Prepare to be surprised: a quarter, so common in our pocket, can hide great value. The 1970 edition of the George Washington quarter is a clear example of this. Discover the features that make it so special and why collectors eagerly seek it out.
What does the 1970 quarter look like?
Obverse (more commonly known as the head): The obverse of the 1970 quarter shows a central bust of George Washington , facing left. This depiction is based on a sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon and includes the inscriptions “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” as well as the year of mintage.
Reverse (more commonly known as tails): The reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings, holding arrows in its talons, also facing left, mirroring Washington’s orientation on the obverse. It features the inscriptions “United States of America”, “Quarter Dollar” and “E Pluribus Unum”.
What is the value of the 1970 quarter dollar coin?
What makes this coin so special? It turns out that the 1970 Denver minted quarters have a secret. During their production, some mistakes were made that make them extremely rare. For example, some were minted on thinner slabs originally intended for dimes – imagine finding one of those! Thanks to these errors and their short life in circulation, some of these coins in mint condition can fetch astronomical prices at auction, fetching over $15,000.
But not all coins that have these factors will sell for that much money, there are some considerations such as the condition of the piece that will reduce its value at auction. The specific specifications of the one that sold were:
- PCGS Number: 5886
- Designer: John Flanagan
- Edge: Reeded
- Diameter: 24.30 mm
- Weight: 5.67 grams
- Mintage: 417,341,364
- Mint: Denver
- Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel over a pure copper core
- Auction Record: $15,000 • MS69 • 08-02-2023 • eBay
Although 1970 Denver minted quarters with certain characteristics can fetch surprising prices, they are not all the same. The value of these coins varies considerably depending on their condition. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) provides the following average values for 1970-D quarters in various conditions:
- MS-63; Up to $2
- MS-64: Up to $5
- MS-65: Up to $16
- MS-66: Up to $22
- MS-67: Up to $65
- MS-68: Up to $2,800