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Among all Beautiful Quarters issued in 2013, the 2013 quarter Fort McHenry is likely the most patriotic in the bunch. Not every quarter has fireworks and the American flag in one design, after all.
Let’s give this quarter a proper overview, with errors and values.
2013 Fort McHenry Quarter Overview
The quarter dedicated to the Fort McHenry National Monument was the 19th issue in the America the Beautiful quarter series, and 2013 was its year of production.
In case you don’t know, America the Beautiful was a program that tried to honor various events, people, and sites of America with Washington quarters. Some releases were all about the "beauty", like the Smoky Mountains 2014 quarter. Fort McHenry quarter was more about history and patriotism.
This coin honours an event that happened in 1812, during the war between the U.S. and Great Britain. Specifically, it honors the successful defense of McHenry Fort. This event even inspired a poem, “The Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which later became the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“The defense of Fort McHenry was the watershed event in the War of 1812 … and this new quarter captures the significance of that victory and connects all Americans who use it to Fort McHenry and its honored place in American history.”
— United States Mint
Official Website
The design accurately reflects both sides of the event: the fort itself, and the legacy it left with an American flag.
The obverse shows the long-running portrait of George Washington. This side has inscriptions like “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the face value “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
The reverse depicts Fort McHenry. The fireworks shine above the fort, and an American flag stands on its roof. You will find in cities like “FORT McHENRY”, “MARYLAND”, “2013”, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM”.
The technical details:
Category | Details |
Release Year | 2013 |
Mints | Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), San Francisco (S Proof & Silver Proof) |
Mintage | P: ~120,000,000 D: ~151,400,000 S Clad Proof: ~911,000 S Silver Proof: ~580,000 |
Composition (Clad) | Outer layers: 75% copper, 25% nickel |
Composition (Silver Proof) | 90% silver, 10% copper |
Diameter | 24.26 mm |
Weight | 5.670 g (Clad) 6.250 g (90% Silver Proof) |
2013 Fort McHenry Quarter Errors
Modern quarters rarely have interesting errors, but there is a lot of potential. The errors are still being found today, so you have a chance to be a pioneer who discovered an interesting error for this quarter.
Here are some possible errors:
Doubled-die reverse: Some elements, such as the fireworks, parts of the flag, and lettering, are doubled.
Die chips: Small raised blobs appear near the rim. Depending on size/location, some die chips are minor and worth little, while larger, diagnostic chips can attract premiums.
Off-center strikes: Portions of the design are shifted because planchets were struck off.
Broadstrikes: The whole coin looks quashed, and it is too broad. This error is very rare.
Fort McHenry quarter errors are overall similar to other Beautiful quarters. Shenandoah quarter and other editions from 2013 and 2014 were also reported with die chips and, to a rarer extent, off-center.
2013 Fort McHenry Quarter Value Guide
Coin Variety | Grade (Condition) | Typical Value Range |
Circulation Strike – P & D | Circulated | $0.25 |
MS60–MS63 | $0.25–$1.50 | |
MS64–MS66 | $5–$15+ | |
San Francisco Clad Proof (S) | Proof | ∼$9 |
San Francisco 90% Silver Proof (S) | Proof | ∼$21 |
Out of all varieties, Silver Proof takes the crown.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2013 Fort McHenry quarter is common but very attractive. You could still find this bit in pocket change. Some investors liked the design so much that they even bought Silver Proof versions. With time, this coin will become a valuable asset.
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