1984 Quarter Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?
Washington quarters were originally made in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. The series is still in circulation with many great minting years, including the 1984 Quarter.
Here you will learn everything you need to know about this coin, including the 1984 Quarter value, its varieties, and a little bit about its history. All you need to do is read on to find out more!
1984 Quarter Value Chart
|1984 P Quarter||$10||$500||N/A||N/A|
|1984 D Quarter||$23||$700||N/A||N/A|
|1984 S Proof Quarter||N/A||$8||$10||$100|
1984 Quarter Value by Mint Mark
1984 Quarters are included in the Washington Quarter Series which was launched in 1932 and is still minted to date. As you’d expect with its name, the coins in the series feature an image of George Washington on the obverse.
Then, there is a mint mark on the lower right next to the ribbon of his ponytail. The top section of the piece displays the Legend Liberty which is tightly cropped along the upper collar.
The lower left section of the coin displays the words “IN GOD WE TRUST”. It is set next to Washington’s Adam’s apple, while the mint date is set on the lower collar of the coin.
You can find “JF”, the initials of John Flanagan, who is the coin’s designer, stamped along the neckline. It is positioned above the last digit of the mint date.
The reverse of this coin displays a perched eagle with its wings spread out and talons clutching 13 arrows. These represent the original 13 States that formed the U.S. Republic. Additionally, an olive branch is set under the arrows, and it touches the eagle’s wings.
1984 P Quarter Value
After many years of producing a huge number of coins without one, the Philadelphia mint finally received its own mint mark in 1979. Using the “P” mint mark, they produced 676,545,000 Washington Quarters in 1984.
The Philadelphia Mint first started making coins bearing the P mint mark in 1980. However, a few Washington Quarters from that year featured an error with a filled-in mint mark. Many people love collecting such error coins.
Finding a 1984 Quarter is not a rare occurrence because hundreds of millions of these were produced, but some particular samples are rare.
Coins with mint errors like those struck off center or struck a few times, are considered rare. Additionally, mint state coins, which are referred to as uncirculated coins, are more uncommon. The more perfect a coin is, the more valuable it will be.
The average weight of a 1984 clad quarter is 5.67 grams plus a tolerance of .227 grams. Due to the loss of metal from circulation-related “wear-and-tear,” well-worn 1984 quarters may weigh significantly less.
Because of their regular use in vending machines, the majority of heavily used quarters from 1984 are especially prone to having smooth edges. These will only be worth face value.
The value of a clad Washington Quarter is significantly influenced by its grade and condition. So, you can assume that a used, polished, scratched, or damaged sample is still worth its face value of $0.25.
Uncirculated 1984 P quarters that are in perfect condition, meaning these were never used as money, and graded MS63 are typically worth $1 to $3.
A raw or ungraded uncirculated example, however, will cost less to purchase. The 1984 P Quarter can still be easily spotted in perfect condition, and with a mintage of over 675 million, it is very accessible. It is only regarded as scarce when it is in MS67 condition or better.
In 2016, it was recorded that a 1984 P Quarter in MS67 was sold at an auction for $1,293. However, most coins at this grading level will sell for approximately $500.
1984 D Quarter Value
In 1984, the Denver Mint created a total of 546,483,064 Washington Quarters, and feature the “D” mint mark to indicate its production location.
Coins minted in Denver are considered more expensive, especially when these are in mint state. Why? Because compared to Philadelphia coins, their mintage was lower, hence, the increased value.
The value of a 1984 D Washington Quarter depends on the type of its mint strike, condition, and quality. With that, the value of this specific coin in fine condition ranges from $1 to as high as $100,000.
If there is any type of notable damage on the coin or signs of wear, the coin will only be at face value. However, if you have a piece in the certified lower grades of mint state, it can bring around $10 at an auction.
One XF45 or an AU50 grade coin can just be valued at just above face value. But on the other hand, if the piece has an MS65 grade, it can sell for about $28. You are fortunate if you have a piece that is graded above MS66 because these can sell higher than $100.
If the quarter has an MS66 grade, it is going to cost around $65. However, if its grade is a step higher at MS67, then it will definitely be valued more. In 2019, a 1984 D Quarter was sold for about $780 which is a notable increase.
Denver-struck quarters from 1984 that are higher than MS67 are considered rare. The average price of an MS67 is a little higher than the same grade from Philadelphia, at around $700.
1984 S Quarter Value
The San Francisco Mint produced 3,065,110 proof coins with an “S” mint mark in 1984. Proofs were often created for archiving purposes and for collectors, so the extra processes give the coins their mirrored appearance and frosted texture. The first 50 to 100 coins are the shiniest samples around.
All the coins were proof pieces and each of these featured a polished and shiny surface. For their sharpness, the finish and detail are excellent which makes them ideal for collectors seeking the highest levels of detail and craftsmanship.
Since these were stored properly, the coins are still in mint condition to date. Generally, proof coins are shipped in top-notch condition and are often free from visual blemishes.
Since 1932, the Washington Quarters were struck by the mints, but the U.S. Mint did not issue the first proofs. In 1936, the proof coin production was continued, following a 20-year hiatus. The proofs were also issued from 1936 to 1942 during World War II’s economic pressures and various overriding needs. These led to another pause from proof coinage which lasted for six years, from 1943 to 1949.
The production of proof coins commenced in 1950, and this continued for 14 years before a three-year moratorium was imposed due to a nationwide coin shortage. The U.S. Mint produced special mint sets between 1965 and 1967. This was when the production of the copper-nickel-clad quarters began. These sets provided collectors with proof-like coins.
The minting of these unique coins was moved from Philadelphia to San Francisco when regular proof was resumed in 1968. There is no silver in the 1984 quarter. Instead, it is a clad coin that contains 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper.
For the series, the 1984-S Proof Washington Quarter is regarded as common. One in the mint state could fetch around $5 at an auction at the lower grade levels.
Samples up to PR69 deep cameo condition are readily available, but it is more difficult to find one in perfect PR70 deep cameo. However, there are plenty of samples, making them very accessible to the most serious collectors.
The remaining coins are cameo-graded because these have a noticeable contrast. However, because the burnish and chemical die are beginning to wear out, they are not shiny as U-CAMs or D-CAMs. The coin is valued at $160 in its perfect grade of PR70 DCAM.
1984 Quarter Grading
In addition to mint marks, the value of a coin is determined by its condition. Coins are rated on a scale from 1 to 70, with 70 representing the perfect mint state and 1 representing the worst possible condition.
Typically, those ratings are denoted by two letters: MS, which stands for the mint state, or PR for proof coins. It is more difficult to find MS coins in perfect condition because they were intended for circulation.
1984 Quarter Errors
As with most years, the 1984 Quarter wasn’t immune to errors in the minting process. Let’s take a look at the common errors from the 1984 quarter.
1. 1984 Quarter Double Struck Error
The design of a coin consists of numerous vital details which is why they are struck numerous times to render them accurately. However, there are times when a planchet shifts between strikes. So if the second or third strike is not in the same spot, you will get a double/triple strike error.
2. Broadstruck Error #1
Coins feature a collar which is the elevated rim that gives its spherical shape. The collar is made using three collar molds that are detachable, and if one falls off too early, you will receive a broadstruck error. Here, the coin can spill over and become distorted and flat along the area where the mold slipped off. A 1984 P Broadstruck Error graded MS64 costs $15.
3. Broadstruck Error #2
There are times when a single grading unit increases a coin’s value, yet this does not always happen. The second broadstruck coin is graded MS65, which is a step higher than the previous broadstruck piece. It only increased by $10 to its evaluation and the coin was sold at about $25.
The difference between the broadstruck errors #1 and #2 is that the former was broadstruck to its mid-left, whereas this second error was on the upper part of the coin. It appeared shinier as well.
4. 1984 Quarter Double Struck with Second Strike Off-Center
As the error’s name suggests, the double strike error happens when a blank is struck two times. This often happens when something prevents the piece from leaving its striking chamber immediately after the first strike. When the second strike is not on-center, it will produce a more noticeable and valuable piece.
5. 15% Off-Centre Error
The misalignment of subsequent strikes results in a double or triple strike. However, if the first strike is not focused, you will receive an off-center error, leaving a portion of the planchet blank. This error, which leaves a blank on the lower left obverse and upper left reverse, is 15% off-center, which is measured according to the angle.
6. 75% Off-Centre Error
Off-center errors can range from minor and hardly noticeable to somewhat drastic. However, this is not always followed by significant changes in its value. Due to a severe off-center error, the upper and lower reverse of a coin is left blank. The planchet shifting between strikes has also given the coin a soft figure-eight shape.
1984 Quarter Value – FAQs
1. Is the 1984 coin rare?
In general, the 1984 Quarter is not considered rare. Over a billion were struck, and they can still be commonly found in pocket change today. That being said, even with the high mintage, mint state coins in perfect condition can be considered rare.
2. What quarters are collectible?
All the Washington Quarters dated before 1965 are made of a composition of 90% silver. Today, it is worth more than the face value of $.025 coins. 1964 was the final year the U.S. Mint struck the Washington Quarter with silver.
However, for a coin collector, any quarters are collectible, especially if you want to complete a set. Some collectors are happy to collect as the coin dates, whereas others are interested in high-value mint state coins.
3. What is the error on a 1984 quarter?
The 1984 Quarter does not feature any remarkable errors but some of the common ones include off-center errors, BIE cud errors, and broadstrikes. None of the mistakes is considered valuable, so the price of the coins is only increased from $10 to $150.