1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Value Guide

The 1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Value

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter values are comparable across the circulation-strike grades. The San Francisco version is more valuable than the Philadelphia and Denver versions. The Denver version is worth more than the Philadelphia version at the highest mint-state grades.

Proof strikes remain comparable across grades, including for the cameo and ultra/deep cameo versions. San Francisco is more valuable than Philadelphia in this case, but not by much.

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter with that grade, or no value information (or not enough) exists for it yet.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

The 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter’s melt value is approximately negligible for the copper-nickel version. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

The 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter’s silver melt value is approximately $1 for the silver-copper version. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter	1776 To 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter	1776 to 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter
Good – G	$0.35	$0.35	$2
Very Good – VG	$0.35	$0.35	$2
Fine – F	$0.35	$0.35	$2
Very Fine – VF	$0.35	$0.35	$3
Extra Fine – XF	$0.35	$0.35	$3
About Uncirculated – AU	$0.40-$0.62	$0.40-$0.62	$3-$4
Mint State – MS	$0.95-2,400 (68)	$0.95-$5,100 (68)	$4-$9,600 (69)

Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 To 1976-S Proof Bicentennial Quarter	1776 To 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter
PR 60	$1	$3
PR 61	$1	$4
PR 62	$1	$4
PR 63	$5	$6
PR 64	$6	$9
PR 65	$8	$11
PR 66	$9	$12
PR 67	$10	$13
PR 68	$12	$15
PR 69	$15	$20
PR 70	N/A	N/A

Cameo (CA/CAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 To 1976-S Cameo Proof Bicentennial Quarter	1776 To 1976-S Cameo Proof Silver Bicentennial Quarter
PR 60 CA/CAM	N/A	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	N/A	N/A
PR 62 CA/CAM	N/A	N/A
PR 63 CA/CAM	$6	$7
PR 64 CA/CAM	$8	$8
PR 65 CA/CAM	$9	$12
PR 66 CA/CAM	$9	$12
PR 67 CA/CAM	$10	$14
PR 68 CA/CAM	$12	$15
PR 69 CA/CAM	$17	$20
PR 70 CA/CAM	$112	N/A

Ultra/Deep Cameo (UC/DCAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1776 To 1976-S Ultra/Deep Cameo Proof Bicentennial Quarter	1776 To 1976-S Ultra/Deep Cameo Proof Silver Bicentennial Quarter
PR 60 UC/DCAM	N/A	N/A
PR 61 UC/DCAM	N/A	N/A
PR 62 UC/DCAM	N/A	N/A
PR 63 UC/DCAM	$8	$9
PR 64 UC/DCAM	$9	$10
PR 65 UC/DCAM	$11	$13
PR 66 UC/DCAM	$12	$15
PR 67 UC/DCAM	$13	$17
PR 68 UC/DCAM	$15	$20
PR 69 UC/DCAM	$53	$32
PR 70 UC/DCAM	$187	$240

What Makes A 1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Valuable?

Grading, rarity of certain versions, mint marks, strike type, error coins, and die varieties add value to 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Grading is essential to a 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter’s value. Most grades for circulation strikes will not reach above $1 in value. The San Francisco version is the exception to this.

Still, the higher mint-state grades eventually reach thousands of dollars in value. 

Proof-strike coins start over $1 in value and reach into the hundreds.

Rarity

The Mint minted 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters approximately 1,691,961,954 times across all of its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1776 to 1976: 809,784,016 minted in Philadelphia^1,4
• 1776 to 1976-D: 860,118,839 minted in Denver^2,15
• 1776 to 1976-S Silver: 11,000,000 minted in San Francisco^3,6
• 1776 to 1976-S Proof: 7,059,099 minted in San Francisco^7,9
• 1776 to 1976-S Silver Proof: 4,000,000 minted in San Francisco^12,16

Because the Mint produced this quarter over 1.6 billion times, it’s not very rare.

Mint Marks

The U.S. Mint minted 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

Of the three, San Francisco coins are the most valuable. Philadelphia and Denver remain identical in value until the highest mint-state grades when Denver pulls away.

Strike Types

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have two strike types: circulation and proof.^18-21

Proof strikes are more valuable than circulation strikes. They increase the value by a dollar and typically more.

Design Variations

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have no design variations.

Special Designations

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have no special designations.

Error Coins

Errors add significant value to 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters. This equates to tens or hundreds of dollars in value. For some, it even equates to thousands.

Examples of errors for this coin include the following:²²

• Broadstrike errors
• Struck-off center errors
• Clip errors
• Missing clad layer errors
• Wrong-cent planchet errors

Out of all of these, the wrong-cent planchet errors are the most valuable by far.

The next most valuable are the missing clad layer errors. 

The rest follow in value.

Die Varieties

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters only have one die variety.²³ This is the doubled-die obverse variety, which means you’ll see doubling on the coin’s obverse side.

Specifically, you’ll see doubling in the word “Liberty.”

Depending on the coin’s grade, this die variety adds hundreds or thousands of dollars in value.

Composition

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have 2 compositions.

The first (and more common) composition is the copper-nickel composition. This does not add to the coin’s value. Even though it doesn’t, we still recommend against melting the coin down.

The second composition is the silver-copper composition. While melting this down does produce more value than the previous version, it’s still very minimal. Even with a changing market, we recommend against melting this coin down.

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Higher grades feature less wear, better luster, and more vivid details. 

Lower grades feature the opposite.

Mint Marks

Look on the obverse side (the front) of your 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter to find the mint mark. It will be to the lower right of George Washington’s profile.

Philadelphia won’t have one.

Denver will have a “D” mint mark.

San Francisco will have an “S” mint mark.

Strike Types

Circulation strikes will show wear unless they’re grade 60 or above. Even still, they should feature less vivid details and reflective finish than proof coins.

Cameo and ultra/deep cameo feature contrasts between the mirrored fields and frosted devices, with the latter featuring a deeper contrast than the former.

Design Variations

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have no design variations.

Special Designations

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters have no special designations.

Error Coins

Broadstrike errors are easy to determine because the coin will be larger than normal. 

Struck off-center errors are also easy to determine because the design will be shifted in one direction or another. It will also be incomplete as a result.

Clip errors are easy to determine because part of the coin will be missing. It’ll look like someone quite literally clipped off one or more parts of the coin.

Missing clad layer errors are also easy to determine because one or both sides of the coin will be missing their outer layer. As a result, the coin will have a coppery color.²⁴ 

Wrong-cent planchet errors are easy to determine as well because the coin will be a different size than normal. In other words, you’ll see a quarter design on a nickel-, penny-, or dime-sized coin. In the case of the penny coins, they’ll also be the wrong color.

Die Varieties

Look on the obverse side of your 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter to determine if you have the doubled-die obverse variety.

Specifically, look at the word “Liberty.” You should see what looks like a second letter beneath the first.

Additional Information About The 1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter

History

1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarters celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States declaring independence from Britain, which happened in 1776. 

The front bears the obverse design originally created in 1932 by John Flanagan.

The back bears a special reverse design used only for this year. Jack L. Ahr’s reverse design won the Mint’s public design competition.

^{Sources: 20-21}

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter’s obverse side features President George Washington’s profile facing to the right and filling most of this side of the coin. 

Above him is the word “Liberty,” and below him is “1776-1976.” 

The words “In God We Trust” sit below his chin.

Denver and San Francisco versions have a small letter to the lower right of President Washington’s profile. 

You’ll see a “D” for Denver and an “S” for San Francisco.

^{Sources: 1-6}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

The 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter’s reverse side features a Colonial drummer filling most of this side of the coin. 

Curving around the rim are the words “United States Of America” and “Quarter Dollar.” 

A torch and 13 stars sit by the drummer’s face.

Below them are the words “E Pluribus Unum.” These are Latin for “Out of many, one,” and they’re the United States motto.

Ahr’s initials “JLA” are above the “AR” of “Dollar” on the right-hand side.

^{Sources: 1,4}

Why Is It Called The 1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter?

“Bicentennial” means it’s the 200th anniversary of an event. In the case of this quarter, it’s referring to the 200th anniversary of the year the United States declared independence from Britain.

The “1776 to 1976” comes into play because the coins quite literally say 1776-1976 on them. Some also just call these 1976 quarters to keep the title short.

Sources

1776 To 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Value Guide Sources