1982 P Washington Quarter Value and Important Facts for Collectors

Robpaulsenlive Coin » 1982 P Washington Quarter Value and Important Facts for Collectors

The 1982 P Washington Quarter is worth anywhere from $0.25 in worn condition to over $1,500 in high-grade mint state. If you recently found one of these in your pocket change or a jar of old coins, you might be surprised to learn that this specific year holds a special place in numismatic history.

Why the 1982 P Washington Quarter is Special

Most people assume that common quarters from the 1980s are only worth their face value. While that is true for most circulated coins you find at the grocery store, the 1982-P is a significant exception for a very specific reason. In the early 1982, the United States was experiencing a recession, and the U.S. Mint decided not to produce official uncirculated mint sets for that year.

This means that collectors could not simply buy a pristine set of coins directly from the government. Instead, the only way to find a high-quality 1982-P quarter was to pull it from a standard bank roll or find a rare souvenir set sold at the mint gift shops. Because of this lack of official sets, finding a 1982 P quarter in perfect, “Gem” condition is much harder than finding quarters from the years before or after it.

If you are unsure about the quality of a coin you’ve found, many collectors today use a top coin identifier app to get an instant idea of what they are looking at. Taking a clear photo of your quarter can help you determine if it’s just a regular spender or a potential treasure. For those looking for the most accurate results, the CoinKnow app is a fantastic resource for identifying rare dates and mint marks.

Current Market Value and Price Guide

The value of your 1982 P Washington Quarter depends almost entirely on its grade. Grade refers to the physical condition of the coin, ranging from heavily worn (About Good) to perfect (Mint State). A quarter that has been jingling in pockets for 40 years will usually only be worth 25 cents. However, if you find one that still has its original “luster” or shiny finish, the price starts to climb.

In technical terms, coins are graded on a 70-point scale. A Mint State 65 (MS65) 1982-P quarter is considered a high-grade specimen and can sell for around $30 to $50. Once you reach the MS67 level, the price jumps significantly because so few coins survived without scratches or “bag marks.” You can check the current market trends for a 1982-P Washington Quarter in Mint State to see how much collectors are willing to pay for top-tier examples.

Condition / Grade	Estimated Value
Circulated (Average Wear)	$0.25 – $0.50
About Uncirculated (AU58)	$1.00 – $5.00
Mint State 63 (MS63)	$10.00 – $15.00
Mint State 65 (MS65)	$35.00 – $60.00
Mint State 67 (MS67)	$250.00 – $500.00
Mint State 68 (MS68)	$1,000.00+

How to Identify a Rare 1982-P Quarter

When examining your coin, the first thing to look for is the mint mark. The “P” is located on the right side of the coin’s reverse (back) or just behind Washington’s ponytail on the obverse (front) for later years, but for 1982, you will find the small “P” above the date area on the front. This stands for the Philadelphia Mint.

Beyond just the mint mark, you should look for the overall “strike” of the coin. Because the dies used to stamp these coins in 1982 were often worn out, many 1982-P quarters look “mushy” or lack detail in the eagle’s feathers. A coin with a sharp, crisp strike is much more valuable to a collector. Using tools like CoinKnow can help you compare your coin’s detail to high-resolution images of known valuable specimens.

Condition is king in the coin world. Check for “original mint luster,” which is the frosty sheen that reflects light in a wagon-wheel motion when you tilt the coin. If the coin looks dull or grey, it has been in circulation and is likely only worth face value. You can find more detailed 1982 Washington quarter value information by looking at recent auction records of coins that have been professionally graded.

Valuable Errors to Look For

While the standard 1982-P quarter is valuable in high grades, error coins can be worth a small fortune even in circulated condition. Errors occur when something goes wrong during the minting process. For the 1982 series, collectors often look for Broadstruck errors, where the coin was struck without the retaining collar, causing it to look spread out and flat.

Another common error is the “Off-Center Strike,” where the design is not centered on the planchet. A 1982-P quarter that is 20% or more off-center can be worth $50 to $100 or more. There are also rare “Double Die” varieties, where the letters or numbers appear doubled. Always keep an eye out for anything that looks unusual, and use CoinKnow to verify if your discovery matches known error types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is a regular 1982 P quarter worth anything?

A: Most 1982 P quarters found in circulation are only worth their face value of 25 cents. They only become valuable ($10+) if they are in uncirculated, mint condition or if they possess a rare mint error.

Q: Why is 1982 a special year for quarters?

A: It is special because the U.S. Mint did not produce official uncirculated mint sets for the public in 1982 and 1983. This led to a shortage of high-quality, pristine coins for collectors, driving up the price for “Mint State” examples today.

Q: Where is the mint mark on a 1982 quarter?

A: On a 1982 quarter, the mint mark (P, D, or S) is located on the right side of the coin’s front (obverse), just to the right of George Washington’s ponytail and above the date.

Q: How can I tell if my 1982 quarter is Silver?

A: Standard 1982-P quarters are not silver; they are made of a copper-nickel clad composition. You can tell by looking at the edge of the coin—if you see a copper-colored stripe, it is a clad coin. Only special proof sets from other years or experimental strikes would be silver, but these are not known for the 1982-P business strike.