Contents:
- A Brief History of the Washington Quarter
- How Much Is a 1996 Quarter Worth?
- 1996 P Washington Quarter (Philadelphia)
- 1996 D Washington Quarter (Denver)
- 1996-S Proof Quarter (San Francisco)
- 1996-S Silver Proof Quarter (San Francisco)
- 1996 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Error
- 1996 Off-Center Strike Error
- 1996 Wrong Planchet Errors
- Understanding Coin Grades
The 1996 Washington Quarter coin holds a special place in the hearts of many coin collectors. It was part of the original Washington Quarter series, which was released in 1932.
Like many other coins from that time, this coin features a standard design with a profile of President George Washington on the front - the main feature to identify the coin. On the reverse side of the coin, there is a large eagle with outstretched wings standing on a bundle of arrows, with olive branches below.
Although millions of these coins were produced for everyday use, some variations and errors make certain coins more valuable and interesting to find.
A Brief History of the Washington Quarter
The Washington quarter was first introduced in 1932 to celebrate the 200th birthday of George Washington. The coin was designed by John Flanagan. At first, the coin was meant to be a special, one-year-only design, but it became so popular that it replaced the old Standing Liberty quarter.
From 1932 to 1964, the quarters were made with 90% silver. But in 1965, the price of silver went up a lot, so the United States Mint changed the coin's composition to the copper-nickel clad material we use today.
The design of the Washington quarter stayed the same for many years, with only a few changes. In 1999, the series was replaced with the very popular 50 State Quarters Program, which put a different state's design on the back of the coin each year.
The traditional Washington quarter design made a brief return in 2021 with a new reverse design showing Washington crossing the Delaware River.
How Much Is a 1996 Quarter Worth?
Name | Approximate Value |
1996-P Quarter | $0.25 - $2,000 |
1996-D Quarter | $0.25 - $300 |
1996-S Clad Proof Quarter | $3 - $30 |
1996-S Silver Proof Quarter | $8 - $100 |
1996 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) | $50 - $500 |
1996 Off-Center Strike | $20 - $500 |
1996 Wrong Planchet Error | $150 - $2,000+ |
The value of 1996 quarter can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996 P Washington Quarter (Philadelphia)
The 1996 quarter made at the Philadelphia Mint is identified by a small "P" mint mark on the front. Because so many were made, they are very common in normal, circulated condition.
Specifications:
Mintage: 925,040,000
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (copper-nickel clad)
Auction Record Note: A very high-quality example of this coin, graded as MS68 by PCGS, was sold at an auction on the Heritage Auctions platform. The sale happened in late 2012 for a price of $1,998.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Circulated | $0.25 - $1 |
Uncirculated (MS60-65) | $1 - $10 |
Gem Uncirculated (MS66-68) | $15 - $2,000 |
The 1996 P quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996 D Washington Quarter (Denver)
The Denver Mint also made a very large number of Washington quarters in 1996. These coins have a "D" mint mark and were also made for general use, but the 1996 D quarter error list can contain curious examples.
Specifications:
Mintage: 906,868,000
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (copper-nickel clad)
Auction Record Note: A certified 1996-D quarter in MS68 condition was sold at an auction on the Heritage Auctions platform. This specific sale took place in early 2014 and the coin sold for $411.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Circulated | $0.25 - $1 |
Uncirculated (MS60-65) | $1 - $5 |
Gem Uncirculated (MS66-68) | $15 - $300 |
The 1996 D quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996-S Proof Quarter (San Francisco)
The 1996-S proof quarter has a shiny, mirror-like surface and a very sharp design. The regular proof coin is made of the same clad material as the P and D quarters.
Specifications:
Mintage: Included in the 1996 Proof Set mintage (number not publicly available for individual coins)
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (copper-nickel clad)
Auction Record Note: A 1996-S clad proof quarter, graded PR69 DCAM by PCGS, was sold in an online auction on eBay. The sale happened in late 2023 for a price of about $22.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Proof 65-68 | $3 - $10 |
Proof 69 DCAM | $15 - $30 |
The 1996 quarter P mint mark value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996-S Silver Proof Quarter (San Francisco)
This coin was part of the annual Silver Proof Set and was made with a real silver content.
Specifications:
Mintage: Included in the 1996 Silver Proof Set mintage
Weight: 6.25 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A 1996-S silver proof quarter, graded as PR70 DCAM by NGC, was sold at an online auction on the GreatCollections platform. This top-quality coin sold in mid-2023 for $98.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Proof 65-69 | $8 - $25 |
Proof 70 DCAM | $30 - $100 |
How much is a 1996 P quarter worth? Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Error
A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) error can be found in the 1996 quarter error list with pictures and happens when the coin die is struck more than once in a slightly different position, causing the design to look doubled. On the 1996-P DDO, this doubling can often be seen on the letters of "IN GOD WE TRUST" and on Washington's ear.
Specifications:
Mintage: Not available (as this is an error and not a standard production)
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (copper-nickel clad)
Auction Record Note: An uncertified but well-defined 1996-P DDO error coin was sold on the eBay platform for a price of about $350 in late 2024.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Circulated | $50 - $100 |
Uncirculated | $150 - $500 |
The 1996 quarter value P can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996 Off-Center Strike Error
This error occurs on some Washington quarters when the planchet is not perfectly in the center of the press when it is struck. This results in part of the design being missing and a blank curved area on the coin. The value of an off-center coin depends on how much it is off-center.
Specifications:
Mintage: Not available
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (copper-nickel clad)
Auction Record Note: A 1996-P quarter that was struck 15% off-center was sold in an online auction on eBay. The coin was graded MS67 by NGC and was sold in mid-2024 for $296.
Market Value
Off-Center Percentage | Approximate Value |
Small Off-Center | $20 - $75 |
Medium Off-Center (10-20%) | $80 - $250 |
Large Off-Center (20%+) | $250 - $500+ |
Is a 1996 quarter worth anything? Values change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
1996 Wrong Planchet Errors
A wrong planchet error happens when a coin is struck on a blank piece of metal that was intended for a different coin. This can cause a number of interesting effects, like the coin being the wrong size, having the wrong weight, or showing a unique color.
An example would be a quarter design struck on a planchet for a cent or a nickel. Another related error is a clipped planchet, where a piece of the blank metal disc is missing before it is struck.
Specifications:
Mintage: Not available
Weight: Varies depending on the planchet used
Diameter: Varies depending on the planchet used
Composition: Varies depending on the planchet used
Auction Record Note: A 1996-P Washington quarter struck on a defective planchet was sold on the eBay platform in late 2023 for a price of $152.95. The coin was graded MS64 by NGC, which means it was a good quality example of this interesting error.
Market Value
Type of Error | Approximate Value |
Clipped Planchet | $10 - $100 |
Wrong Planchet | $150 - $2,000+ |
The 1996 error quarter value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual tokens.
Understanding Coin Grades
When you see a value for a coin, it is almost always linked to its grade. The grade is usually given by a professional grading company like PCGS or NGC and can be checked by Coin ID Scanner.
The grading scale goes from 1 to 70, with 70 being a perfect coin.
Circulated: Coins that have been used. Their grade is usually below 60.
Uncirculated: Coins that have never been used. They can have a grade from 60 to 70.
Proof: Special coins made for collectors with a very shiny surface. They are graded on a similar scale to uncirculated coins.
DCAM: Rare 1996 quarter stands for "Deep Cameo" and means the proof coin has a very strong contrast between the shiny background and the frosted design.
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