1976 Bicentennial Quarter Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?

The year 1976 was memorable for many Americans, and the entire country celebrated the 200th anniversary when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. As expected, the US Mint prepared commemorative coins for this special occasion despite stopping the commemorative coin program in 1954.

After Congress accepted the law about a temporary quarter reverse’s redesign, three mints struck five quarter types during 1975 and 1976. The 1976 Quarter value significantly varies, depending on the coin type, composition, and the mint they came from. Let’s take a look. 

1976 quarter value chart
Condition	1976 No mint mark quarter	1976 D quarter	1976 S quarter	1976 S 40% silver quarter
Mint state 65	$6.65	$6.65	/	$8.21
Proof 65	/	/	$4.52	$9.46

 

 1976 Quarter Value Guides

Three mints produced 1,687,961,954 bicentennial quarters in 1976, including three types in the regular strike and two proof variations.

1776-1976 No Mint Mark quarter value (copper-nickel clad)

The Philadelphia mint struck 809,784,016 clad Washington quarters without the mint mark in 1976. They contained a copper core with a layer of 75% copper with added nickel, making these coins copper pieces with 91.67% of this metal in total.

1976 quarter value
Condition	1976 No Mint mark clad quarter	1976 D clad quarter	1976 S silver quarter
Good	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
Very good	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
Fine	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
Very fine	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
Extra fine	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
AU	$0.25	$0.25	$1.41
MS 60	$0.35	$0.35	$1.41
MS 61	$0.35	$0.35	$1.41
MS 62	$0.35	$0.35	$1.41
MS 63	$0.50	$0.50	$1.41
MS 64	$0.75	$0.75	$1.56
MS 65	$1	$1	$1.56
MS 66	$15 to $18	$15 to $18	$7 to $8.40
MS 67	$50 to $60	$75 to $90	$10 to $12
MS 68	/	$3,500 to $4,200	$70 to $84
MS 69	/	/	$6,000

Pieces in circulation are worth their face value, while you can get $0.35 to $60 for those in the mint state. The most expensive bicentennial No Mint mark Washington quarter in MS 70 grade minted this year is the one sold on eBay in 2022 for $1,200.

1776-1976 D quarter value (copper-nickel clad)

Precisely 860,118,839 clad Washington quarters with the bicentennial design came from the Denver mint in 1976. Depending on their condition, most coins are worth $0.25 to $90. However, you can still find top-notch pieces in MS 68 grade worth $3,500 to $4,200.

The most expensive was the specimen that appeared at Heritage Auctions. One collector paid $6,463 for this beautiful 1976 D MS 68 clad Washington quarter in 2017.

1776-1976 S quarter value (40% silver clad)

The San Francisco mint produced three coin types in 1976, including the one from regular strike and two proof quarters. All survived silver-clad coins made of 40% silver with copper are worth $1.41 to $84 on the current market.

Even though experts estimate that pieces in MS 69 grade are worth about $6,000, one owner sold his specimen for a significantly lower price. Someone paid an unbelievably low $6 for the 1976 S MS 69 DCAM silver Washington quarter on eBay in 2022.

On the other hand, the most expensive 1976 S MS 69 silver Washington quarter was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2019. One collector set aside an impressive $19,200 to add this gem to his collection.

1776-1976 S proof quarter value (40% silver clad)

Precisely 4,000,000 silver proof Washington quarters with the S mint mark came from the San Francisco mint this year. You can buy one of these beautiful pieces for a relatively modest $8 to $28, but those in MS 70 grade often cost about $180.

However, you can find more valuable coins with beautiful toning and excellent texture for significantly higher prices. For instance, one collector paid $13,500 for the 1976 S PR 25 silver proof Washington quarter on eBay in 2019, despite its low grade.

On the other hand, the 1976 S PR 70 DCAM silver proof Washington quarter reached $2,760 at Heritage Auctions in 2007. Finally, one collector won a jackpot when grabbing the 1976 S PR 66 CAM silver proof Washington quarter for only $128 on eBay in 2021.

1976 Proof quarter value
Condition	1976 S DCAM clad proof quarter	1976 S DCAM silver proof quarter
PR 67	$4	$8
PR 68	$8	$11
PR 69	$20	$28
PR 70	$85	$180

 

1776-1976 S proof copper-nickel clad quarter value

The San Francisco mint struck 7,059,099 proof clad bicentennial Washington quarters in 1976. Depending on the preservation level, you can purchase the most available pieces for $4 to $85.

All three of the most expensive quarters minted this year were sold at auctions. One collector purchased the 1976 S PR 69 clad Washington quarter for $6,038 in 2010 at Bowers & Merena auction.

The other two were more affordable. The 1976 S PR 70 DCAM clad Washington quarter reached $920 at Heritage Auctions in 2010, while the one with CAM contrast was sold for $63 at the same auction in 2004.

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1976 Quarter Errors

The 1976 bicentennial Washington quarter is unique in itself, but error coins can be rare and highly collectible nowadays.

Overstruck bicentennial Washington quarter

Overstruck quarters appeared when a coin die extra pressed an already fully struck coin. Since these specimens are rare and collectors consider them personalized, you can expect that each piece is expensive. For instance, one beautiful piece with this error type was sold at an auction for $12,000.

Coveted bicentennial Washington quarter

The 1976 D Washington quarter sometimes has a die cap error on the obverse. It appeared when the planchet came into the press before the previous coin was ejected.

The result is a coin with a sharp obverse impression, while the one on the reverse was softer. One specimen with these characteristics reached $2,880 at a Stack’s Bowers auction.

Doubled Die bicentennial Washington quarter

Coins made with improperly centered dies and struck twice have various doublings on the obverse and reverse. Collectors have recognized several doubled die quarters over the years, and most reach high auction prices. Depending on its condition, you can buy one for $800 to $3,250.

Struck-through bicentennial Washington quarter

In rare cases, a piece of cloth obstructed the coin surface in the moment of striking so that you can notice a weaving pattern on the obverse. Since such an error makes a quarter valuable and collectible, one of these pieces was unsurprisingly paid $881.25 at an auction.

Other errors

Less attractive and inexpensive error variations also include:

• Coins struck through grease
• Pieces with off-center obverse
• Broad-strike quarters

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History of the 1976 Quarter

Three mints struck five 1976 Washington quarter varieties to commemorate two centuries of independence. They were the first pieces from the US commemorative coin program after a break from 1954.

The minting of coins with the double 1776-1976 date started on July 4, 1975, and lasted throughout 1976, so you can’t find any coin struck in 1975. The idea was to prevent coin hoarding and to enable their timely availability.

1976 Washington Quarter
Location	Year	Minted
Philadelphia	1976 No Mint mark clad quarter	809,784,016
Denver	1976 D clad quarter	860,118,839
San Francisco	1976 S 40% silver quarter (uncirculated)	11,000,000
San Francisco	1976 S proof clad quarter	7,059,099
San Francisco	1976 S proof 40% silver quarter	4,000,000
Total	/	1,687,961,954

Since the US Mint released almost 1.7 billion pieces into circulation, these coins are not particularly expensive. However, both silver and clad bicentennial quarters are the most collected coin in American coinage history, thanks to their significance and uniqueness.

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how to identify 1976 Quarter

The obverse of the 1976 Washington quarter

Designer and engraver John Flanagan based the Washington image on the President’s portrait made by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1785. You can see the American motto IN GOD WE TRUST, in front of his bust facing left.

The obverse design is pretty simple compared to old American coinage. The word LIBERTY placed on the top is struck along the coin rim, while the date 1796-1976 is below the portrait. A small letter D or S is placed on the right side, next to the President’s bow tiding his hair in a ponytail.

1976 clad Washington quarter
Face value	25 cents (0.25 $)
Compound	75% copper and 25% nickel with a copper core (the overall composition contains 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper)
Coin weight	0.2 ounces (5.67 g)
Coin diameter	0.95512 inches (24.26 mm)
Coin thickness	0.06890 inches (1.75 mm).
Edge	Reeded
Shape	Round

The reverse of the 1976 Washington quarter

Such a special occasion required a unique coin reverse, and designer and engraver Jack L. Ahr did an excellent job with this commemorative quarter. He placed a revolutionary drummer instead of the traditional eagle in the reverse center.

Along the coin rim, you can see the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR. They surround the soldier and a torch inside the thirteen stars circle on his left side. Finally, the motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, is below the torch.

Other features of the 1976 Washington quarter

You can find two types of bicentennial quarters minted in 1976 when it comes to the metals they contain. The 1976 clad Washington quarter contains 91.67% copper.

Their core is made of pure copper with an outer layer containing 75% copper with added nickel. These coins, with a diameter of 0.95512 inches (24.26 mm), weigh 0.2 ounces (5.67 g) and are thick 0.06890 inches (1.75 mm).

1976 silver Washington quarter
Face value	25 cents (0.25 $)
Compound	40% silver and 60% copper (coat of 80% silver and 20% copper with a core containing 79.1% copper and 20.9% silver)
Silver weight	0.07390 troy ounces (2.3 g)
Coin weight	0.20094 troy ounces (6.25 g)
Coin diameter	0.95512 inches (24.26 mm)
Coin thickness	0.06890 inches (1.75 mm).
Shape	Round
Edge	Reeded

The silver Washington quarter is actually a silver-clad coin made of 60% copper and 40% silver. Its core contains 20.9% silver, while a coat has 80% of this precious metal.

These coins’ dimensions are the same as in clad variations, but they weigh 0.20094 troy ounces (6.25 g), including the silver weight of 0.07390 troy ounces (2.3 g).

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What were Washington quarter types minted in 1976?

Three mints produced bicentennial Washington quarters in 1976. Those in Philadelphia and Denver struck clad varieties, while the San Francisco mint minted three variations, silver coins from a regular strike and proofs, plus clad proof pieces.

Which 1976 Washington quarter is worth a lot of money?

• 1976 S MS 69 silver Washington quarter that was sold for $19,200 at Heritage Auctions in 2019
• 1976 S PR 25 silver Washington quarter that was sold for $13,500 on eBay in 2019
• 1976 D MS 68 clad Washington quarter that was sold for $6,463 at Heritage Auctions in 2017
• 1976 S PR 69 clad Washington quarter that was sold for $6,038 at Bowers & Merena auction in 2010
• 1976 S PR 70 DCAM silver Washington quarter that was sold for $2,760 at Heritage Auctions in 2007
• 1976 No Mint mark MS 70 clad Washington quarter that was sold for $1,200 on eBay in 2022
• 1976 S PR 70 DCAM clad Washington quarter that was sold for $920 at Heritage Auctions in 2010
• 1976 S PR 66 CAM silver Washington quarter that was sold for $128 on eBay in 2021
• 1976 S PR 70 CAM clad Washington quarter that was sold for $63 at Heritage Auctions in 2004
• 1976 S MS 69 DCAM silver Washington quarter that was sold for $6 on eBay in 2022

How much is the 1976 No Mint mark Washington quarter worth?

Average 1976 Washington quarters in low grade are worth their face value. On the other hand, you should pay $0.35 to $60 for those in the mint state.

What is the rarest 1976 Washington quarter?

Overstruck, coveted, and Doubled Die bicentennial Washington quarter errors are rare and typically pricey coins most collectors want to add to their collections.

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