1836 Capped Bust Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1836 Capped Bust quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in a silver-copper alloy containing approximately 89.24% silver. Guide estimates for this date range from about $132.00 to $4,951.00 depending on the specific version and grade.
That spread reflects the difference between a well-worn circulated coin and a choice uncirculated example, so condition and version matter enormously.
Fast Way to Identify Your 1836 Capped Bust Quarter
If you have an 1836 quarter and want a quick read on what you're holding, snap clear photos of the front and back and upload them here. The preliminary identification can help you figure out which version you have and point you toward the right part of the value guide.
Good lighting and a steady hand make a big difference.
1836 Capped Bust Quarter Value
Upload both sides of your 1836 Capped Bust Quarter.
Front Obverse
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Back Reverse
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Which 1836 Capped Bust Quarter Versions Are Worth Money?
- 1836 business strike: USA Coin Book guide estimates reach $4,951.00 at MS63, making high-grade survivors the key target for this date.
- 1836 proof: no adopted numeric price, but authenticated proofs from this era are rare and individually assessed based on condition and confirmed proof status.
Step 1: Identify Your 1836 Capped Bust Quarter Mint Mark and Version
Every 1836 Capped Bust quarter was produced at Philadelphia, so there is no mintmark to look for. The design uses the reduced-diameter format introduced in 1831, with Liberty wearing a cap on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse.
Unlike the earlier large-diameter version, this type does not carry the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse.
Two branches exist for 1836: the regular business strike and a proof issue. The proof is a deliberately made collector piece with mirrored surfaces, not simply a shiny coin that was never spent.
If you think you have a proof, authentication by a major grading service is essential because surface reflectivity alone does not confirm proof manufacture.
The coin's composition is a silver-copper alloy at roughly 89.24% silver. Coins dated 1837 and later shifted to 90% silver, so the 1836 sits right at that transition.
Step 2: Check Your 1836 Capped Bust Quarter Grade
Focus on Liberty's hair above the ear and the folds of her cap first. These are the highest points on the obverse and the first places to lose detail from handling.
On the reverse, check the eagle's breast feathers and the tops of the wings.
Wear and strike weakness can look similar if you aren't careful. A weakly struck coin may lack fine detail even though it was never circulated, while a worn coin loses its original luster along with the detail.
Compare both together using the reference image.
Luster is your friend here. A coin that still shows cartwheel reflections across the fields is likely uncirculated regardless of soft spots in the design.
A coin with flat, dull surfaces and smooth high points has seen real pocket time.
Cleaning is a separate issue entirely. Bright, unnaturally shiny surfaces with fine hairlines visible under magnification usually mean someone scrubbed the coin.
That hurts value significantly even if the underlying detail is strong.
Step 3: Check 1836 Capped Bust Quarter Value by Mint and Version
1836 Capped Bust Quarter
The 1836 business strike is the version most collectors will encounter. It was produced at Philadelphia with no mintmark.
USA Coin Book estimates place a well-worn G4 example around $132.00, an MS60 uncirculated piece near $2,506.00, and a choice MS63 at roughly $4,951.00. These are guide estimates, not guaranteed sale prices.
Original surfaces matter here. A coin with natural toning and no signs of cleaning will command stronger interest than one that has been polished, even at the same technical grade.
Match the mint, design details and condition carefully before settling on a value.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PO PO 1
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Coin Identifier AG AG 3
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Coin Identifier G G 4
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G 6
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Coin Identifier VG VG 8
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VG 10
Coin Identifier F F 12
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F 15
Coin Identifier VF VF 20
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VF 25
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VF 30
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VF 35
Coin Identifier XF XF 40
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XF 45
Coin Identifier AU AU 50
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AU 53
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AU 55
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AU 58
Coin Identifier MS MS 60
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MS 61
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MS 62
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MS 63
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MS 64
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MS 65
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MS 66
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MS 67
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MS 68
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MS 69
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MS 70
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1836 Capped Bust Quarter — PR
The 1836 proof is a distinct manufacturing finish, not simply a higher grade than Mint State. Proof Capped Bust quarters from this period were made in tiny quantities for presentation or collector purposes, and surviving examples are genuinely scarce.
No supported numeric price has been adopted for this version. Each proof trades on its own merits: confirmed proof status through a major grading service, the degree of surface haze or hairlines, and overall eye appeal all factor in.
A shiny business strike is not a proof, no matter how well preserved it looks. Mirrored fields, squared rims and a particular sharpness of detail are hallmarks, but authentication is the only reliable confirmation.
Coin Value Lookup is a good starting point if you want to look up guides for other Capped Bust quarter dates or related series while you research your coin.
Range Grade
Price Auction Records Appraisal PR PR 1
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PR 2
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PR 3
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PR 4
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PR 6
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PR 8
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PR 10
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PR 12
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PR 15
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PR 20
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PR 25
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PR 30
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PR 35
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PR 40
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PR 45
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PR 50
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PR 53
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PR 55
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PR 58
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PR 60
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PR 61
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PR 62
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PR 63
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PR 64
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PR 65
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PR 66
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PR 67
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PR 68
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PR 69
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PR 70
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1836 Capped Bust Quarter Error List
1. 1836 Capped Bust Quarter — Die Crack / Die Chip
Die cracks and die chips have been reported on 1836 Capped Bust quarters. A die crack shows up as a thin raised line on the coin's surface, running where the steel die fractured during use.
A die chip appears as a small raised blob, typically within a letter or design element, where a piece of the die broke away.
The key word is raised. If the line or bump sits above the coin's surface, it likely came from the die.
Incuse scratches, corrosion pitting or bits of foreign material pressed into the surface are not die cracks. Good magnification and angled lighting help separate the two.
A crack that reaches the rim and displaces metal is sometimes called a cud, which is a more dramatic form of the same problem. No specific price has been adopted for this error on the 1836 quarter.
Value depends on the visibility, location and severity of the crack, along with the coin's overall condition.
