1985 Washington Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Most 1985 Washington quarters you pull from a jar are worth 25 cents, full stop. They were made in huge numbers and circulated heavily.
That said, a clean 1985-P graded MS65 carries a guide estimate around $19, while the 1985-S clad proof sits near $4.96 in PR65. The real action comes from mint errors on this date, where documented auction prices reach into the hundreds.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1985 Washington Quarter
Snap a clear photo of the front and back of your 1985 quarter and upload both images. Our identifier can give you a preliminary read on which mint version you have and whether anything looks unusual.
Good lighting and a steady hand help a lot — blurry shots make it tough to distinguish real doubling from camera shake.
1985 Washington Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1985 Washington Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1985 Washington Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1985-P in MS65 carries a guide estimate of about $19, the highest among the three standard versions for this date at that grade level.
- A 1985-P missing obverse clad layer error sold for $59 in MS63 at Heritage Auctions, and a double-struck 1985-P brought $480 in MS64 — both worth checking for.
- Doubled die obverse and doubled die reverse varieties have been reported for the 1985 quarter; value depends on the specific die, visibility and condition.
- The 1985-S clad proof in PR65 has a guide estimate near $4.96, making it an affordable collectible from proof sets of the era.
Step 1: Identify Your 1985 Washington Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Check the mintmark just to the right of Washington's ponytail ribbon, near the date. A "P" means Philadelphia, "D" means Denver, and "S" means San Francisco proof.
There is no blank-mintmark Philadelphia variety for 1985, so every business-strike Philly coin should show a P.
All three versions are copper-nickel clad, with an overall composition of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel, weighing about 5.67 grams and measuring roughly 24.3 mm across. None contain silver.
The obverse shows Washington's portrait with the date and mintmark; the reverse features an eagle with arrows and olive branches.
Although mintages were large for both P and D, genuinely clean high-grade Philadelphia coins are tougher to find than the production numbers suggest. Don't confuse a shiny, cleaned coin with a true uncirculated example — they're very different things.
Step 2: Check Your 1985 Washington Quarter Grade
Focus on four areas. On the obverse, check the hair above Washington's ear and along the cheek and jawline for any flattening or rub.
On the reverse, the eagle's breast feathers lose definition first. Compare your coin against the reference image and look for unbroken mint luster across the high points rather than just brightness.
Contact marks and hairlines drag a coin's grade down fast, even if the design shows no wear. Cleaning is especially common on clad quarters and always hurts value.
For proofs, remember that "proof" describes how the coin was manufactured — mirror fields, sharp strikes — not a grade higher than Mint State. A DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation refers to strong contrast between frosted devices and reflective fields, not silver content.
Step 3: Check 1985 Washington Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1985 Washington Quarter — P
The 1985-P was struck at Philadelphia in enormous quantities, yet finding one that grades MS65 or higher without bag marks and contact hits is harder than you'd expect. A USA Coin Book guide estimate puts the MS65 value at about $19.
Look for the "P" mintmark to the right of the ribbon. The coin is copper-nickel clad, weighs approximately 5.67 grams, and carries the standard Washington obverse with the heraldic eagle reverse.
In lower circulated grades these are pure face-value coins. The premium kicks in only when original luster is fully intact and surfaces are largely free of distracting marks.
Coin Value Lookup is a good starting point if you want to compare values across different dates and mints in the Washington quarter series.
| 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 | — | — | — |
1985 Washington Quarter — D
Denver's 1985-D quarter is another high-mintage clad issue. In MS65, the USA Coin Book guide estimate is about $11 — a step below its Philadelphia counterpart at the same grade.
Identify it by the "D" mintmark near the date. Same copper-nickel clad composition, same 5.67-gram nominal weight.
Circulated examples are face value. Even in lower mint-state grades, the premium is minimal.
You need a coin with clean fields, strong luster and minimal bag marks to get into the range where anyone pays a meaningful premium over 25 cents.
| 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 | — | — | — |
1985 Washington Quarter — S Proof
The 1985-S clad proof was produced at San Francisco for collector proof sets. It carries a USA Coin Book guide estimate of roughly $4.96 in PR65.
Look for the "S" mintmark.
These are copper-nickel clad, the same composition as the business strikes — no silver in this issue. A Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation is a separate contrast assessment and commands different pricing than a standard proof, so don't assume a generic PR65 guide figure applies to a DCAM coin.
Proofs should have mirror-like fields and sharply defined devices. Hairlines from mishandling or improper storage are the most common grade-limiting problem.
| 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 |
1985 Washington Quarter Error List
1. 1985 Washington Quarter — Missing Obverse Clad Layer
A 1985-P quarter missing its obverse clad layer exposes the copper core on the front while the reverse and edge appear normal. The key diagnostic is the distinctive reddish-copper color on one side combined with reduced weight.
A documented example weighed 4.68 grams, noticeably below the standard 5.67 grams.
One such coin, graded ANACS MS63 Red and Brown, sold for $59 at Heritage Auctions in December 2012. That's a single recorded result, not a guaranteed market price.
Be cautious with lookalikes. Post-mint filing, chemical stripping, plating removal or acid exposure can all reveal copper underneath, but these are damage, not mint errors.
A genuine missing-clad piece should show original strike surfaces, correct diameter, and a weight consistent with a missing layer. An odd color by itself is not enough.
2. 1985 Washington Quarter — Double Strike with Off-Center Second Strike
This is one of the more dramatic errors known for the 1985-P quarter. The coin received a second strike roughly 70 percent off center, leaving two clearly separated impressions of the design.
You can see distinct portions of Washington's portrait from each strike, with the second image broadly displaced from the first.
A Heritage Auctions example graded NGC MS64 sold for $480 in January 2023. That price reflects the severity and visual appeal of the specific piece.
Don't confuse this with hub doubling or machine doubling. A genuine double strike shows a complete second impression of the design in a different position — not just minor shelf-like doubling on letters.
The displacement is obvious to the naked eye and doesn't require magnification to spot.
3. 1985 Washington Quarter — Curved Clipped Planchet
A curved clipped planchet occurs when the blank is punched from an area of strip metal that overlaps a previous punch hole, leaving a crescent-shaped missing segment. A documented 1985-P quarter shows approximately 10 percent of the planchet missing in a smooth curve.
One specimen graded NGC MS63 sold for $99 at Heritage Auctions in January 2023. Value depends on the size of the clip and overall condition.
To confirm authenticity, examine the entire coin. The clipped edge should show undisturbed metal flow from the minting process, and the opposing rim may show a corresponding area of weakness called the Blakesley effect.
Post-mint cutting or filing will leave tool marks, sharp edges or an irregular shape that doesn't match a genuine clip. A coin that just looks oddly shaped isn't automatically an error.
4. 1985 Washington Quarter — Partial Collar with Obverse Brockage
This combined error on a 1985-P quarter involves two things happening at once. The coin was partially restrained by the collar die during striking, creating a visible step or ledge around part of the edge.
At the same time, a previously struck coin remained in the press and transferred an incuse mirror image of the obverse design onto the new coin — that's the brockage element.
A Heritage Auctions specimen graded NGC MS63 brought $71 in January 2023. Because this is a single combined error, that price covers both features together.
Lookalikes include post-mint damage like squeezing, filing or hammering that can mimic a raised rim or odd markings. A genuine example needs original striking surfaces, correct design elements and evidence of the collar malfunction on the edge paired with the transferred incuse impression.
5. 1985 Washington Quarter — Doubled Die Obverse
Doubled die obverse varieties have been reported for the 1985 quarter. A DDO shows consistent doubling — separation or notching — on obverse design elements like letters, the date or parts of Washington's portrait.
The doubling should appear uniform across the affected area and look the same under different lighting angles.
No specific price has been established here because value depends heavily on the particular die pair, how visible the doubling is, and the coin's overall condition. A strong, easily seen DDO in high grade will always command more than a subtle one requiring heavy magnification.
Machine doubling is the most common lookalike. It produces flat, shelf-like distortion rather than the rounded, separated profiles of a true doubled die.
Reflections and worn die contours can also mimic doubling under certain lighting. Compare carefully against a known normal coin under matched illumination before drawing conclusions.
6. 1985 Washington Quarter — Doubled Die Reverse
Doubled die reverse varieties have also been reported for the 1985 quarter. These show consistent doubling on reverse design elements — the eagle, lettering, arrows or olive branches.
Look for separation or notching that repeats uniformly across the affected area rather than appearing random.
As with the DDO, no specific price range is available. The value of any DDR depends on which die it comes from, how visible the doubling is and the coin's grade.
A barely detectable variety in circulated condition won't move the needle much.
The usual suspects apply for lookalikes. Machine doubling leaves a flat shelf with no rounded profile.
Random damage, wear and cleaning can all obscure or mimic design irregularities. Use good magnification and compare reverse legends and contours directly against a normal 1985 quarter before deciding you've found something.
7. 1985 Washington Quarter — Struck-Through Error
Struck-through errors on the 1985 quarter occur when foreign material — commonly grease — gets trapped between the die and the planchet during striking. This leaves a localized depression or area of incomplete design where the material blocked the full impression.
Grease-filled dies tend to obscure letters or small design features, while a retained foreign object can leave a distinct impression of its shape.
No adopted price is available for this category. Value hinges on the size, location and visual impact of the obstruction, plus the coin's condition.
Don't confuse struck-through errors with ordinary wear, weak strikes from a tired die, scratches or cleaning damage. A genuine struck-through area should be recessed into the coin's surface and bounded cleanly, not gradually fading like normal circulation wear.
Examine under magnification and look for the sharp transition between fully struck and obstructed areas.
