1968 Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The 1968 quarter value depends on each piece’s condition and the mint where they were produced. Remember that these coins were historically valuable as one of the longest-running among American coinage.
Their minting started in 1932 and has lasted to the present, besides a pause in 1934. Unlike silver specimens struck until 1965, contemporary quarters, including those from 1968, were cupronickel clad with a copper core.
1968 quarter value Chart |
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| Condition | 1968 No Mint mark quarters | 1968 D quarters | 1968 S quarters |
| MS 65 | $9.15 | $6.65 | / |
| PR 65 | / | / | $4.50 |
1968 Quarter Value Guides
Three mints struck 325,307,006 clad Washington quarters in 1968, including those from regular strikes and proofs. Except for scarce highly-rated pieces, most are worth their face value because of the many years spent in circulation.
1968 No Mint mark quarter Value
The Philadelphia mint struck only quarters from the regular strikes in 1968. Most of the 220,731,500 produced coins spent years in use and are worth their face value.
1968 quarter value |
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| Condition | 1968 No Mint Mark quarter | 1968 D quarter |
| Good | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Very good | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Fine | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Very fine | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Extra fine | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| AU | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| MS 60 | $1 to $1.20 | $1 to $1.20 |
| MS 61 | $1 to $1.20 | $1 to $1.20 |
| MS 62 | $1 to $1.20 | $1 to $1.20 |
| MS 63 | $1 to $1.20 | $1 to $1.20 |
| MS 64 | $1 to $1.20 | $1 to $1.20 |
| MS 65 | $6 to $7.20 | $4 to $4.80 |
| MS 66 | $20 to $24 | $12 to $14.40 |
| MS 67 | $48 to $58.60 | $42 to $ 50.40 |
| MS 68 | $1,900 to $2,000 | $1,300 to $1,560 |
The price range of specimens in the mint state is wide and goes from one dollar to $2,000 for those with an MS 68 rating. One quarter struck in this mint became the most expensive in the series after winning the auction record of $9,400 in 2013.
1968 D quarter Value
The 1968 Washington quarters with the lowest ratings of 101,534,000 produced in Denver cost $0.25. Only these in uncirculated condition are worth $1 to $50, depending on quality and appearance.
According to estimations, specimens in an MS 68 grade are worth $1,300 to $1,560. However, the most expensive coin from this mint is the 1968 D MS 68 Washington quarter. One collector enjoys it after setting aside $8,813 for it at Heritage Auctions in 2016.
1968 S quarter proof Value
The San Francisco minted only proof quarters in 1968. The mintage of 3,041,506 was low compared to others, but that didn’t make these coins particularly expensive. You can find them for $5 to $10, but some pieces can be valuable and sought after among collectors.
For instance, quarters with cameo contrast cost $10 to $55 on average, but those with DCAM quality quickly reach $40 to $725 at auctions.
1968 S PR quarter value |
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| Condition | 1968 S quarter | 1968 S CAM quarter | 1968 S DCAM quarter |
| PR 67 | $6 | $10 | $42 |
| PR 68 | $7 | $15 | $80 |
| PR 69 | $10 | $55 | $725 |
*by Greysheet
Rare specimens are worth more, like the 1968 S PR 69 Deep Cameo Washington quarter. One collector believed this beautiful piece was worth $2,875 and set aside that sum in 2007 to add it to their collection.
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1968 Quarter Error Lists
The 1968 S Deep Cameo Washington quarters are specific and highly collectible coins, although collectors don’t consider them errors.
They come with a more significant contrast between the coin surface and raised design. Deep cameos are worth about $900, but you can expect some pieces to reach over $2,500 at auctions.
Besides these beautiful specimens, you can also recognize a few rare and valuable error coins in the series. The most collectible pieces include:
Broad strike quarters
The 1968 Washington quarter with a smooth edge or flaw rim without ridges is collectible and can be valuable to collectors who prefer error coins. They appear when quarters are struck without a collar for some reason.
Such pieces are thinner and broader than those from the regular strikes, but you can recognize the entire untouched design. Depending on the fault size and coin condition, they typically cost $20 to $50.
Be careful with this error because of quarters with standard diameter and thickness but without ridges. In these cases, it is about worn-out coins from the regular strike.
Doubled Die
The 1968 quarters with this error are rare and valuable, and finding them can be particularly challenging. You can recognize several famous doubled dies with doubling among coins minted this year, but none is extreme.
In fact, you need a magnifying glass to notice the error. On average, these coins range from $50 to $100, but some gorgeous pieces can be worth even more.
Off-center
You can find two types of 1968 quarters with this error. Those without 15% to 30% of the design cost $50 to $100, while you can count on at least $200 when 50% of the coin design is missing. Be aware that it is crucial for these coins to have a visible date. Without it, they are worthless.
Proof quarter struck on a silver planchet
The US Mint stopped producing silver Washington quarters in 1965, but one leftover planchet meant for these coins was used for a piece with copper composition. For now, only one such specimen with a PR 64 rating is known to exist and is worth thousands of dollars.
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History of the 1968 Quarter
It was a hard time, and the US Mint didn’t strike half dollars since 1929 because of the Great Depression. However, 1932 was one of the crucial years in American history, and no one wanted to ignore the George Washington birth bicentennial.
One of the excellent ways to honor the first American President was to design a coin with his face on the obverse. The first step was to hold a contest for the new coin design, and artists got instructions to base their creations on the existing George Washington sculpture.
The first idea was to create a half-dollar and replace the existing Walking Liberty, but it never came to life. Sculptor John Flanagan even designed the coin as the half dollar, but Congress chose the quarter instead.
Even though the plan was to make a commemorative coin, the US Mint still produces this quarter for commercial use. In other words, the series has become long-lasting with 90 years of minting, and the only exception was in 1933. No one Washington quarter has this date on the obverse.
You can recognize different coin versions minted in 1932, 1934, and 1935 with three IN GOD WE TRUST motto types, including:
- Light Motto
- Heavy Motto
- Medium Motto
The Light Motto was struck in 1932, while there are all three motto styles minted in Philadelphia in 1934. The same year, the Denver mint struck Medium and Heavy Motto types.
In 1935, all three mints produced coins with the Medium Motto. From that year, the first two versions were canceled, and mints started the Heavy Motto quarter production in 1936 as the only option for all further mintages.
1968 quarter |
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| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1968 No Mint mark quarter | 220,731,500 |
| Denver | 1968 D quarter | 101,534,000 |
| San Francisco | 1968 S quarter (proof) | 3,041,506 |
| Total | / | 325,307,006 |
Be aware that Washington quarters minted from 1932 to 1964 contained 0.900 silver, with added copper. After that period, silver coins went into history, and the US Mint started the production of those made of copper and nickel alloy.
The problem appeared in the late 1950s when the Federal government flooded the market with coins made of silver to keep this precious metal price low. That was a way to keep American coinage value higher than the metal price.
The result was a drastic drop in the value of silver, making the US Government unsatisfied. Plus, there was a problem with the possible silver shortage because of high coin production.
Congress solved the issue by authorizing the US Mint to find alternative materials for dollars, half dollars, quarters, and dimes. The goal was to find a combination that could never come close to the coins’ monetary value.
The copper-nickel alloy in a 75%: 25% ratio was an ideal solution, and cupronickel coins became a part of everyday American life. Such a decision ended an era of pieces made of precious metals and changed the future of all currencies.
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How to identify 1968 Quarter?
The Washington quarter appeared in 1932 as a commemorative coin, but the production of pieces intended for circulation started in 1934. After a Treasury Secretary’s controversial decision, John Flanagan became the designer of this long-lasting series.
The obverse of the 1968 quarter
Even though Flanagan created an elegant design, it was inappropriate for the minting and worn out quickly. You can see the Washington bust facing left and surrounded by the DATE on the bottom and the word LIBERTY on the top.
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is written in two lines on the left coin surface. Older quarters had the mint mark on the reverse, but that was changed in 1964. Therefore, you can see the letter S or D on coins minted in 1968 right of the bow that attaches the President’s hair.
The reverse of the 1968 quarter
Unlike the stylish and simple obverse design, the reverse is complicated and overcrowded. You can see an American bald eagle in the central position with inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and QUARTER DOLLAR along the rim.
The bird holds arrows in its claws. This war symbol is softened by the olive branches below, symbolizing peace. The E PLURIBUS UNUM is a required part of American coinage without exception. Therefore, the designer used a small empty space above the eagle’s head to add this motto.
1968 quarter |
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| Face value | 25 cents ($0.25) |
| Shape | Round |
| Coin weight | 5.67 g (0.20 ounces) |
| Compound | 91.67%: 8.33% copper and nickel alloy |
| Coin thickness | 1.75 mm (0.06890 inches) |
| Coin diameter | 24.30 mm (0.95669 inches) |
| Edge | Reeded |
Other features of the 1968 quarter
The 1968 Washington quarters are made of a copper core and an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel. In other words, they contain 91.67% copper and a small nickel percentage.
These round coins with a face value of 25 cents are thick 1.75 mm (0.06890 inches) and have a diameter of 24.30 mm (0.95669 inches). Their weight of 5.67 g (0.20 ounces) is standard for this coinage type.
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What makes a 1968 quarter rare?
The rarest Washington quarter minted in 1968 is a proof coin struck on a silver planchet. Since only one exists, it is estimated to be worth a few thousand dollars.
Which 1968 quarters are considered expensive?
- The auction record for the 1968 MS 68 Washington quarter is $9,400 (Heritage Auctions in 2013)
- The auction record for the 1968 D MS 68 Washington quarter is $8,813 (Heritage Auctions in 2016)
- The auction record for the 1968 D MS 67 DDR Washington quarter is $5,250 (eBay in 2018)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 69 Deep Cameo Washington quarter is $2,875 (Heritage Auctions in 2007)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 68 RPM Cameo Washington quarter is $1,320 (Heritage Auctions in 2018)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 68 DDR Washington quarter is $800 (eBay in 2021)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 69 Washington quarter is $460 (Heritage Auctions in 2005)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 67 DDO Washington quarter is $450 (eBay in 2015)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 67 RPM Washington quarter is $385 (eBay in 2019)
- The auction record for the 1968 S PR 69 Cameo Washington quarter is $222 (eBay in 2010)
How much is the 1968 No Mint mark quarter worth?
The 1968 quarters are typically worth their face value, or 25 cents. However, you can find pieces in the mint state for $1 to even $2,000, depending on their beauty, rarity, and condition.
What is the most valuable Washington quarter?
One collector set aside $143,750 for the Washington quarter, 1932 D MS 66, making it the most expensive in the entire series.
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