2017 Quarter Value and Error Guide – Effigy Mounds, Ellis Island, Frederick Douglass & More

2017 Quarter Value and Error Guide – Effigy Mounds, Ellis Island, Frederick Douglass & More

A 2017 Quarter is a United States 25-cent coin struck in the year 2017 as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program (2010–2021). These coins continue the Washington Quarter design tradition that started in 1932, but with special reverses (backs) honoring national parks and historic sites.

How much is a 2017 quarter worth? Most 2017 quarters are worth face value in circulation, but uncirculated or proof versions — especially in silver or high grades — carry premium value. Some errors (off-center strikes, doubled dies, missing clad layers) can also make certain quarter 2017 specimens valuable to collectors.

Let’s find out what is the best way to check coins for value​.


Specification

Description

Year

2017

Composition

Copper-nickel clad (91.67% copper core, 8.33% nickel outer layer)

Weight

5.670 grams

Diameter

24.26 mm (0.955 inches)

Thickness

1.75 mm

Edge

Reeded (serrated)

Obverse Design

George Washington portrait

Reverse Designs

Effigy Mounds (IA), Frederick Douglass (DC), Ozark Riverways (MO), Ellis Island (NJ), George Rogers Clark (IN)

Mint Marks

P (Philadelphia), D (Denver), S (San Francisco for proofs)

America the Beautiful Quarters Program

It ran from 2010 to 2021 and brought national parks and historic landmarks into the palms of everyday Americans.

The idea was simple: just as the earlier State Quarters celebrated each state, this new program would honor the places that define America’s natural and cultural heritage. In total, 56 designs were created—one for every state, the District of Columbia, and each U.S. territory. The coins were released in the order that the sites first gained national recognition, whether as a park, monument, or other designation.

On the front, the quarters continued to feature George Washington’s familiar profile, originally sculpted by John Flanagan in 1932. The back, however, changed five times each year (four in the final year). Some coins highlighted landmarks everyone knows, like the Grand Canyon, while others introduced people to something new such as Iowa’s Effigy Mounds 2017 quarter.

Alongside the standard copper-nickel coins, the U.S. Mint also struck special proofs and silver editions, including massive 5-ounce silver versions.

2017 Quarter

1. Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa)

Effigy Mounds Iowa 2017 Quarter
  • Release date: February 6, 2017

This quarter highlights the sacred Native American effigy mounds found in northeastern Iowa. These massive earthworks, shaped like bears and birds, date back more than 1,000 years. For indigenous cultures, the mounds served ceremonial and burial purposes, and they remain powerful symbols of heritage and spirituality.

Many Americans are unaware of these ancient landmarks. The coin draws attention to the prehistoric cultures that shaped the Midwest long before modern states existed.

Effigy Mounds Iowa 2017 Quarter Value:


Mint / Condition

Circulated

MS-63

MS-65

MS-67

Proof (S)

Silver Proof (S)

2017 P quarter value

$0.25

$1

$5

$25

D (Denver)

$0.25

$1

$5

$25

S (Clad Proof)

$4

S (Silver Proof)

$10–$15

2. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (District of Columbia)

2017 Quarter Frederick Douglass
  • Release date: April 3, 2017

The 2017 Frederick Douglass quarter portrays abolitionist Frederick Douglass seated at his writing desk, with his Cedar Hill residence in the background. Douglass’s writings and speeches were weapons against slavery and injustice.

It’s rare for coins to depict an African American historical figure so prominently. This quarter honors not just a man, but the power of literacy and free thought in the fight for equality.

Read more about the last coin in the series: 2021 Tuskegee Airmen Quarter Value.

2017 Quarter Frederick Douglass Value:


Mint / Condition

Circulated

MS-63

MS-65

MS-67

Proof (S)

Silver Proof (S)

P (Philadelphia)

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

D (Denver)

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

S (Clad Proof)

$4

S (Silver Proof)

$10–$15

3. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri)

2017 Ozark Riverways Quarter
  • Release date: June 5, 2017

The quarter features Alley Mill, a striking red water-powered gristmill from the 19th century. Surrounded by Missouri’s natural beauty, the mill sits along the river, representing both the historic and environmental importance of the Ozarks.

The Ozark Riverways were the first U.S. site designated a “national scenic riverways.” This coin ties together the nation’s natural conservation story with the everyday history of local communities.

Ozark Riverways Quarter Value:


Mint / Condition

Circulated

MS-63

MS-65

MS-67

Proof (S)

Silver Proof (S)

P (Philadelphia)

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

2017 D quarter value

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

S (Clad Proof)

$4

S (Silver Proof)

$10–$15

4. Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument, New Jersey)

2017 quarter Ellis Island
  • Release date: August 28, 2017

This 2017 quarter Ellis Island captures an immigrant family arriving at Ellis Island. The father cradles his child, while the mother gazes at the island’s structures in the background. It’s a tribute to the millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954.

2017 Ellis Island Quarter Value:


Mint / Condition

Circulated

MS-63

MS-65

MS-67

Proof (S)

Silver Proof (S)

P (Philadelphia)

$0.25

$1

$6

$25

D (Denver)

$0.25

$1

$6

$25

S (Clad Proof)

$4

S (Silver Proof)

$10–$15

5. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (Indiana)

2017 Quarter George Rogers Clark
  • Release date: November 13, 2017

The quarter shows George Rogers Clark leading his men during the Revolutionary War. The image is full of motion, with soldiers advancing through wilderness terrain, rifles in hand. It represents Clark’s daring capture of Fort Sackville in 1779.

The design reminds collectors of the frontier battles that shaped the nation’s expansion and secured its independence. Clark is a lesser-known figure, but his role was big in defining U.S. borders after the Revolution.

2017 Quarter Value George Rogers Clark:


Mint / Condition

Circulated

MS-63

MS-65

MS-67

Proof (S)

Silver Proof (S)

P (Philadelphia)

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

D (Denver)

$0.25

$1

$5

$20

S (Clad Proof)

$4

S (Silver Proof)

$10–$15


Disclaimer: Coin values listed are approximate and depend on current market demand, grading standards, and the coin’s physical condition. Prices may vary between dealers, auctions, and private sales. 

Also read: Top 10 Common Coin Collecting Mistakes.

2017 Quarter Errors

Doubled Die Obverse

The most valuable 2017 Effigy Mounds quarter error is a doubled die obverse, where the inscriptions “LIBERTY” or “IN GOD WE TRUST” appear doubled. The effect is subtle to the naked eye but clear under magnification. Doubling varieties always attract strong collector interest because they can be linked to specific die sets. Values vary, but well-defined examples in high mint state can command over one hundred dollars.

Clipped Planchet

Another 2017 quarter Effigy Mounds error is the clipped planchet. Here, the metal blank used to strike the coin was cut incorrectly, leaving part of the rim missing in a crescent shape. Such 2017 Iowa quarter error examples are immediately visible without magnification, making them popular among casual collectors as well as specialists. Depending on the size of the clip and overall condition, these coins often bring between twenty-five and one hundred dollars.

2017 quarter Effigy Mounds error

Die Breaks (“Cuds”)

The Frederick Douglass 2017 quarter error includes several die break varieties. When the dies used to strike coins crack, extra metal flows into the damaged area, producing a raised blob or ridge on the finished coin. Collectors call these flaws “cuds.” They are considered dramatic because they alter the coin’s appearance, especially when they touch Douglass’s portrait or the surrounding lettering. Small cuds might sell for twenty dollars, while larger, more obvious breaks can go much higher.

Missing Clad Layer

The Ozark Riverways quarter from Missouri includes one of the most dramatic mistakes of all: 2017 Ozark Riverways quarter error called a missing clad layer. Quarters are made with a copper core sandwiched between nickel layers. If one of those outer layers is absent, one side of the coin shows a bright copper color rather than the normal gray finish. These errors are highly collectible, with market values often reaching two to four hundred dollars depending on grade and eye appeal.

Struck Through Grease

Another error for the Ozark issue is a strike through grease. During coin production, lubricants and debris sometimes clog the dies, preventing full detail from being transferred to the planchet. On this quarter, it often weakens details of Alley Mill or the flowing river. Though less dramatic than a missing clad layer, these coins are still appealing to error collectors and can sell for fifteen to fifty dollars.

close-up of a 2017-P Ozark Riverways Grease Strike Obv Error coin

Off-Center Strike

One of the 2017 Ellis Island quarter errors is the off-center strike. In this mistake, the blank was not properly seated in the press, causing the design to land off center. The result is dramatic, with blank metal showing on one side of the coin. Collectors pay well for such Ellis Island 2017 quarter pieces, and values often range between seventy-five and two hundred dollars depending on how far off center the strike is.

Partial Collar Strike (“Railroad Rim”)

Finally, one design has been found with partial collar strikes. In this 2017 George Rogers Clark quarter error, the coin was not fully held in place by the collar during striking, producing an odd-looking edge with incomplete reeding, sometimes nicknamed a “railroad rim.” These errors are less common and therefore more desirable, with prices starting around fifty dollars and sometimes exceeding one hundred fifty.

2017-S San Francisco Uncitculated George Rogers Clark Park roll of quarters

If you want to explore these coins from the 2017 quarter error list with pictures further, technology now makes it easier. With the Coin ID Scanner app, you can quickly identify any quarter by photo, learn about its design, check its potential value, and even track it in a digital collection.

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