1993 Washington Quarter Guide: Error Varieties, Mint Marks, and Market Value

1993 Washington Quarter Guide: Error Varieties, Mint Marks, and Market Value

Few people fully understand what truly reflects world history. We can read a huge number of sources and the information will vary everywhere, and then how can we understand what happened to the economy of the last century? Paintings, literature, and, unexpectedly, currency can reflect this fully - for example, through the composition of coins. 

For numismatists, it's more than just tokens - it's our past, and they know all the lifehacks on how to identify coins in a few seconds. 

obverse and reverse of the 1993 25C

Before the Closer Look 

The Washington quarters have been in circulation since 1932. The design, by John Flanagan, shows a profile of George Washington on the front. 

On the back, there is a large eagle with its wings spread. In 1993, these quarters were generally made at two main locations: Philadelphia (P mint mark) and Denver (D mint mark). 

A special coin for collectors was also made in San Francisco (S mint mark), which often had a different metal content. The coins from Philadelphia and Denver are made of a copper-nickel clad composition, while the collector coins from San Francisco can be made of 90% silver.

How Much Is a 1993 Quarter Worth? 

Coin Name

Price Range 

1993 Quarter P

$1.50 - $1,000+

1993 Quarter D

$1.50 - $1,750+

1993 S Silver Proof Quarter

$10 - $140+

1993 Quarter Doubled Die Error

$50 - $1,450+

1993 Quarter Off-Center Strike

$20 - $120+

1993 Quarter Rotated Die Error

$20 - $200+


Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

1993 P Washington Quarter

obverse and reverse if the 1993 P 25C
  • Mintage: 639,276,000

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: A 1993-P Washington Quarter graded MS66 sold for $780.00 at Heritage Auctions on July 5, 2022.

Market Value

Grade

Value

Good (G-4) - Fine (F-12)

$0.25

MS-60

$1.50

MS-65 (Gem BU)

$10

MS-66

$95

MS-67

$225 - $350


The 1993 P quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

1993 Quarter D Washington

obverse and reverse of the 1993 D 25C

Finding a rare 1993 quarter from Denver is about finding one in an extremely good condition. 

  • Mintage: 645,476,128

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: A 1993-D Washington Quarter graded MS-67 sold for $516.00 at Heritage Auctions on February 22, 2018. Another sold for $408 on June 24, 2020.

Market Value

Grade

Value

Good (G-4) - Fine (F-12)

$0.25

MS-60

$1.50

MS-65 (Gem BU)

$10

MS-66

$20

MS-67

$415 - $1,750


The 1993 D quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

1993 S Washington Quarter Proof

obverse and reverse of the 1993 S Proof 25C
  • Mintage: 2,907,358

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: A 1993-S Washington Quarter Proof graded PR70 Deep Cameo sold for $1,200.00 at Stack's Bowers Galleries on August 15, 2023.

Market Value

Grade

Value

PR-60 - PR-64

$1.00

PR-65

$2.50

PR-67

$10

PR-68

$20

PR-69

$215 - $300


The 1993 quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

1993 Quarter Errors

Collectors love error coins because they are unique and often rare. The 1993 quarter error list includes several types of mistakes from the minting process. These errors can make the 1993 quarter value error much higher than a regular coin.

1993 D Quarter Doubled Struck 

details of the 1993 25C DDO

This is when a coin is hit by the die more than once. The result is a double image. The 1993-d quarter error list contains very rare examples. 

  • Mintage: N/A

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: An ANACS-graded MS64 1993-D quarter with a double strike was sold by Heritage Auctions.

Market Value

Error Type

Grade

Value

Doubled Struck

MS-64

$1,450

Doubled Struck

MS-65

$1,600+

The 1993 D quarter error value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

Rotated Die Error (1993 P Quarter)

obverse and reverse of the 1993 25C Rotated Die

This happens when one of the dies used to strike the coin is turned the wrong way. When you flip the coin over, the design is not aligned correctly. This 1993 P quarter error list with pictures shows this can be a very visible error. 

  • Mintage: N/A

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: A 1993-P George Washington Quarter with a Rotated Die error has been listed for a price of $200.00 on eBay.

Market Value

Error Type

Grade

Value

Rotated Die (Slightly)

MS-60

$20 - $50

Rotated Die (90 Degrees)

MS-63

$100 - $200+

The 1993 P quarter error value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.


Off-Center Strike Error

obverse and reverse of the 1993 25C Off-Center Strike

An off-center strike happens when the coin blank is not perfectly in the center when the die strikes it. This leaves part of the coin blank and the design is pushed to one side, and a more off-center coin is usually more valuable.

  • Mintage: N/A

  • Content: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel

  • Auction Record: A 1993 Washington Quarter with a Strike 50% Off Center, graded NGC MS-63, was listed for sale for $120 on eBay.

Market Value

Error Type

Grade

Value

Off-Center Strike (10%)

MS-60

$20 - $40

Off-Center Strike (50%)

MS-63

$75 - $120

Off-Center Strike (75%+)

MS-64+

$150+


The 1993 D quarter error list can vary and change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.

How to Understand the Value of a Coin on Your Own

Is a 1993 quarter worth anything? To know it, you need to look at main things:

Condition and Grading

The condition is graded on a scale, with "MS" (Mint State) for uncirculated coins. A higher number like MS-67 means it is in near-perfect condition and will be worth more. For a valuable coin, you might want to get it graded by a professional service. 

The top two services are PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company). They will authenticate your coin, give it a numerical grade, and seal it in a special holder. This can greatly increase the value of a rare coin.

Mint Mark

Look for the small letter on the coin's front side.A 1993 quarter no mint mark means it was made in Philadelphia, "D" means Denver, and "S" means San Francisco..

Errors

Check for mistakes like doubled images, rotated designs, or other strange marks. These are rare and can be very valuable. 

Research and Lifehacks

  • Use websites like PCGS CoinFacts and NGC Price Guides have databases of millions of graded coins and their values. 

  • To know if you have a rare 1993 quarter - snap it via Coin ID Scanner for free and get the result in less than a minute.

  • Look at past auction results on sites like Heritage Auctions or eBay's "sold listings" to see real-world prices. 

  • Cleaning can damage the surface and greatly decrease its value. Even a bit of cleaning can leave small scratches that are very visible to a professional grader.

  • For a simple check, look at the date and lettering. If the letters or numbers look a little blurry or like they have a shadow, it might be a double die error. To check for a rotated die error, hold the coin between your thumb and forefinger on the top and bottom. Flip it over from left to right. 

  • The back image should be upright. If it is sideways or upside down, you have a rotated die error. And then check some 1993 P quarter error list with pictures to see some coincidence.

In conclusion, to understand all the subtleties and nuances, you need a lot of experience and observation: at first it may seem that it is too difficult, but later you will understand the principle of evaluation and I will independently determine the value by eye. 

The most important advice is not to stop there and continue to study all the features of numismatics.

FAQ

Is a 1993 error quarter worth anything more than its face value?

Most circulated 1993 quarters are only worth 25 cents. However, if the coin is in uncirculated condition, or has a rare error, its value can be much higher.

What is the most valuable 1993 quarter?

The most valuable 1993 quarters are those with rare errors or those in a very high grade, like MS-67 or higher. A 1993-D quarter in MS-67 condition has an auction record of over $1,750, making it one of the most valuable.

How can I tell if my 1993 quarter has a mint mark?

Look on the front of the coin, on the right side, just behind Washington's ponytail. You will see a small letter, either a "D" for Denver or a "P" for Philadelphia (if there is a "P" or no mint mark).

What is the common 1993 P quarter error list to look for?

Some common errors include doubled dies, rotated dies, and off-center strikes. These mistakes from the mint can be very valuable to collectors. You can find more interesting examples in a 1993 D quarter error list.


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