition and design as its Philadelphia counterpart. Look for the small "D" mintmark near the date.
The same lack of official uncirculated sets applies here, so gem examples are scarce relative to mintage. A USA Coin Book guide estimate puts the MS65 at roughly $56.
Worn examples are still just quarters. Focus on luster and surface quality if yours looks uncirculated.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | PO 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| FR | FR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AG | AG 3 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G | G 4 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| G 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VG | VG 8 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VG 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| F | F 12 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| F 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF | VF 20 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| VF 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| VF 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| XF | XF 40 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| XF 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU | AU 50 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| AU 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| AU 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS | MS 60 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| MS 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 64 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| MS 65 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 66 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1983 Washington Quarter — S Proof
The 1983-S proof was struck at San Francisco and sold in proof sets — it was not released into circulation. It features the "S" mintmark and the characteristic sharp, mirrored finish of proof production.
A USA Coin Book guide estimate for PR65 is about $4.96. Cameo and deep cameo contrast designations describe the degree of frost on raised devices against mirrored fields; they are not different metals or separate coin types.
The generic PR65 guide figure cited here is not a cameo- or deep-cameo-specific price. Higher contrast and higher numerical grades command more.
Coin Value Lookup is a useful starting point if you want to look up values for other quarters or denominations alongside your 1983-S.
| Range | Grade | Price | Auction Records | Appraisal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR | PR 1 | — | Coin Identifier | |
| PR 2 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 3 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 4 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 6 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 8 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 10 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 12 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 15 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 20 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 25 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 30 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 35 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 40 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 45 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 50 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 53 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 55 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 58 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 60 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 61 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 62 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 63 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 64 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 65 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 66 | — | Coin Identifier | ||
| PR 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 68 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 69 | Coin Identifier | |||
| PR 70 | Coin Identifier |
1983 Washington Quarter — P Spitting Eagle Quarter
The 1983-P Spitting Eagle is a recognized die-clash variety, not a scratch or random die crack. During production, the obverse and reverse dies clashed together without a planchet between them.
This transferred a raised ridge from Washington's neck onto the reverse die, right below the eagle's beak. The result looks like the eagle is spitting — hence the name.
To identify it, examine the area just below the beak closely under magnification. You should see a distinct raised line that matches the contour of Washington's neck from the opposing die.
Wear and strike strength can make the feature harder to spot on lower-grade coins.
A PCGS-attributed example graded MS66+ sold for $504 at Heritage Auctions in March 2018. That is one recorded high-grade sale, not a blanket price for every Spitting Eagle quarter.
Condition and the strength of the clash ridge both matter.
Ordinary-issue reference: Ordinary-issue reference only: The table below shows prices for the 1983 Washington Quarter (regular strike). It does not represent the value of the specific 1983-P Spitting Eagle Quarter variety or its variety premium. Year, mint, metal and strike type are matched; the specific variety is not priced by this table.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
—
Coin Identifier FR FR 2
—
Coin Identifier AG AG 3
—
Coin Identifier G G 4
—
Coin Identifier
G 6
—
Coin Identifier VG VG 8
—
Coin Identifier
VG 10
—
Coin Identifier F F 12
—
Coin Identifier
F 15
—
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
—
Coin Identifier
VF 25
—
Coin Identifier
VF 30
—
Coin Identifier
VF 35
—
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
—
Coin Identifier
XF 45
—
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
—
Coin Identifier
AU 53
—
Coin Identifier
AU 55
—
Coin Identifier
AU 58
—
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
—
Coin Identifier
MS 61
—
Coin Identifier
MS 62
—
Coin Identifier
MS 63
—
Coin Identifier
MS 64
Coin Identifier
MS 65
Coin Identifier
MS 66
Coin Identifier
MS 67
Coin Identifier
MS 68
—
—
—
MS 69
—
—
—
MS 70
—
—
—
1983 Washington Quarter Error List
1. 1983 Washington Quarter — Spitting Eagle Die Clash
The Spitting Eagle is a die-clash variety specific to the 1983-P quarter. A raised ridge appears below the eagle's beak on the reverse, corresponding to the profile of Washington's neck from the obverse die.
This happened when the two dies struck each other without a blank between them, imprinting part of one design onto the other.
To confirm it, look under magnification for a raised line in the correct location below the beak. It should follow the curve of Washington's neck.
Random incuse scratches, stray die cracks, or displaced metal from post-mint damage will not match this specific shape and position.
A PCGS-attributed MS66+ example brought $504 at Heritage Auctions in March 2018. That is a single high-grade recorded sale, not a guaranteed value for every example.
2. 1983 Washington Quarter — Off-Center Strike
An off-center 1983-P quarter results from misalignment between the planchet and the dies during striking. The design shifts to one side, leaving an unstruck crescent of blank metal.
Both obverse and reverse will show the displacement equally.
The key details for value are the percentage of offset, whether the date and mintmark are still visible, and the coin's overall grade. A 1983-P struck approximately 15 percent off center, graded NGC MS67 with the date preserved, sold for $192 at Heritage Auctions in December 2025.
Watch out for post-mint fakes: coins that have been hammered, cut, plated, or chemically damaged. A genuine off-center strike shows properly struck surfaces on the visible portion and a clean, curved unstruck area — not rough edges or suspicious discoloration.
3. 1983 Washington Quarter — Broadstrike
A broadstrike happens when a coin is struck without the retaining collar that normally limits its diameter and forms the reeded edge. The result is a quarter that spreads outward, appearing wider and thinner than normal, with the design still centered but the rim malformed or absent.
Look at the edge profile carefully. A genuine broadstrike will show smooth, outward metal flow and a complete (though expanded) design.
Compare this with an off-center strike, where part of the design is missing entirely, or with a coin that was simply flattened after leaving the mint.
Condition, the degree of visible spread, and professional authentication all affect what a broadstrike 1983 quarter is worth. Individual assessment is necessary.
4. 1983 Washington Quarter — Doubled Die Reverse
A doubled die reverse on a 1983 quarter would show doubling in the reverse legends or design elements — lettering, the eagle, or the motto — caused by a misalignment during the die-making process. This is a hub-doubling variety, distinct from the much more common machine doubling that occurs during striking.
To check, compare your coin's reverse inscriptions closely against a normal example under magnification. Genuine doubled die features show separated, raised design elements.
Machine doubling, by contrast, typically looks flat and shelf-like, without the same raised definition.
Reflections, camera artifacts, and random surface damage can also mimic doubling at first glance. Value depends on the visibility and extent of the doubling, overall condition, and proper attribution.
5. 1983 Washington Quarter — Wrong Planchet / Off-Metal Strike
A 1983 quarter struck on a nickel (5-cent) planchet is a wrong-planchet error — the quarter dies struck a blank intended for a different denomination. The resulting coin would carry the full quarter design but on a smaller, lighter blank.
To identify one, compare weight and diameter against normal specs (5.67 g, 24.3 mm for a quarter). A nickel planchet is smaller, and the design may be incomplete around the edges because the blank could not fill the die cavity entirely.
Be wary of plated coins, acid-treated pieces, or corroded quarters that merely look different. Proper weight measurement and, ideally, professional authentication are essential.
Value depends on condition, completeness of the design, and verification of the planchet.
6. 1983 Washington Quarter — Indented Strike
An indented strike occurs when a second blank or foreign object overlaps the planchet during striking, creating a bounded depressed area on the finished coin. The indented zone will lack normal design detail in that area, while the rest of the coin strikes up normally.
This has been reported for the 1983 quarter as part of a combination error alongside a finned rim. Look for a clearly defined depression on the reverse that is not simply a post-mint dent.
A dent from damage tends to show displaced metal and disrupted surfaces, while a struck indent has a smoother, pressed character within its boundaries.
Condition and the visual impact of the indent both influence value. Professional authentication is important for combination errors.
7. 1983 Washington Quarter — Finned Rim
A finned rim is a thin, blade-like extension of metal along the coin's rim, caused by excess striking pressure forcing metal into the gap between the die and the collar. It has been reported on the 1983 quarter in combination with a reverse indent error.
Examine the rim from the edge. A genuine fin will be a uniform, thin metal projection that follows the rim's curve.
It differs from a bent or damaged rim, which will show irregular deformation, tool marks, or uneven metal. A filed edge will lack the natural taper of a struck fin.
Since this is reported as part of a combination error with an indented strike, look for both features together. Value depends on the condition of the coin, the prominence of the fin, and proper identification of the companion error.
