How can such a small, and at first glance, inexpensive coin become a prize item for many coin collectors worldwide?
A lot of people end up surprised when they hear how much an old washed-up coin can hold. But little do they know that one of the main reasons is the historical background that Washington Quarter has in abundance.
As you know, this coin was made in honor of the 200th birthday of George Washington. Also, it was wildly popular during wartime, Moreover, it was among the first coins that switched from silver to clad composition, and finally, it was among the first coins that carried a P mint mark.
The 1943 Washington quarter was produced in large quantities at three different mints – Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. This high mintage means most 1943 quarters in circulation are common and worth face value or silver melt value, which is currently around $3.50.
For circulated 1943 quarters, the value ranges from:
- Philadelphia Mint (No Mint Mark): $5 – $7
- Denver Mint (D Mint Mark): $5 – $20
- San Francisco Mint (S Mint Mark): $5 – $20
However, there are some key factors that can give certain 1943 quarters significant collectible value and premiums:
- Condition – Uncirculated 1943 quarters certified MS-65 or higher by PCGS/NGC can be worth $50 to $100 or more based on grade. The finest known examples in pristine MS-67 or MS-68 condition can be worth thousands.
- Mint Marks – The lower mintage 1943-D (16 million minted) and 1943-S (21 million) issues trade for slight premiums over the Philadelphia mint (99 million minted) coins.
- Varieties – The 1943/1942 Doubled Die Obverse and the 1943-S Doubled Die Obverse are popular varieties worth thousands of dollars in Uncirculated condition due to strong collector demand.
- Errors/Major Variants – Off-center strikes, coins struck on wrong planchets, and major repunched mintmark varieties also carry steep premiums when certified.
Notable recent sales for rare 1943 quarters include:
While most 1943 quarters have minimum value, certifiedCondition, mint marks, variety attributes, and striking errors are key factors that determine 1943 quarter value for rare and collectible examples.
So while most are common, certified gems and scarce varieties of the 1943 quarter can be highly valuable to collectors due to strong demand. But most circulated examples only carry a bullion silver value around $3.50.
So there you go, if this list isn’t enough to explain to you why numismatics are such big fans of the Washington Quarter then this article will.
Read on about the 1943 Quarter value and you’ll learn to not judge a coin by its age and face value.
Why Is The 1943 Washington Quarter Series Valuable?
As we already mentioned in the previous article, all wartime coins are very popular among collectors. When we talk about the 1943 Washington Quarter, the mintage was high in this minting year due to the increased demand for hard currency caused by WWII. This historical background is what makes these coins valuable and special, considering the fact that the next large mintage volume like this happened again two decades later.
Also, all pre-1965 quarter coins are popular as a good investment as junk silver. We talked about this in some of our previous articles, but we will explain it once again. Junk silver coins are all silver coins that are damaged so much that they can’t be used as collectible items, but they can be sold for their melt value. Each pre-1965 Washington Quarter consists of 6.35 grams of silver, so there are still some good bucks in damaged coins.
Nowadays, you can find numerous quarters in circulated and uncirculated conditions that are selling for out-of-this-world prices. This is because these coins are highly collectible, particularly those with higher grades, so the collectors will pay large amounts to own them.
Did you know that best-preserved specimens can be worth tens of thousands of dollars? That is a pretty good investment if you ask us!
Price Guide For Common 1943 Quarter Coins Worth Investing
The Washington Quarter coins are very precious to coin collectors, considering this is the longest-running series of US coins. We mentioned before that you’ll need 66 different Washington Quarter coins to complete the collection, since the first series was minted in 1932, and the last one in 1999.
Taking this information into consideration, you should not be surprised by the high price tags some of these coins can reach. Logically, not every series is valuable the same, even though the coins look almost exactly the same, some are more precious than others. Among them are all pre-1965 Washington Quarters, due to their silver content.
If you are on the hunt for 1943 Washington Quarters then you are at the right place! In the table below we enlisted regular, as well as error varieties, and their current prices on the coin market.
Quick price overview
There is a major difference between the prices of uncirculated and circulated coins. For instance, 1943 Washington Quarters in circulated condition are estimated to be worth between $5 and $45, while those in mint state are $6,500.
However, a lot of circulated coins are still in good condition and suitable as collecting examples. Here is the list of the top 3 common coins worth investing in:
1943 no mint mark Quarter value
The majority of 1943 Washington Quarters were minted in Philadelphia, the exact number is 99,700,000 coins. This is a pretty large minting volume and most of these coins ended up in circulation. Like all coins minted in this facility pre-1980, they do not carry any mint mark.
Coins from circulation that are still in good condition are valued to be worth from $5 to $7, while uncirculated specimens (very rare) are valued to be worth from $7 to $275! The 1943 quarters in pristine condition will cost a few thousand dollars, a great example is the 1943 MS68 graded coin that was sold for $23,000.
However, pay attention to error coins, since some amount of them ended up with a double die struck. These are very attractive among collectors, so for instance, a 1943 error quarter from this mint with MS66 grade was sold for $17,600.
1943-D mint mark Quarter value
It seems that the Denver Mint during wartime produced fewer coins than regular. Just like the 1942 Washington Quarter, the 1943 quarter series was also produced in low mintage volume, only 16,095,600. Now we would think that considering the low mintage these coins are the most valuable, but somehow that isn’t the truth.
Usually, circulated 1943-D quarters will cost between $5 to $20. Those that are in the mint state will go up to $300, but these are the prices for specimens with MS66 and MS67 grades. However, if you’re lucky enough to have MS68 1943-D quarter you can cash up $17,625!
Even though this variety is not the most valuable, coins in good condition can be worth quite a lot due.
1943-S mint mark Quarter value
Once again San Francisco facility minted more quarter coins than the Denver facility, which is odd. In 1943 around 21,700,000 was produced in this facility. This is not a large mintage volume, however, most of these coins ended up in circulation so their price is not as high as we would expect.
The deal is that the higher the quality the higher the price so look for the uncirculated versions if you can. Also, like in the Philadelphia mint, some amount of the minted coins are with double die error which increases their value significantly! A 1943-S error quarter with MS66+ grade was sold for $11,750.
An average price for circulated 1943-S quarters is between $5 and $20. Meaning that these coins are perfectly suitable for new coin collectors with limited budgets. On the other hand, circulated coins with high grades will cost from $30 to $500.
Uncirculated coins easily achieve prices of a few thousand dollars, the highest amount paid for the 1943-S quarter with grade MS68 was $20,400.
Rarest & Most Valuable 1943 Quarter coins on the coin market
The Main Features Of The 1943 Washington Quarter Coins
The 1943 quarter coins feature the same design as all previous quarters. On the obverse side of the coin, you will find an image of George Washington facing left. Just above his head, the word “Liberty” is engraved, while you can see the inscription “In God We Trust” below his chin.
Remember that all quarters minted before 1968 have only the designer’s initials and the minting year on the obverse side.
When you turn the coin on the reverse side you’ll see an image of an eagle will standing on a cluster of arrows with his wings fully outstretched. A wreath of olive branches is placed below his talons and this is where the mint mark is located if the coin was minted in Denver or San Francisco.
The denomination “Quarter dollar” is engraved on the bottom of the coin. On the other hand, the Latin motto “E pluribus unum” and “United States of America” are placed above the eagle’s head. This series of quarters was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
All quarters minted pre-1980 in the Philadelphia facility do not carry a mint mark. Silver quarters are heavier than clad quarters and they weigh around 6.25 grams. An important thing to remember is that all quarter coins feature a reeded edge with 119 reeds.
List Of Errors Found On 1943 Washington Quarters
You might be thinking that there will be a lot of different errors, considering the production technology was lower in earlier years. The truth is different, a 1943 series did not have as many errors as some other series of minted coins did. However, it did have enough to significantly enhance the value of the 1943 quarter coin and make it interesting to collectors.
Here are some of the most valuable errors that occur in this coin series.
1943 Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse (No Mint Mark)
There is no information about how many coins with this type of error ended in circulation. Regardless of their condition and grade, these quarters can fetch you a lot of money. The error features doubled numbers in the dates, also some letters of the engravings might be doubled as well.
Coins with this error in fine condition are estimated to be worth from $250 and up to $2,500. Those in extra fine condition will sell for $2,500 and up, while mint condition coins start from $5,000.
For instance, a 1943 error coin with grade MS 68 is estimated to e worth around $20,000 to $25,000. We know that one example was sold for $17,400. Anyhow, the prices will depend on the state and grade of your coin.
1943-S Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse
The exact same error occurred in coins that originate from the San Francisco facility however, these coins are worth noticeably less than the no mint mark variety. But the good thing is they are worth a bit more than regular strike coins.
Coins in extra fine condition are estimated to be worth around $150 to $200. If you have a specimen that is graded with MS 67 or MS 68 grade you can earn from will get $10,000 to $15,000!
Where Can You Trade Valuable 1943 Washington Quarters?
Wartime coins are very sought-after coins due to their historical background, as well as the material they are made of – 90% silver. This combination means one thing – the coin was replicated a lot.
We can’t emphasize enough how big of a problem this is since these replicas are so good that even professionals have a hard time recognizing them at first glance. Knowing this you should carefully choose where you will buy or sell your precious coins. Luckily for you, there are a lot of different options when it comes to trading precious coins.
Why would you risk when you can choose to work and trade with some of the reliable dealers from our list? Here are auction houses and coin web pages that we firmly recommend as they are proven and reliable – Heritage Auctions, PCGS, Coins For Sale, Stack’s Bowers, and Littleton Coin Company.
When you are about to sell your coin what you need to do is to inspect the current market trends. Coins greatly vary in popularity and price, so you need to choose the best time for trading. Sometimes a coin that you own will be worth a lot today, and in a week it will lose a large part of its value. This is why you need to actively follow market fluctuations and trends.
To be able to make a decision you need to know the facts such as demand, supply, and current price ranges. Web platforms like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers will help you find this information.
However, if you are looking to buy coins on these platforms we recommend you do thorough research and find the most reliable seller. Always look for feedback, comments, or anything else that can help you find out if the seller is proven and trustworthy.
FAQ
Why did soldiers use silver coins in WWII?
The story says that soldiers usually carried silver or gold coins like emergency money. When you are in a foreign country and you have a coin made from a precious metal you can still trade. Also, silver coins are more resistant than paper money so demand during wartime for solid money was more than ever before.
Are there any other valuable 1943 Quarter coins with errors?
There are a few more examples of 1943 quarter error coins. However considering there are only a small number of them, they aren’t officially classified as 1943 quarter error coins. As you may notice in our table there are a few specimens minted on the wrong planchets.
Also, there are a few 1943 quarter coins with off-center errors, as well as die crack and die adjustment errors, but there are relatively low in value so we did not mention them in the list.
Silver Coins Worth Saving
We are pretty sure that you never thought how a coin that has a face value of 25 cents can be worth a few thousand dollars, some specimens are listed for a few tens of thousands of dollars. This is what draws collectors to hunt for Washington Quarters.
You can never know how valuable your old quarter coin really is before getting it examined by professionals. Hopefully, this article helped you learn more about the 1943 quarter value. We also have high hopes that it helped you realize that trading precious coins can be risk-free only when you are working with reliable dealers.
For all of you that find Washington Quarters an interesting topic, there are plenty of Washington-Quarter-coins-relatable articles on our blog. We recommend you read the 1942 Washington Quarter value article and learn why wartime coins are so important to numismatics.
Also, we would like to hear from you, so in case you know some information that we didn’t mention here, please do not hesitate to share your opinions and advice in the comment section below. Good luck and happy hunting!
