Are you one of the people who own a commemorative 1788 quarter? If you are, then you could own a surprisingly valuable coin. While standard issues of these quarters are not worth much, those with errors can be worth thousands.
Read on to find out more about the 1788 quarters and the errors that make some of them very valuable.
1788 Quarter Details
- Category: Commemorative State Quarters
- Total produced: Approximately 1 billion of each coin
- First coin released: July 19, 1999
- The last coin released: January 2, 2001
Description
The 1788 commemorative state quarters have a portrait of George Washington on the obverse. Around the portrait is a text that more often appears on the reverse side of the coin.
Fitted around the portrait are the words ”United States of America”, ”Liberty”, and ”Quarter Dollar”. It also includes the motto ”In God We Trust”. Including all this text on the obverse left more space for the designs on the reverse of the coins.
On the reverse of all the commemorative state coins, is the name of the state it commemorates and the year it joined the Union or ratified the Constitution. At the bottom of the coin, is the Latin phrase ”E pluribus unum” and the year the coin was minted.
The other design elements of the reverse were left completely to each state. As a result the reverse often reflects the values, tastes, and characteristics of each state. For example, the New York quarter has the Statue of Liberty while South Carolina’s features a yellow jessamine, cabbage palmetto, and the Carolina wren.
The Finish of the 1788 Quarter
The commemorative coins were made in two finishes. The majority of the coins were made of base metal. However, there were proof coins that were struck with collectors in mind. These were made of base metal or silver.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation
1788 Quarter Value
1788 Quarter Value Chart |
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State | Mint | Clad Proof | Silver Proof |
1788 Quarter Georgia | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $60 | $5 – $80 |
1788 Quarter Connecticut | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $60 | $5 – $68 |
1788 Quarter Massachusetts | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $40 | $5 – $68 |
1788 Quarter Maryland | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $35 | $5 – $74 |
1788 Quarter South Carolina | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $30 | $5 – $68 |
1788 Quarter New Hampshire | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $35 | $5 – $88 |
1788 Quarter Virginia | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $35 | $5 – $74 |
1788 Quarter New York | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $35 | $5 to $68 |
1788 Quarter Georgia Value
- Total Produced: Over 9 million
- Release Date: July 19, 1999
The Georgia 1788 Quarter features a peach surrounded by the branches of an oak tree on the reverse. It represents the nickname of the state “peach state” and the official state tree. While the standard issue of the Georgia 1788 Quarter is not particularly rare or valuable, proof and silver proof versions can sell for around $80.
1788 Quarter Connecticut Value
- Total Produced: 1,346,624,000
- Release Date: July 19, 1999
The Connecticut 1788 Quarter was the second coin with the 1788 date stamp. On the reverse is an image of the Charter Tree, which symbolizes the state’s self-governance and history. The standard issue, made of nickel and copper, usually sells for $1-$5, while the proof versions can be worth around $68.
1788 Quarter Massachusetts Value
- Total Produced: 1,163,784,000
- Release Date: January 3, 2000
The Massachusetts 1788 Quarter features the Minuteman statue on the reverse together with an outlined state map in the background. With a mintage of 1,163,784,000, its total number is one of the largest among the state commemorative coins. A proof variant of the 1788 Massachusetts quarter can be worth around $68.
1788 Quarter Maryland Value
- Total Produced: 1,234,732,000
- Release Date: January 3, 2000
On the reverse of the Maryland 1788 Quarter, is an image of the Maryland Statehouse with two branches of a white oak tree, which is the official tree of the state. It also includes the state’s motto “The Old Line State”. While regular proof versions are generally worth around $74, Maryland special variants and error coins can sell for much higher values at auctions.
1788 Quarter South Carolina Value
- Total Produced: 1,308,784,000
- Release Date: January 3, 2000
The South Carolina 1788 Quarter has several symbols on the reverse including the state outline, a star to mark the location of the capital Columbia, a palmetto tree, a Carolina wren bird, and a yellow jessamine flower. While standard issues of the coin are usually worth up to about $5, proof copies can be valued at around $68.
1788 Quarter New Hampshire Value
- Total Produced: 1,169,016,000
- Release Date: August 7, 2000
The reverse side of the New Hampshire 1788 quarter features an image of The Old Man of the Mountain, which is an iconic rock formation. It also has the words “Live Free or Die”, the state’s motto. Standard quarters will be worth between $1 and $5, while proof versions can be worth $88.
1788 Quarter Virginia Value
- Total Produced: 1,594,616,000
- Release Date: October 16, 2000
The Virginia 1788 quarter features the three ships, Discovery, Godspeed, and Susan Constant, that brought the first English settlers to the state. With a 1,594,616,000 total mintage, the standard versions of the coin are generally not valued above $5. The proof versions can be worth around $74.
1788 Quarter New York Value
- Total Produced: 1,275,040,000
- Release Date: January 2, 2001
The New York 1788 quarter with the Statue of Liberty on the reverse, was the first quarter in the commemorative series minted in 2001. It is one of the most common state quarters, with a total mintage of 1,275,040,000. Proof versions of the New York 1788 quarter can be valued at approximately $68.
Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
History
The 1788 Quarters were issued as part of a commemorative series by the US Mint. Coins in the series were first launched in 1999 and quarters were produced for ten weeks for each state. The coins bear both the date when the state joined the union and the date they were minted.
It took over a decade to produce the whole series and the 1788 quarters were produced between 1999 and 2001. The states were commemorated in the order they ratified the US Constitution or joined the Union. The term “1788 quarter” is used to refer to the coins produced to commemorate the states that joined the Union in 1788.
Instead of using the same design on the reverse of all coins, the series gave the public a chance to get involved. In 17 states, the public could vote for the final design. In many other states, designs were invited by the public. In the end, more than 3.5 million American citizens played a part in the design of the commemorative quarters.
The commemorative series proved extremely popular with collectors and made a profit of approximately $3 billion for the US government.
Also Read: 10+ Rarest State Quarter Errors Lists (Worth Much Money!!!)
1788 Quarter Grading
Like with all coins, the exact value of the 1788 quarter depends on its grading. The grades range from poor to extremely fine for circulated coins. In addition, there are uncirculated grades. which range from MS60 to MS70. A coin given the grade MS70 will be in perfect condition and have no blemishes or contact marks.
In this video, you can find out more about high-grade state dollars and their values.
1788 Quarter Errors
1. 1788 Quarter Mules
The quarters known as mules are some of the rarest and therefore most collectable of all the errors on the 1788 quarters. The mules occur when obverse and reverse designs that do not belong together are combined on a coin. There is a mule error among the commemorative state 1788 quarters.
This mule error was made in 2000 and the coin has the reverse from the Sacagawea dollar and the obverse is a state quarter. It is believed that there are only nineteen of these mules and they are valued in tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes even more as seen at a 2018 auction when a 2000-P State quarter dollar/Sacagawea dollar double denomination mule sold for $192,000.
2. 1788 Quarter Double Strikes
While double strikes can still increase the value of a coin, these errors are more common than mules and therefore do not increase the price as significantly. Double strike errors occur when a coin is struck twice, and this leaves a double imprint.
There are several coins with a double strike error among the 1788 state quarters. The prices of these coins vary depending on the quality of the coin and the extent of the error. More significant double-strike errors are usually worth more. They can be worth several hundred dollars with some selling for significantly more.
3. 1788 Quarter Multiple Strikes
Sometimes coins may be struck multiple times, which makes them even more interesting to collectors than double-struck coins. Examples of 1788 quarters that were struck multiple times include the Connecticut and Georgia quarters graded MS64 and a South Carolina quarter struck three times and graded MS65.
4. 1788 Quarter Overstrikes
Sometimes, instead of a black plancet, a coin can be struck on an existing coin. This error is known as overstrike. Some examples of 1788 quarters with the overstrike error include a Georgia 1788 quarter graded MS64. In this overstrike error example, a Georgia 1788 quarter was struck over a Susan B Anthony dollar.
5. Off-Center Strikes
Another error you might see in the 1788 quarters is that part of the design is missing because of an off-center strike. This error could be almost unnoticeable at 1% or very obvious at 99%. The more obvious the error is, the more valuable the coin is likely to be, depending on its overall condition and grading.
6. Missing Letters or Features
Coins that have missing letters or features because of a printing error can be worth more than standard coins. However, sometimes things may be missing because of excessive wear and this will reduce rather than increase the value of the coin.
Missing letters and features more commonly occur when something, for example, grease, gets stuck in the crevice of the die. In other cases, the missing features may be due to die adjustment created during the striking pressure tests.
7. Die Cracks and Die Breaks
Another error that could be present in the 1788 quarters is die breaks or cracks, which can occur when the coin die ages. The die breaks and cracks are most likely to appear as jagged or straight raised lines. Often they are around the lettering, design elements, or near the rim. Some are small and barely noticeable, while others can stretch across the entire surface.
8. Die Chips
Die chips are also caused by aging die. They are minute lumps, which are usually found inside looped letters such as Ds, Os, and Ps. However, they can sometimes appear in the middle of the flat area of a coin’s surface.
To accurately grade the value of a coin with an error, one needs to consider the overall condition of the coin, the type of error, the rarity of the error, and the extent of the error.
1788 Quarter FAQs
How much is a 1788 quarter worth today?
When people talk about the 1788 quarters, they are referring to the set of quarters issued to commemorate states that joined the Union or ratified the Constitution. There were eight different quarters released as part of the 1788 quarters.
The value of the 1788 quarter depends on its condition and whether it was a proof or standard issue. Errors on the coins can significantly increase the value of a 1788 quarter and a Georgia 1788 quarter with mule error was sold for a record-breaking $192,000 at an auction in 2018.
Is there a valuable State Quarter?
There are many valuable state quarters. However, these are usually coins with errors created during production. Generally, the standard issues are only worth between $1 and $5 dollars. Coins with errors can be worth hundreds and even thousands with the rarest coins, such as those with mule error, fetch tens of thousands and one even sells for $192,000.