Could You Have a $18 Million Bicentennial Quarter in Your Pocket?

Whenever you sort through your extra coins, you may think of the Bicentennial quarter as a simple 25-cent coin with no special value.

Bicentennial quarters are one of those coins weird people rarely find; those rarer ones are worth thousands to millions of dollars.

About 1.7 billion of these coins were minted between the years 1975 and 1976, in honor of America’s 200th anniversary.

In many ways, these coins are unique because

Show a double date of 1776-1976 on the obverse;
The reverse displays a revolutionary drummer designed by Jack L. Ahr.
Three mints produced these coins: Philadelphia (no mintmark), Denver (D mintmark), and San Francisco (S mintmark).
However, certain varieties of these coins are so rare they remain valuable to collectors. Let us find out which Bicentennial quarters are rare and worth something.

Rarest Bicentennial Quarter: “No S” Proof Variety

By far the rarest bicentennial coin would be the “No S” Proof Quarter. Proof coins are generally produced for collectors, having mirror-like surfaces and crisply defined designs.

These were struck at the San Francisco Mint and should have had an “S” mintmark. But this mintmark was accidentally missed on some coins.

Only 10-15 such coins have been discovered so far.

The price of a “No S” Proof Bicentennial quarter at auction has gone up to $45,000 to $55,000.

In 2020, a coin was sold for $52,875 in PR-68 grade.

Doubled Die Varieties: Small Mistakes, Big Value

The Bicentennial quarter also features doubled die varieties, in which slight distortions in the design occur during printing, causing the letters and numbers on the coin to look like double images.

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Type 1 Doubled Die Obverse

The word “LIBERTY” shows doubling, particularly in the letters “LIBE.”

The date “1776-1976” may display a slight double image.

The doubled die effect may also be seen in “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

These coins can range in value from $100 to $2500, depending on their grading.

Type 2 and Type 3 Doubled Die

Type 2 has the doubled effect primarily in “LIBERTY” and the date.
Type 3 has a slight doubled effect in “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
These coins can range in value from $50 to $500.

40% Silver Bicentennial Quarters: Rare Silver Variants

The U.S. Mint made some coins of the Bicentennial quarter in a 40% silver mix.
These coins were made specifically for collectors and were not put into circulation.
Silver Proof and Silver Uncirculated varieties were released in separate sets.
A 40% silver uncirculated quarter can be worth $10-$20.
A Silver Proof Bicentennial quarter can sell for $15-$30.
If the coin is in a high grade (MS68 or PR69), it can be worth $50-$200.
Mistaken Coins: Rarity Increases Value
Mint mistakes in some coins caused them to become rare and valuable.

Could You Have a $18 Million Bicentennial Quarter in Your Pocket?

Off-Center Strike Error

If the coin was not struck correctly and the design is partially chipped off, it may be rare.
10-20% off-center coins may sell for $25-$75.
Coins with more than 50% off-center may sell for $300-$600.

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Wrong Planchet Error

If the Bicentennial quarter was struck, indeed mistakenly, on a planchet of a different metal, its price could go up dramatically.

If a coin was mistakenly struck onto a dime planchet, it could be worth $200-$500.
If it were mistakenly struck on a nickel planchet, it could be worth $250-$600.
Strikes made on penny planchets may be valued between $300 and $700.

How to Find a Treasure Hidden in Your Pocket?

First of all, study your coins carefully.
Look for various features on bicentennial quarters dated “1776-1976.”
Use a 10x magnifying glass to check for doubled dies, off-center strikes, or damage.
For proof sets, look for the “No S” varieties.
If it just seems to weigh unusually heavy or light, get an ac curate scale.

Conclusion:

While most Bicentennial quarters are worth simply $0.25, there are some rarities that sell for thousands or even millions of dollars.

Of these, rare No S proof Bicentennial quarters may fetch over $50,000, and other valuable error coins include silver varieties, doubled dies, and off-center strikes.

Check your coins; you may have a rare and valuable bicentennial quarter that could sell for far more than you think!

FAQs

1. What is the Bicentennial Quarter?

A. The Bicentennial Quarter is a special U.S. coin issued in 1975 and 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American independence. It features the dual date “1776-1976” and a unique reverse design of a Revolutionary War drummer boy by Jack L. Ahr.

2. Is there really an $18 million Bicentennial Quarter?

A. There is no verified report of a Bicentennial Quarter selling for $18 million. However, some rare varieties, such as the “No S” Proof Quarter and certain error coins, have sold for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

3. What are the rarest Bicentennial Quarters?

A. Some of the most valuable varieties include:
No S” Proof Quarter – A rare proof coin missing the “S” mintmark, only 10-15 known exist.
Doubled Die Quarters – Coins with visible doubling on the lettering and numbers.
40% Silver Bicentennial Quarter – Some quarters were mistakenly struck on 40% silver planchets.
Major Mint Errors – Coins with off-center strikes, wrong planchets, or other rare defects

4. What is the “No S” Proof Bicentennial Quarter?

A. This is a proof quarter mistakenly struck without the “S” mintmark at the San Francisco Mint. Only a handful are known to exist, making it one of the rarest modern U.S. coins, often selling for tens of thousands of dollars.