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1954 Quarter Error List & Value

1954 Quarter Value

When it comes to coins, the 1954 quarter is an interesting piece, and that’s because of its silver content. Regardless of its condition, it’ll still be worth a fair price, and that’s due to the silver in it. The melt value of the 1954 quarter is $4.65, although it’s illegal to melt a coin for its metal value.

Our focus in this article is on the 1954 quarter, its worth, and error coins.

Stay tuned.

1954 Quarter Details

The 1954 quarter falls under the Washington Quarters, and it was minted in three different U.S. facilities (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco). The coin was designed by a sculptor, John Flanagan.

The face value of this coin is 25 cents, but in good condition, it’s worth about $4 or more. It has a diameter of 24.3mm and a thickness of 1.7mm. The total weight of the 1954 quarter is 6.25g, with its silver weight being 5.62g.

Like most Washington quarters, it comes with a reeded edge, and the silver composition of the 1954 quarter is 90%.

1954 Value Chart

Mint Good Fine Very Fine Uncirculated
1954 No Mint Mark Quarter Value $9.31 $9.31 $9.31 $12
1954 – D Quarter Value $9.35 $9.35 $9.35 $12
1954 – S Quarter Value $9.35 $9.35 $9.35 $12

1954 No Mint Mark Washington Quarter

1954 No Mint Mark Washington Quarter
Image Credit: usacoinbook

The 54,412,203 quarters minted in Philadelphia in 1954 had no mint mark, and since it was minted in large quantity, they are pretty common. You don’t even have to break the bank to purchase a piece and add it to your collection. The Philadelphia mint facility issued the highest amount of 1954 quarter production, and many of these quarters are still in circulation today.

The availability of this coin has reduced its value, and you’ll only get a good price for your 1954 quarter if it’s in pristine condition.

In circulated condition, a 1954 quarter is worth about $6, but in uncirculated mint condition, it’s valued for up to $11,000, and sometimes even more.

The Philadelphia mint produced 233,300 proof quarters with no mint mark as well. The reason behind the coins minted in Philadelphia not having a mint mark is because, initially only the Philadelphia mint was used for the production of coins, so there was no need to differentiate it. however, when other mint facilities were launched, mint marks were used to indicate where a coin was minted.

So, because the 1954 proof quarter was minted in quite a decent amount, you don’t need to spend so much money to buy one. In fact, you can buy a piece for less than $10.

Their value is highly dependent on their condition, and as such, you might end up paying over $600 if it’s in a pristine state.

A 1954-proof quarter-graded PR69DCAM is valued at $1,560.

1954 – D Washington Quarter

1954 – D Washington Quarter
Image Credit: pcgs

All coins minted in the Denver mint have the “D” mint mark, and the 1954 – D quarter is not an exception.

A total of 42,305,500 quarters were minted at the Denver facility, and they have a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. While the quantity is significantly lower than what the Philadelphia mint produced, it’s still a high number, making the 1954 – D quarter a very common coin. The downside about coins that are still very much in circulation, is that you need to have a piece in uncirculated premium condition before you can make “cool cash” out of it.

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The value of these quarters is the same as the ones minted in Philadelphia; you’ll only get a valuable 1954 – D quarter if it’s in uncirculated condition.

If you can still spot the delicate features on the surface of the coin, then it’s worth about $600 (putting into consideration the overall condition of the coin).

1954 – S Washington Quarter

1954 – S Washington Quarter

The San Francisco mint produced 11,834,722 quarters in 1954, which is by far the lowest mintage of the 1954 quarters. It’s very easy to spot the 1954 – S quarters, as they all have an “S” mint mark, just underneath the date on the reverse side of the coin.

In circulated condition, the value of the 1954 – S quarter is about $4, but if you manage to land a piece in mint state, you’ll probably sell it for thousands of dollars.

For instance, a 1954 – S quarter-graded MS68 is valued at over $12,000, but that same coin in the MS60 rating will be worth only $6. You can see how much of a difference the condition of a coin plays in its value, right?

The attention of collectors when buying a coin is on the exceptional quality and exceptional strike. Now, unless you have a 1954 – S quarter with a unique error or in an uncirculated condition, it might be difficult to sell it at a premium price.

History of the 1954 Washington Quarter

The Washington Quarter has been around for a really long time, it’s currently the longest-running quarter in the United States. This quarter was introduced into the US market as a 1-year commemorative coin, in honor of President George’s 200TH birthday. However, the one-year plan was exceeded, and the Washington quarter is still in circulation today. The first Washington Quarter was minted in 1932, and it was designed by the talented sculptor, John Flanagan. Prior to that, a competition was held in the U.S mint as a means to select the best designer for the Washington Quarter, and Laura Gardin’s design was selected, however, the Treasury Secretary rejected the idea.

A few members of the U.S. Commission members believed that Andrew Mellon refused Laura’s design because she was a female, and they made it a case of gender discrimination. But their objections and argument didn’t sway his decision, hence the Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan.

John got his inspiration from the design of Washington’s bust created by Jean – Antoine, a French sculptor.

So, on the observe side of the Washington Quarter, you can see George’s image, while the reverse side depicts the drawing of a bald eagle with arrows in its claws; a symbol of authority and power.  Looking at the bottom rim, there are two olive branches struck there as well; a symbol of oneness and peace.

The only logical reason why the Washington Quarter is still in production today is because of how important President George Washington was to Americans, and you can easily tell that he was loved by the people.

Up until 1965, the Washington quarter was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. When silver became a really expensive metal, the production of quarters using silver was discontinued. The U.S. Mint had to start using other metals of inferior quality like copper and nickel.

However, if you have a 1954 quarter in your stash, you are in luck, because even if it isn’t in good condition, it’ll be worth at least its silver value.

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1954 Washington Quarter Grading

The best way to grade your 1954 quarter is to take it to a reputable numismatist – there are lots of fake and quack coin graders out there.

A lot of things can go wrong when your coin is being graded by an amateur, from the cleaning process to the grading process.

However, if you are curious and want to have a little idea of your coin’s worth first, before taking it to a numismatist, we’d help you out.

Coins in “uncirculated” condition are worth the highest value, and if one looks at an uncirculated coin, you’ll be able to tell. Uncirculated coins look as though they were just brought out of the mint facility, but it might be an impossible task finding a 1954 quarter with this grade, the 1954 quarters have been around for more than a decade.

Coins graded as “extremely fine” usually still have sharply defined details, but with just a little scratch on the surface. You might find signs of minimal wear on the cheek line or the top of the hair.

1954 quarters in “fine” and “good” condition have visible signs of scratches, making them less desirable to coin collectors.

You can also check out this video, and learn how to grade a Washington quarter yourself.

Rare 1954 Washington Error Lists

Error coins are always interesting to collectors because they are categorized as “unique mistakes.”

The 1954 quarter mintage didn’t record a lot of error coins, and that’s what makes the error coins in this series even more desirable.

Let’s have a quick look at the two error coins of the 1954 quarter.

1. 1954 Washington Quarter Multiple Mintmarks

This error happens only in the San Francisco and Denver mints, as those are the only quarters with mint marks.

When you find a 1954 quarter with more than one mint mark, then it has the Repunched mint mark error. In the case of the 1954 quarter, the Repunched mint mark resulted in overlapping or partially visible mint marks.

Collectors are often drawn to this error coin, especially if the error is very visible. And depending on the condition of this error coin, it’s valued at over $200.

2. 1954 Washington Quarter Weak Strikes

1954 quarters with weak strikes are those coins that have been struck with insufficient pressure resulting in unclear and incomplete details.

The weak strikes can be noticed on various sides of the coin, but mostly on the central details.

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Spotting out a 1954 quarter with weak strikes might need a professional eye because sometimes it might just be a result of natural damage.

1954 quarters with original weak strike errors are usually worth $170 and above at auctions.

To learn more about the 1954 error quarters and what they are worth, take out your time to watch this video.

1954 Quarter Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Much Is The 1954 Washington Quarter Worth?

The 1954 quarter is worth $4 and above. Even in averagely circulated condition, you can sell this quarter for at least $4-$10.

2. What’s The Composition Of The 1954 Quarter?

The 1954 quarter is made of 90% silver and 10% copper.

3. Is The 1954 Quarter A Rare Coin?

No, it’s a very common coin. Even the proof variants that were minted in Philadelphia, are not considered rare, as they were minted in over two hundred thousand quantities.

4. What’s The Total Number Of Minted 1954 Quarters?

The total number of 1954 quarters minted in the three U.S. mint facilities is 108,785,725.

5. Can I Sell A 1954 Quarter For More Than Its Face Value?

Of course, the 1954 quarter is a silver coin, and the melt value of silver is $4.65. Hence, 1954 quarters are worth more than their 25 cents face value, even in an averagely circulated state. If you are in luck, and you find an error 1954 quarter in mint state, you have a “gold mine” in your hands.

6. Where Can I Buy A 1954 Quarter?

You can buy an original 1954 quarter from different channels, like coin auctions or online marketplaces. It’s important to still do more research, especially when you are buying a coin, so you don’t end up paying for a counterfeit.

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7. Can I Use The 1954 Quarter For Everyday Transactions?

Technically, yes. But because of their low value, people tend to keep them as collectibles and not for daily spending.

8. Can I Polish My 1954 Quarter To Make It Look Better?

While polishing your 1954 quarter might make it look shinier, it’ll in no way increase its value, instead, it might even reduce it.

Polishing your coin with chemicals can cause additional scratches and remove the original surface of the coin, thereby rendering it useless.

Conclusion

The 1954 quarter is a common but valuable coin. You might not sell it at a premium price unless it’s in a mint state.

The good thing about this quarter is that, when kept in a shiny and preserved state, it can fetch you thousands of dollars.

Yes, this quarter might not be seen as a rare coin, but it’s of value to coin collectors because of its silver content and history.

Check your stash of coins, and you might find a 1954 silver quarter worth selling. Remember to have it evaluated only by a professional and trusted coin dealer.

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