1979 US Quarter Value: Types, Varieties, and Grading for Collectors

The 1979 US quarter value can vary greatly depending on the type and condition. The most common type is the regular circulating coin, minted in Philadelphia and Denver.

A major factor in determining the value of a 1979 quarter is its grade. The Sheldon scale grades coins from 1 to 70, with higher numbers indicating better condition.

The 1979 quarter is also notable for its varieties, including the Type 1 and Type 2 designs. The Type 1 features a large date, while the Type 2 has a small date.

A well-preserved 1979 quarter in good condition can be worth around $1 to $5, depending on the type and variety.

A unique perspective: 1979 Quarter Worth

The 1979 quarter has a distinctive design that's worth noting. The obverse, or "heads side", features a portrait of George Washington, modeled after a late-18th-century bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon.

The reverse, or "tails side", of the coin is just as striking, with a heraldic eagle spread across most of the coin's face. Its wings are positioned from left to right, adding to the coin's visual appeal.

Here's a quick rundown of the coin's physical features:

The 1979 US Quarter is a coin that features a portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States, on the obverse side.

It's made of a copper-clad coin, which is a combination of copper and nickel.

The coin weighs 5.67 grams and has a diameter of 24.3 millimeters.

This design was introduced in 1976 and remained the same until 1999.

The quarter is a part of the circulating coinage of the United States.

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The 1979 quarter has a distinctive design that's worth taking a closer look at. The obverse, or "heads side", features a portrait of George Washington, modeled after a late-18th-century bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon.

This design is significant because it showcases the coin's connection to the country's rich history and the first United States president. George Washington was a Revolutionary War general and a pivotal figure in American history.

The reverse, or "tails side", of the coin is just as striking, featuring a heraldic eagle with its wings spread from left to right across most of the coin's face.

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A 1979 quarter weighs 5.67 grams.

You can easily check the weight of your quarter at home with a digital scale. This will give you a good idea of whether your quarter is a clad or possibly a silver coin.

Silver quarters are heavier than clad quarters, with a weight of 6.25 grams.

This is a key differentiator between the two types of coins. If your quarter weighs 6.25 grams, it could be a valuable silver coin.

Clad quarters, on the other hand, weigh 5.7 grams, as mentioned earlier.

Related reading: How Much Is a Silver Us Quarter Worth

The mintmark on a coin can be a valuable piece of information for collectors and enthusiasts. It indicates which U.S. Mint facility made the coin, with a "D" signifying the Denver Mint and an "S" signifying the San Francisco Mint.

A 1979 quarter with a mintmark will have the mint letter stamp on the right side of the obverse, just behind the bow in Washington's ponytail. This is a distinctive feature that can help you identify the mintmark.

Not all 1979 quarters have a mintmark, which simply means they were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. This lack of mintmark doesn't make the coin any less valuable, just less specific in its origin.

In the case of 1979 quarters, the mintmark is a key identifier, and understanding its location can help you appreciate the craftsmanship that went into making these coins.

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The 1979-S Type 1 proof quarter has a blobby-looking “S” mintmark.

This is the more common type of 1979-S quarter, with over 1,000 coins existing in the PR 70 DCAM grade.

It's worth about $2 to $5, on average.

A PR 70 DCAM graded 1979-S Type 1 quarter sold for $403 in a 2003 auction, setting the bar for values of this type of coin.

The No Mint Mark Type 2 quarter is a fascinating coin variety. It was produced by the Philadelphia Mint in 1979, with a staggering 515,708,000 coins made.

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These quarters are relatively common, which means they're worth face value if you find one in your spare change. However, if you stumble upon an uncirculated specimen that looks brand new, it could be worth $1 to $3.

A notable example is an NGC-graded MS 68 that sold for a whopping $1,440 in 2022.

Off-Center errors can be a real treasure for collectors.

If you find a 1979 quarter that was struck off center, it's worth holding onto, especially if it's way off center.

Those that are only a little off center, like 1% or 2%, are pretty common and not really worth saving.

A 1979 quarter that's about 3% to 20% off center can be worth $25 to $30 or more.

If you're really lucky, you might find one that's about 50% off center and still shows a complete date, then you've hit the jackpot!

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The 1979 quarter is a fascinating coin with some interesting details. It's made of 75% Copper and 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center.

This unique composition gives the coin a distinctive look and feel. The 1979 quarter weighs in at 5.67 grams, which is slightly heavier than you might expect.

Here are some key details about the 1979 quarter:

The 1979 quarter's face value is a standard 25 cents, which is still a great value considering its historical significance.

There are three different varieties of the 1979 quarter, each with its own unique mint mark and production location. The 1979 quarter with no mint mark was produced in Philadelphia and has a mintage of 515,708,000.

The 1979 quarter with a "D" mint mark was produced in Denver and has a mintage of 489,789,780. The 1979 quarter with an "S" mint mark was produced in San Francisco and has a mintage of 3,677,175.

The 1979-S Type 1 proof quarter has a blobby-looking "S" mintmark and is worth about $2 to $5 on average.

The 1979 US quarter has several varieties, but did you know that the main differences lie in the presence or absence of a mint mark? The mint marks indicate where the coin was produced.

One of the most notable varieties is the 1979 No Mint Mark Quarter, which was produced in Philadelphia and has a mintage of 515,708,000. This is a significant number, and it's interesting to think about how many of these coins were circulating back in 1979.

The 1979 "D" Mint Mark Quarter, on the other hand, was produced in Denver and has a mintage of 489,789,780. This is a substantial number, and it's likely that many of these coins were used in everyday transactions.

Here's a breakdown of the different varieties of the 1979 US quarter:

The 1979 "S" Mint Mark Quarter, produced in San Francisco, has a relatively low mintage of 3,677,175. This is a small number compared to the other two varieties, and it's likely that many of these coins are highly sought after by collectors.

The Type 2 quarters are an interesting bunch. In 1979, the Philadelphia Mint made 515,708,000 of these coins without any mint marks.

These coins are not especially expensive at first glance, but an NGC-graded MS 68 sold for $1,440 on August 28, 2022. PCGS has only received one coin in this grade, estimating its value at $10,000.

The Denver Mint made a total of 489,789,780 Type 2 quarters in 1979, all with the D Mint Mark. An MS 67 sold for $1,078 on August 17, 2014.

PCGS has seen almost 30 of these coins, evaluating them at $360 as of July 2023. However, they've only received one MS 68, which is rated higher at $6,500.

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This variety occurs when the outer layer of a Quarter peels off as it's being made, leaving the copper inner layer exposed.

The outer layer is typically 75% copper mixed with 25% nickel, which is why these coins often have a distinct copper appearance.

In some cases, the back of the coin will look silver due to the remaining outer layer, while the front has a copper appearance.

These coins are often lighter than their counterparts due to the missing outer layer.

Graded MS 64, one of these coins sold for $80.

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The Washington quarter is a coin that's been around for a while, and it's interesting to learn about its composition. It's made of a 91.67% copper core with an 8.33% nickel coating.

The coin's design is based on an image of George Washington created by John Flanagan, who used a bust of Washington made by Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1786 as reference.

The word "LIBERTY" is engraved all the way around the coin's obverse, which is a pretty distinctive feature. This engraving covers Washington's hair as well.

The coin's reverse features a heraldic eagle in the style of Art Deco, perched on a group of arrows that point to the left.

The eagle's head also points to the left, and it's surrounded by two sprays of olive branches arranged in a U shape.

The words "United States of America" are printed around the top of the coin, while the base of the eagle is surrounded by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

A struck on a nickel planchet is a type of error coin that occurs when a coin design gets stamped on a blank that was meant for a different coin. This can happen when a planchet sheet is molded with the wrong combination of metals.

In the case of the 1979 Quarter struck on a 5c planchet, the resulting coin is slightly smaller and lighter than usual. This particular error coin sold for $215 when graded MS 65.