2002-S Mississippi State Quarter Value: Price & Grading Guide

The 2002-S Mississippi State Quarter is worth anywhere from $0.25 for circulated proof coins to over $50 for high-grade silver versions. While most examples found in change are common, certain deep cameo strikes and silver variations hold significant premium value for collectors and everyday finders alike.

Coin Variation	Average Value (PR65-68)	Record Price Sold
2002-S Clad Proof	$1.50 – $5.00	$210 (PR70DCAM)
2002-S Silver Proof	$8.00 – $15.00	$400+ (PR70DCAM)

History and Significance of the Mississippi Quarter

The 2002 Mississippi State Quarter was the 20th coin released in the United States Mint’s famous 50 State Quarters Program. This specific design honors the “Magnolia State,” featuring two elegant magnolia blossoms—the state flower—against a backdrop of the state’s nickname. It was officially released on October 15, 2002, marking a high point in the program’s popularity among the general public.

If you have stumbled upon one of these coins in your pocket change, the first thing to check is the mint mark located to the right of George Washington’s ponytail. While the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) mints produced hundreds of millions of coins for everyday commerce, the “S” mint mark indicates the coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint. To quickly identify these variations, many collectors use a top coin identifier app to distinguish between clad and silver versions instantly.

Using the CoinKnow app can help you verify the luster and strike quality, which is crucial because San Francisco coins were intended only for collectors in special proof sets. Finding an “S” mint mark in your pocket usually means someone broke open a collector set to spend the money. While these are less common than P or D coins, they are not always a “jackpot” unless they remain in impeccable, mirror-like condition.

Understanding the Clad vs. Silver 2002-S Variations

Not all “S” quarters are created equal. In 2002, the San Francisco Mint produced two distinct metallurgical versions of the Mississippi quarter: the Copper-Nickel Clad and the 90% Silver Proof. Distinguishing between them is the most important step in determining the Mississippi 2002 quarter value.

The Clad version has a core of pure copper sandwiched between layers of nickel. If you look at the edge of the coin, you will see a visible copper stripe. These were sold in standard proof sets and generally have a lower market floor. The Silver version, however, is made of 90% silver and 10% copper. The edge of this coin will be solid silver-white with no copper visible.

Many users of CoinKnow find that the weight of the coin is the ultimate “tell.” A clad quarter weighs 5.67 grams, while a silver quarter is heavier, weighing 6.25 grams. Because silver is a precious metal, even a damaged 2002-S silver quarter is worth significantly more than its face value due to its melt value alone, which fluctuates with the global silver market.

Feature	Clad Proof (S)	Silver Proof (S)
Composition	Copper-Nickel Clad	90% Silver, 10% Copper
Edge Color	Copper Stripe Visible	Solid White Silver
Weight	5.67g	6.25g

Grading and the Impact on 2002-S Quarter Value

In the world of coin collecting, the “Grade” is everything. Professional graders like PCGS or NGC use a 70-point scale to determine a coin’s condition. For the 2002-S Mississippi quarter, almost all coins are technically “Proof” (PR), meaning they were struck twice with specially polished dies to create a mirror-like finish.

A grade of PR65 indicates a “Choice Proof” with a few minor hairlines or marks. These are common and sell for a few dollars. However, a grade of PR70 Deep Cameo (DCAM) is the holy grail. This means the coin is perfect even under 5x magnification, with a deep contrast between the frosted magnolias and the mirror background. You can check the latest high-grade proof market trends to see how much of a premium a perfect 2002 quarter can fetch at auction.

Most everyday finders will have “Circulated Proofs.” These are coins that were once shiny and mirror-like but have been handled, dropped, or kept in pockets. Once a proof coin loses its pristine surface, its value drops significantly, often settling at just over face value for clad versions, or melt value for silver versions. Using CoinKnow to scan the coin’s surface can help you decide if it is worth the $20+ fee to send it to a professional grading service.

Rare Errors to Look For in Mississippi Quarters

While the San Francisco Mint has extremely high quality control, errors do occasionally slip through. Errors are the primary way a common 25-cent coin becomes a multi-hundred dollar treasure. For the 2002-S Mississippi quarter, collectors look for “Doubled Dies” or “Off-center strikes.”

A Doubled Die Error occurs when the die used to stamp the coin has a duplicated image. On the Mississippi quarter, look closely at the lettering in “Mississippi” or the details in the magnolia petals. If you see clear doubling of the lines, you might have a valuable error. Another rare find is a “Clad Layer Missing” error, where the nickel coating fails to stick, leaving one side of the coin a bright copper red.

If you suspect you have an error, do not clean the coin! Cleaning a coin destroys its numismatic value instantly. Instead, compare your find against known error catalogs. Errors on proof coins are substantially rarer than on the Philadelphia or Denver strikes because proof coins are individually inspected by humans at the mint. This makes an “S” mint error a potentially massive find for any lucky collector.

Error Type	Description	Estimated Value
Doubled Die Obverse	Doubling on “Liberty” or Date	$25 – $100
Off-Center Strike	Design shifted off the blank	$100+
Proof Strike Thru	Foreign object caught during strike	$50 – $150

Where to Sell Your 2002-S Mississippi Quarter

If you’ve identified that your 2002-S Mississippi quarter is a silver proof or a high-grade clad specimen, your next step is finding the right buyer. For most people, a local coin shop is the fastest way to get cash, though they will typically offer 20-30% below retail value so they can make a profit.

For high-value items like PR70 silver quarters, online auction houses like eBay or Heritage Auctions are your best bet. On eBay, you can reach thousands of state quarter enthusiasts who are looking to complete their sets. When listing, ensure you take high-resolution photos in natural light to show off the “Deep Cameo” effect of the proof strike.

If your coin is just a regular circulated clad proof, it might be best to keep it as a conversation piece or a “lucky” coin. The cost of shipping and seller fees often outweighs the profit on coins worth less than $5. However, as the 50 State Quarters age, even these common proofs are becoming harder to find in the wild, slowly increasing their desirability among new hobbyists.

FAQ

Q: How can I tell if my 2002-S Mississippi quarter is silver?

A: The easiest way is to look at the edge. A silver quarter has a solid silver edge with no copper stripe. Additionally, you can perform a “ping test”—silver coins have a higher-pitched, longer-lasting ring when gently tapped compared to the dull thud of a copper-nickel clad coin.

Q: Is a 2002 Mississippi quarter with no mint mark rare?

A: No. Quarters with no mint mark were struck in Philadelphia (though usually they have a “P”). If a 2002 quarter truly lacked a mint mark due to an error, it would be rare, but most “missing” marks are simply coins from Philadelphia where the “P” is faint or worn.

Q: Why is my Mississippi quarter “shiny” but only has a P or D mint mark?

A: You likely have a “High Business Strike.” Sometimes, the first few coins struck with new dies at Philadelphia or Denver look exceptionally shiny. These are not proof coins, but they are still attractive to collectors if they are in “Uncirculated” condition.

Q: What is the most expensive 2002-S Mississippi Quarter ever sold?

A: The record is held by a 2002-S Silver Mississippi Quarter graded PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo, which sold for over $400 at auction. For clad versions, the record for a PR70 Deep Cameo is typically around $200.