1934 Washington Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1934 Washington quarter is a silver coin with real collector interest, thanks to several motto varieties and a recognized doubled die obverse. Circulated examples in Good-4 condition start around $16.43 according to guide estimates, while a selected MS65 can reach roughly $536 for ordinary Philadelphia issues.
The doubled die obverse variety commands significantly more, with one MS65 example selling for $3,220 at auction. Both the Philadelphia and Denver mints struck quarters this year — no San Francisco issue exists for 1934.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1934 Washington Quarter
Want a quick read on what you have? Upload clear photos of both the front and back of your 1934 quarter.
Our identifier can offer a preliminary identification based on your images, helping you spot the mintmark location and motto style. It is not a substitute for professional authentication or certified grading, but it is a solid first step before you dig deeper.
1934 Washington Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1934 Washington Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1934 Washington Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- The 1934 Doubled Die Obverse (Philadelphia) is the standout variety, with guide estimates around $4,080 in MS65 and a confirmed Heritage auction sale of $3,220 at that grade.
- Philadelphia Light, Medium, and Heavy Motto varieties each have distinct hub characteristics worth checking — the Heavy Motto tends to trail slightly in MS65 guide value compared to the other two.
- Denver-mint 1934-D quarters come in Medium and Heavy Motto, with the Heavy Motto recognized as the scarcer of the two.
- A documented 1934-D Heavy Motto specimen carries a raised die crack across the upper obverse, adding a mint-made error to an already scarce variety.
- Original uncirculated surfaces matter more than age alone on these coins — ordinary wear, natural toning, and the absence of a mintmark are not errors or indicators of special value.
Step 1: Identify Your 1934 Washington Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Start with the obverse. The date sits below Washington's portrait.
Now flip to the reverse and look directly beneath the wreath tie — a small "D" means Denver, and a blank space means Philadelphia. There is no 1934-S quarter, so do not worry about that one.
The coin is struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighs about 6.25 grams, and measures roughly 24.3 mm across. Check the edge: it should be fully reeded with no copper-clad stripe visible.
If you see a copper line, you are holding a later clad quarter, not a 1934.
The big sorting task for 1934 is the motto variety. Look at "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the obverse.
The light motto has noticeably thinner, weaker letters. Medium motto letters are thin but clearer, with the center of the "W" sitting below the tops of the outer strokes.
Heavy motto letters are thicker, and the center of the "W" reaches above the outer peaks. These differences come from different hubs used at the mint, not from wear or damage.
Philadelphia coins exist in all three plus a doubled die obverse; Denver coins come in medium and heavy motto only.
Step 2: Check Your 1934 Washington Quarter Grade
When grading a 1934 Washington quarter, focus on the hair detail above the ear first. On a well-preserved coin, individual strands are sharp and unbroken.
As the coin wears, the hair flattens into smooth patches, the cheekbone loses its rounded contour, and the jawline softens.
Flip to the reverse. The eagle's breast feathers and the detail in the wing tips wear next.
Compare your coin against the reference image to gauge where it falls.
One trap: a weakly struck coin can look worn even if it never circulated. If luster is intact across the high points but detail is soft, you may have a strike issue rather than actual friction.
Also watch for hairlines from cleaning and rim dings — a shiny coin is not automatically uncirculated. Professional grading services are the reliable way to confirm a specific numeric grade.
Step 3: Check 1934 Washington Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1934 Washington Quarter — Light Motto
The 1934 Light Motto is a Philadelphia issue with no mintmark. You can identify it by the noticeably thin and somewhat faint letters of "IN GOD WE TRUST." The lettering looks almost incomplete compared to the medium and heavy versions.
Pay close attention to the "W" — on the light motto, the center dip and outer peaks may be harder to distinguish because the letters are so fine.
Guide estimates place this version around $16.43 in Good-4, about $82 in MS60, and roughly $258 in MS65. These are retail guide figures from USA Coin Book, not guaranteed sale prices.
Condition and eye appeal drive actual transactions.
| 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 | |||
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| MS 67 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter — Medium Motto
The 1934 Medium Motto is the middle ground among Philadelphia issues. Letters in "IN GOD WE TRUST" are thin but clearly defined.
The key diagnostic: look at the "W" and note that its center point sits below the tops of the outer strokes.
Guide estimates are similar to the Light Motto — around $16.43 at Good-4, $82 at MS60, and $258 at MS65. In circulated grades the price difference between motto types is minimal, but in higher uncirculated grades the specific motto variety starts to matter to specialists.
Confirm your attribution by comparing the letter thickness directly against known examples.
| 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 | Coin Identifier | |||
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter — Heavy Motto
The 1934 Heavy Motto is the third Philadelphia hub variety. The letters of "IN GOD WE TRUST" are visibly thicker than on the medium or light versions, and the center of the "W" rises above the outer peaks.
That last detail is the fastest way to confirm you have the heavy motto.
Guide estimates run about $16.43 in Good-4, $46 at MS60, and around $215 at MS65. The MS60 and MS65 figures trail the light and medium motto slightly.
In worn grades, the premium differences are negligible. Eye appeal and original surfaces still dominate what a buyer will pay.
Coin Value Lookup is a useful starting point if you want to compare values across different Washington quarter dates and varieties before deciding whether to pursue 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 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter — Doubled Die Obverse
The 1934 Doubled Die Obverse is the heavy hitter among Philadelphia varieties. This coin shows clear die doubling — most visible in the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST," where doubled outlines appear as a second set of raised letters slightly offset from the first.
The date numerals and "LIBERTY" also show supporting duplication, though the motto is where to look first.
Do not confuse this with the normal heavy motto. Heavy motto letters are simply thicker from a different hub; doubled die letters show two distinct impressions.
The error section below covers the diagnostics in detail.
Guide estimates put this variety at about $69 in Good-4, approximately $1,252 at MS60, and around $4,080 in MS65. A confirmed PCGS MS65 example sold at Heritage Auctions in July 2012 for $3,220.
These are individual data points, not a guaranteed price curve, but they show the clear premium this variety carries over regular 1934 quarters.
| 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 | — | — | — | |
| MS 68 | — | — | — | |
| MS 69 | — | — | — | |
| MS 70 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter — D Washington Quarter — Medium Motto
The 1934-D Medium Motto is the standard Denver-mint issue. Look for the small "D" mintmark below the wreath on the reverse.
The motto lettering matches the Philadelphia medium motto diagnostic: thin letters with the "W" center below the outer peaks.
No specific numeric guide estimate is adopted for this version in the current data. Value depends on authenticated identity, condition, and whether any errors are present.
A professional grading service can confirm the motto variety and assign a grade, which is the most reliable basis for establishing a sale price. Denver quarters from 1934 are less commonly encountered than Philadelphia issues, so authenticated examples in higher grades tend to attract specialist attention.
| 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 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter — D Heavy Motto
The 1934-D Heavy Motto is the scarcer of the two Denver varieties. Identify it the same way as the Philadelphia heavy motto: thicker letters in "IN GOD WE TRUST" with the center of the "W" sitting above the outer peaks, combined with the "D" mintmark on the reverse.
No specific numeric guide estimate is adopted for this version. Value depends on authenticated identity, overall condition, and any accompanying errors.
One documented high-grade specimen of this variety also carries a raised horizontal die crack across the upper obverse hair, which adds a mint-made feature to an already uncommon coin. If your 1934-D matches the heavy motto diagnostics, professional attribution is worth considering.
| 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 | — | — | — |
1934 Washington Quarter Error List
1. 1934 Washington Quarter — Doubled Die Obverse
The 1934 Doubled Die Obverse affects Philadelphia-mint quarters. The strongest doubling appears on "IN GOD WE TRUST," where you can see a second set of raised letter outlines distinctly separated from the primary strike.
The date digits and "LIBERTY" also show supporting duplication, though less dramatically.
The critical distinction: do not mistake the normal heavy motto hub for a doubled die. Heavy motto letters are simply thicker by design from a different hub.
A genuine doubled die shows two overlapping impressions — look for offset shadows or split serifs rather than uniformly thick strokes.
Also rule out machine doubling, which creates flat, shelf-like distortion rather than raised secondary lettering. Scratches, wear, and post-strike damage can mimic doubling at a glance but will not produce the consistent die-made pattern.
One PCGS-graded MS65 example sold for $3,220 at Heritage Auctions in July 2012. That is a single auction result, not a universal valuation for every DDO specimen.
2. 1934 Washington Quarter — Raised Die Crack
A raised die crack has been documented on a 1934-D Heavy Motto quarter. The crack runs horizontally across the upper obverse, passing through Washington's hair.
Because the crack formed in the die itself, it appears as a thin raised line on the coin's surface — metal was pushed up into the gap as the die deteriorated.
This is the opposite of a scratch. A scratch cuts into the surface and removes metal; a die crack adds a ridge.
If you run a fingernail across the line and it catches as a bump, that is consistent with a die break. If the line is recessed, it is likely post-mint damage such as a cut or filing mark.
No separate price premium for the die crack alone is supported by the available data. The value of such a coin depends on authenticated identity, the motto variety, overall grade, and the severity and visual appeal of the crack.
Professional evaluation is the best route for a coin like this.
