1976‑S Washington Quarter fetches $19,200 at Heritage Auctions

A 1976‑S Washington quarter, struck in 40% silver, was sold at a Heritage Auctions sale on 9 June 2019 for US$19,200. The coin was graded MS69 by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), a condition that experts say exists in fewer than a handful of known examples. By comparison, most circulating quarters are worth only their face value of 25 cents, and the melt value of the 1976‑S silver content is about US$4.20.

The sale underscores the premium that rare U.S. quarters can command. Other highly sought‑after issues include the 1932‑D and 1932‑S Washington quarters, minted in limited quantities during the Great Depression, which can fetch between US$3,000 and over US$10,000 in top condition. Silver quarters minted through 1964 also carry intrinsic metal value, while error varieties such as the 1965 silver‑on‑copper transition pieces have sold for $5,000‑$16,800. These examples illustrate the wide price range in the numismatic market, driven by rarity, condition, and mint‑mark anomalies.