2016-S Fort Moultrie Quarter Value Guide: Is Your Coin Rare?

The 2016-S Fort Moultrie Quarter is worth anywhere from $0.25 in circulated condition to over $45 for high-grade silver specimens. Whether you found one in your change or inherited an old collection, understanding the “S” mint mark is the first step to determining if your pocket change is a hidden treasure.

Condition/Type	Estimated Value
Circulated (Clad)	$0.25 – $0.50
Uncirculated Business Strike (Clad)	$1.50 – $5.00
Clad Proof (S Mint)	$4.00 – $10.00
90% Silver Proof (S Mint)	$30.00 – $45.00+

Understanding the 2016-S Fort Moultrie Quarter History

The 2016 Fort Moultrie quarter is part of the United States Mint’s ambitious “America the Beautiful” (ATB) Quarters Program. This series, which ran from 2010 to 2021, honored national parks and historic sites across all 50 states and U.S. territories. The Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) coin represents South Carolina and features a striking design of Sergeant William Jasper returning the regimental flag to the ramparts during the Revolutionary War.

If you are unsure whether your coin is a standard strike or a special collector’s edition, using a top coin identifier app can help you distinguish between the different finishes available. The San Francisco Mint, denoted by the “S” mint mark, produced three distinct versions of this coin: the “NIFC” (Not Intended For Circulation) business strike, the clad proof, and the 90% silver proof.

Unlike the quarters you see every day from Philadelphia (P) or Denver (D), the “S” mint quarters were generally sold directly to collectors in rolls or proof sets. Finding one in your pocket change usually means someone broke open a collector set and spent the coins. Because of their lower mintage numbers, these “S” marked coins are consistently more sought after by numismatists than their common counterparts.

Distinguishing the Different 2016-S Quarter Varieties

When looking at a 2016-S Fort Moultrie quarter, you must first determine if it is a “Business Strike” or a “Proof.” Business strikes were made to look like regular quarters and were sold in bags and rolls by the Mint. Proof coins, however, feature a mirror-like finish with frosted details, intended only for display and high-end collections.

The most valuable version is the Silver Proof. In 2016, the Mint was still using 90% silver for proof sets before switching to .999 fine silver in 2019. To check if yours is silver, look at the edge of the coin. If you see a solid silver-colored stripe without a copper core, you likely have the more expensive silver variety. You can also benchmark these prices against other coins from the same era by checking the 2016-P Shawnee Quarter market values to see how different designs compare.

For more casual hunters, the CoinKnow app provides an excellent way to scan your coin and get an instant estimation of its variety. It is common for beginning collectors to confuse the clad proof with the silver proof, but weighing the coin is the most accurate method: the silver version weighs 6.25 grams, while the copper-nickel clad version weighs 5.67 grams.

Version	Composition	Weight	Mintage (Approx)
S Business Strike	Copper-Nickel Clad	5.67g	1,100,000
S Clad Proof	Copper-Nickel Clad	5.67g	1,200,000
S Silver Proof	90% Silver	6.25g	600,000

How Grading Affects the 2016-S Quarter Value

Condition is everything in coin collecting. A 2016-S Fort Moultrie quarter that has been rattling around in a vending machine will only be worth face value or a small premium. However, a “Mint State” (MS) or “Proof-70” (PR70) specimen is a different story. Professional grading services like PCGS or NGC use a 70-point scale to determine a coin’s quality.

For the business strike “S” mint quarters, which were not meant for circulation, finding one in MS67 or MS68 condition can see prices jump significantly. Many collectors use the CoinKnow tool to look for “bag marks” or scratches that might lower the grade. Even a tiny hairline scratch caused by a paperclip or rough handling can drop the value from $20 down to $2.

The market for these modern quarters is highly dependent on current collector interest. You can find detailed 2016 America the Beautiful quarter prices and trends to see how the Fort Moultrie stacks up against other releases from that year. Generally, the lower the mintage and the higher the grade, the more likely the coin is to appreciate over time.

Potential Errors to Look For on Fort Moultrie Quarters

While the San Francisco Mint is known for high quality control, errors do occasionally occur. Error hunting is one of the most exciting ways to find “big money” coins in thin air. On the Fort Moultrie design, collectors often look for “die chips” or “doubled dies.”

A die chip occurs when a small piece of the steel die breaks off, resulting in an extra bump of metal on the coin’s surface. On this specific design, keep an eye on Sergeant Jasper’s hat and the flag he is holding. If you see an unusual lump of silver or copper-nickel that doesn’t belong in the design, you might have a valuable error.

Another common error to check for is the “Double Die Obverse” (DDO) or “Double Die Reverse” (DDR). This creates a ghost-like doubling effect on the lettering or the dates. While no “major” doubled dies have been widely reported for the 2016-S Fort Moultrie, minor variations can still command a premium from specialized error collectors. Using a magnifying glass or a high-quality camera app like CoinKnow can help you spot these micro-details.

Error Type	What to Look For	Potential Value
Die Chip	Extra metal on flag or hat	$5 – $20
Doubled Die	Blurred/Double letters	$10 – $50
Off-Center Strike	Design not centered	$25 – $100+

Should You Get Your 2016-S Quarter Professionally Graded?

One of the most frequent questions from new collectors is whether they should spend the money to have their coin professionally graded. Professional grading usually costs between $20 and $50 per coin, including shipping and insurance. If your 2016-S clad business strike is only worth $5, it doesn’t make financial sense to grade it.

However, if you have a 90% Silver Proof that looks absolutely flawless—specifically one that could earn a “Perfect PR70” grade—it might be worth the investment. High-grade silver proofs are the centerpiece of “Registry Sets,” where wealthy collectors compete to own the highest-quality examples of every coin in a series.

Before sending a coin off, use a high-powered lens or a digital microscope to check for “fogging” or “toning.” Proof coins can sometimes develop a cloudy film if they are stored in humid environments. A coin with “haze” will never receive a top grade. If your coin looks like it was minted yesterday and has a deep, mirror finish, it could be a candidate for professional encapsulation.

Where to Sell and Buy 2016-S Fort Moultrie Quarters

If you’ve decided to sell your coin, you have several options. For common, circulated “S” quarters, online marketplaces like eBay are the most popular choice. You can list them as “Buy It Now” for a few dollars. If you have a bulk lot of these coins, you might get a better price selling them as a “complete roll” to other ATB enthusiasts.

Local coin shops are another option, though they usually prefer to buy older silver coins or high-value gold. Because many “S” mint quarters are “NIFC,” a local dealer might only offer you a small percentage of the retail price so they can make a profit upon resale.

For the highest values, especially for graded silver proofs, specialty auction houses or large coin shows are the best bet. Always remember to check current sold listings (not just asking prices) to see what people are actually paying. This ensures you don’t overpay when buying or undersell when you are ready to let a piece of your collection go.

FAQ

Q: Why is the “S” mint mark so special on a 2016 quarter?

A: The “S” stands for the San Francisco Mint. While Philadelphia and Denver produce billions of coins for general circulation, San Francisco primarily produces collector-only versions. The 2016-S Fort Moultrie quarters were not released into general circulation by the Federal Reserve, making them much harder to find in your change.

Q: How can I tell if my 2016-S quarter is silver?

A: The easiest way is to look at the edge. A standard clad quarter will show a copper-colored line. A silver proof will have a solid, bright silver edge. Additionally, the silver version is heavier (6.25g vs 5.67g) and has a much more resonant “ring” when gently tapped.

Q: Is a 2016-S quarter worth more than a 2016-P or 2016-D?

A: Generally, yes. Because the mintage of P and D quarters is in the hundreds of millions, they are usually only worth 25 cents. The S-mint versions have much lower mintages (around 1 million) and were sold at a premium by the Mint, giving them a higher baseline value.

Q: What is the highest price ever paid for a 2016-S Fort Moultrie quarter?

A: High-grade Silver Proof specimens (PR70 Deep Cameo) often sell in the $40 to $60 range at auction. Rare error versions or business strikes in nearly perfect condition can occasionally fetch more if two collectors are competing for a specific grade.