The 1964 Quarter Dollar coin was the United States’ first commemorative coin. It was designed in 1932 and later changed into a regularly issued coin in 1934. John Flanagan, a skilled sculptor, designed it.
The 1964 quarter value is $0.25 as the face worth, but fetches about $12 in its mint uncirculated state.
Read on to learn more about the 1964 Quarter value, the history of its design, most iconic features, and answers to frequently asked questions about the coin.
What Is the 1964-Quarter?
The Quarter is an American coin worth 25 cents. Its denomination at face value is one-quarter of a dollar, hence the name ‘Quarter Dollar.’
The choice of a quarter dollar denomination was adopted from the Spanish tradition of dividing milled dollars into eight equal segments. Thus, two bits of an eighth segment are equivalent to a quarter dollar.
Mint
The Quarter was first minted in San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia. The main mint at Philadelphia produced the largest number of coins, which had no mintmarks. To date, minting and circulation of Quarter coins still take place.
Reason for Minting
The quarter coin was mainly designed to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America. Owing to its unique design and the relevance in commemorating an iconic leader, the US Mint widely embraced the quarter dollar for public use.
History of Design
The historic design of the quarter dollar is one of the most interesting in the country’s mint processing. The last quarter coin struck and circulated with silver as the dominant metal was in 1964. After that, all quarter coins struck for circulation were made of a dominant copper base.
Because of increasing silver prices, the then president, Lyndon Johnson, opted to produce coins using cheap and locally available metals. This was backed by the passage of the 1965 Coinage Act, which ultimately eliminated the production of silver-based coins.
However, to prevent mass hoarding of the rare silver by the public, the mints still produced large amounts of the quarter silver. As a result, the quarter dollar existed in two main series: Silver Series and Copper-nickel clad series.
According to the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, the quarter coin may undergo three new design series in the coming years. These designs may feature prominent American women, youth sports, and other influential personalities.
Features of the 1964 Quarter Dollar
Since 1964, the iconic quarter coin has undergone robust changes on its reverse face and the general composition. Currently, the most notable features include the following:
YouTube Video Showing Features of the 1964 Quarter Coin:
Portrait
The current regular issue in circulation features the portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America.
Obverse (Head) Features
The obverse face features the image of President George Washington facing the left direction as seen when held on the palms. John Flanagan’s sculptor was inspired by a fellow sculptor’s portrait of George Washington created in 1786.
The word LIBERTY appears above his head, while the date of minting is printed below his head, slightly to the left.
Also written on the obverse is an inscription ‘IN GOD WE TRUST,’ which appears on the left-hand side, below the president’s chin.
Reverse (Tail) Features
The reverse features a bald eagle with long, outstretched wings at the center of the coin. The eagle perches on a bundle of arrows and has a set of olive sprays beneath it.
Above the eagle is the word ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ and the motto ‘ E PLURIBUS UNUM.’
Below the eagle is the word ‘QUARTER DOLLAR,’ which indicates the coin’s face value.
Mintmark of the 1964 Quarter Dollar
Most of the 1964 quarter dollars were minted without mint marks. However, those that bear a mint mark have it on the coin’s reverse side, below the wreath on which the bald eagle is perched.
Quarter coins minted at Denver and San Francisco have mintmarks ‘D’ and ‘S’ respectively, although they are the rarest. If a coin is blank at the known position of the mint mark, it means it was minted at the Philadelphia Mint.
Slogans written on the Quarter Dollar
- IN GOD WE TRUST
The slogan is a famous inscription on coins minted by the United States of America. It emerged due to an increase in religious sentiments expressed by the Americans during the civil wars. The motto has continuously been used on all silver, gold, and half-and quarter-dollar coins struck from July 1, 1908.
- E PLURIBUS UNUM
The motto is a Latin word that stands for: out of many, one. It was adopted as the country’s approved motto in 1776. According to Harvard research, it signifies the country’s ability to form a unitary nation out of numerous states.
This was viewed as a significant achievement, realized from the unity of many people with different beliefs, backgrounds, skin color, and values.
LIBERTY
Liberty is one of the most important values and founding principles of the people of the United States of America.
Liberty is an imaginary female figure adopted by the United States as a universal representation of freedom. According to the US Money Reserve, one side of the US coin should have an inscription of LIBERTY.
The Metal Used on the Quarter Dollar
Through its lifetime, the quarter dollar has had two significant changes in its metal composition. Initially, all quarter coins minted from 1932-1964 contained 90% silver and 10% copper. They weighed 6.25 grams and had a silver content of 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver.
In 1965, a significant change occurred. The US silver reserves had been depleted to alarming, low levels. The US mint was therefore authorized to research alternative materials to produce the dollar coins.
The mint, therefore, removed silver from all the Washington Quarter coins. Instead, they made a new series consisting of 91.67 % copper and 8.33% nickel. All Washington Quarter coins currently minted are therefore composed of a cladding of copper and nickel.
Weight and Dimensions
US Quarter coins do not have the same weight. As a result of the historical change of the materials used for minting, they have slightly different weights.
A quarter silver dollar coin weighs 6.25 grams, is 1.75 mm thick, and 24.26 mm wide. It has a reeded edge that contains approximately 118 reeds.
The newly clad coins minted after 1964 are lighter alloys that weigh 5.67 grams. They are popularly referred to as ‘Clad sandwiches’ because they have an inner copper plate and nickel casing.
The 1964 Quarter Coin Value
Because of their high content of silver, 1964 Washington Quarters will always have a higher value than their face value.
What Is the Face Value?
The face value of a quarter dollar is 25 cents. This is the standard denomination indicated on the reverse face of the coin.
How Much Is the Metal in a Quarter Coin Worth?
The 1964 quarter coin contained 90% silver as the dominant metal. At the time of publishing this article, the rounded silver value for the quarter coin was $4.3674. This is the value that coin dealers use to calculate the melt value.
What Is the Melt Value?
This is obtained from an aggregate of both the silver value and the silver spot price. A silver quarter consists of 0.181 troy ounces of pure silver as the silver value. The melt value for the quarter coin stands at $4.3733.
How Much Is the Quarter Coin at the Pawnshop?
Quarter coins are worth at least the equivalent of their weight in silver. On average, a quarter coin will fetch $6.00 in average condition and $42 in the certified mint state at an auction.
At a pawn shop, the average value of a quarter coin is between $3 and $5. However, the Washington Quarters 1932 ‘S’ and ‘D’ are highly valued at more than $100 in any condition.
The San Francisco and Denver mints only produced a small number of quarter coins in 1932. If in a better condition, the value could even be higher.
Comparison Table Showing the Value of 1964-Quarter Coins
| Year | Good Condition | Fine Condition | Extremely Fine Condition | Uncirculated Condition |
| 1964 | $4.033 | $4.033 | $4.033 | $5.142 |
| 1964 D | $4.033 | $4.033 | $4.033 | $5.142 |
Factors That Influence the 1964-Quarter Value
Since most coin collectors prefer buying professionally graded quarter coins, you may consider grading your coins before you sell them. Your numismatic collection may increase in value, depending on various factors. They include:
Rarity
The most apparent sign of rarity is the date of minting. This is the year indicated below the portrait of President George Washington.
In most cases (not always), an older quarter coin will be more valuable than a newer coin. Quarter coins minted from 1964 or earlier have a dominant silver content, hence valuable.
Mintmark
To determine the value of a Washington Quarter Coin, try to locate the mintmark at the back of the coin. The mark indicates the branch of the mint that made the coin. Quarters with the mint mark ‘S’ or ‘D’ are very rare, hence valuable.
Grade
Quarter values are identified according to four primary grades. Uncirculated, Extremely Fine, Fine, and Good.
Excellent grades have minor wear on the curls and hair of the president’s portrait. On the other hand, a good grade has significant details flattened by wear, and the letter tops seem to merge with the rim.
FAQs About The 1964 Quarter Value
1. What Silver Quarter Coins Are Worth Money?
All quarters are worth some money. Every silver quarter coin will fetch about ten times its face value of 25 cents.
2. Which Is the Most Valuable Silver Quarter?
The most valuable of all silver quarter coins is the 1937 Double Die Obverse (DDO). It has a value of $13,000 at mint state.
3. Where Can I Sell My Silver Quarter Coins?
You can sell your quarter coins to any reputable coin dealer, online auction, or through a private transaction with a coin collector. However, ensure your buyer understands your coin’s value to have a fair price.
4. What Quarter Coin’s Years Should I Keep?
All quarter coins manufactured in 1964 or before are highly valuable. They contain 90% of pure silver.
In Conclusion: Is a 1964 Quarter a Worthy Collection?
Silver quarters are in high demand and still fetch remarkable prices in their finest, uncirculated condition. So, whether you are a first-time seller or an expert in the trade, you can still smile as you walk out of the bank. The trick is to gather a set of the most valuable quarter-dollar coins.
