Coin Value Finder » 1943 Silver Quarter Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1943 Silver Quarter Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

The Washington Quarter is fully worth its weight in silver and is a prize item for collectors all around the world. If you are interested in increasing your collection or your profit, this coin and its many, many lustrous variants help you do both.

Not sure what value an old washed-up coin can hold? Depending on its condition, the coin can hold up to six figures, so if you want to turn a tidy sum on a lucky find, keep reading because we are about to go over everything that makes this coin and others like it so incredibly precious.

1943 Silver Quarter Details

1943 Silver Quarter

  • Category: Washington Quarter
  • Mint: 99,700,000
  • Obverse Designer: John Flanagan
  • Reverse Designer: John Flanagan
  • Composition Silver: 90% silver, 10% copper.
  • Fineness: 0.9000
  • Weight: 6.25 Grams
  • ASW:  0.1808oz

The 1943 silver quarter shows president George Washington on the obverse of the coin. You can see Washington faced towards the left with details given to his likeness and facial details, such as a few wrinkles or the waviness of his hair.

On the top of the coin, you can see the word “Liberty” engraved. Beneath Sir Washington’s chin, the phrase “In God We Trust” can be seen. There are subtle things to note about this coin, and a great deal of attention was put on the president’s face. Beneath his image, the date is carved.

The reverse of the coin shows a bald American eagle perched on arrows placed in a wreath. The patterns on the wreath flow and wave towards the right wings of the bird. Its feathers can also be seen in detail, and when grading, attention should be given to the wear on the bird’s hind legs and wings.

The same Latin phrase, “E Pluribus Unum,” is carved on top of the eagle’s head, which is facing towards its left. “United States of America” and “Quarter Dollar” are carved on the top and bottom of the reverse.

This coin does not have as strong of a sheen as some of the others. However, the detailing on the eagle is exquisite – it took off very well with the populace at the time.

Depending on the place your coin was minted at, your coin will have a mint mark with the first letter of the place it was minted in below the wreath.

These coins are a bit hard to find now in uncirculated and MS60+ condition, but the biggest details to look out for are any wear and tear on the detailing of the eagle and the president.

The coin also has reeded edges, totaling about 119.

Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation

1943 Silver Quarter Value Chart

Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated
1943 $5.90 $5.90 $6.50 $8-47.
1943 S $5.95 $5.95 $8 $31-68
1949 D $5.95 $5.95 $7 $32-69
1949 DDO $64 $113 $229 $560-3,577

1943 Silver Quarter Value and Varieties Guides

The 1943 Washington Quarter had three mints: the no mint mark which was made by the Philadelphia mint, the San Francisco mint, and the Denver mint. Out of these 3, the no-mint mark version manages to keep in line with the other two, which are dead-tied in pricing.

However, the DDO version of these coins trumps them all by miles when it comes to the paycheck.

1943 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

1943 No Mint Mark Quarter

  • Type: Washington Quarter
  • Edge: Reeded (119 reeds)
  • Mint Mark: No mint mark (Philadelphia)
  • Place of Minting: Philadelphia
  • Year of Minting: 1943
  • Face Value: $5
  • $ Price:$10,000-20,000 (MS-65)

Almost all of the quarters that came out of Philadelphia did their fair share of circulation. You can find any of these quarters for around $5 to $7, with uncirculated ones being $7 to $275, depending on the quality of the coin.

An MS 68 variant of this coin will fetch you up to $3,750 to $4,500. Those are incredibly rare, and if you find one, make sure you get it appraised and checked. The most pricey Philadelphia quarter was sold for $23,000 at the Heritage Auctions sometime in 2012.

Good to extra fine, or AU will get you anywhere between $4.82 to $7.20, but they do make a nice collector’s item for a full set.

1943 “D” Quarter Value

1943 "D" Quarter

  • Type: Washington Quarter
  • Edge: Reeded (119 reeds)
  • Mint Mark: Denver
  • Place of Minting: Denver
  • Year of Minting: 1943
  • Face Value: $5
  • $ Price:$8,000 (MS-65)

While the Denver version of the Washington Quarter had the least amount of mintage of all 3, it still stays competitive when it comes to the prices it can catch.

Circulated versions of this piece will net you anywhere between $5 to $20. Mint states can go as far high up as $300, but for a BIG payout, you will need to catch an MS 68 tier coin or MS 67. These can be worth quite a lot due to their shiny grand look and coveted rarity.

On average, they tend to go for $13,500 to $16,200. Not a bad price for a quarter.

1943 “S” Quarter Value

1943 "S" Quarter

  • Type: Washington Quarter
  • Edge: Reeded (119 reeds)
  • Mint Mark:San Francisco
  • Place of Minting: San Francisco
  • Year of Minting: 1943
  • Face Value: $5
  • $ Price:$7,000-9,000 (MS-65)

Affordable and common, the San Francisco Washington Quarter did even more circulation than the Denver one. They fetch about the same price as circulated pieces, and they are a great find for new collectors.

Again, the higher the quality, the higher the money. The most quality pieces can even go for $12,000 or $16,000 at auctions.

These quarters were a thing of the time when they came out, and people from the era have fond memories of them. You can imagine how much an MS 68 quality S quarter could go for.

Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

1943 Silver Quarter History

The Washington Quarters actually have some of their history in World War II. Back then, the war had the US economy in high gear. The nation produced all manner of military might to prepare for the global war, and where weapons are made, money is minted.

Since they go hand in hand, the US Mint decided to make and release 135 million+ Washington Quarters in the year 1943. The US Mint, established in 1700 and the head of American coinage, gave it a timeless design that withstood the decades, with the face of the first president of the USA on it.

First released to honor George Washington’s 200th birthday anniversary, John Flanagan’s iconic stylistic choices for the coin made it one of the most popular ones ever seen in minting history.

This series also did include some silver coins that were minted and released by 1964.

From 1965 onwards, though, quarters that would be used for circulation were starting to be coated in copper nickel. The first batches in the three years following were not made by the Philadelphia mint.

This quarter reached its peak in its debut year; everybody wanted a hard cold change in those times, and the design was patriotic, to say the least.

The design featured George Washington in the front center. On the left, an inscription that reads “In God We Trust” is engraved. The date “1943” is carved below the president’s neck, while the word “liberty” is engraved. This makes up the obverse of the coin.

The reverse features a bald eagle in the center perched on arrows,  a symbol of war given the times. Two olive branches were carved to serve as a symbol of peace in contrast.

Today, you can find these quarters for a pretty economical price if you get them uncirculated. They are worth picking up because some of them tend to be made of very precious metal, in other words, they can be very valuable.

These quarters are almost completely silver, so especially well-preserved pieces can be worth upwards of tens of thousands. For the honest investor or collector, not a bad find.

Also Read: 10+ Rarest State Quarter Errors Lists (Worth Much Money!!!)

1943 Silver Quarter Grading

The Washington Quarter has several grades, and some of them might seem very confusing if you do not know what the acronyms stand for or what level of quality they indicate.

Fortunately, as with all acronyms, they sound so much trickier than they tend to be.

1943 Silver Quarter Errors

It did not have as many errors as some other famous lines of minted coins, but it did have enough for a few to weasel their way into pretty high prices at fancy auctions. Let’s delve into some of those errors now:

1. Doubled Die Obverse (No Mint Mark)

This features double numerals in the dates and some of the engravings, making it a unique piece.

MS 67 and up or nothing, once again, if you want to hit it big. However, for one who is lucky enough to find an MS 68 version with this error, the tagline is delightful – sitting at a comfortable $20,000 to $25,000.

Do not fret if you aren’t that lucky — extra fine condition coins can get you a decent $2,500 to $3,500. Mint state coins will not go for any less than $5,000 – make sure you spot them.

Good to very fine can get you anything between $250 to $2,460. The prices will depend on the state of your exact coin.

2. 1943 “S” Doubled Die Obverse

1943 "S" Doubled Die Obverse

Strangely enough, while these have the exact same error; they are worth noticeably less than their Philadelphia counterparts without the mint mark. Still, they fetch more than your average coin out of a regular strike.

The MS 67 grade or MS 68 grade will get you $10,000 – $15,000 depending on quality. It would genuinely have to be an outstanding piece to fetch the higher end of that price range.  Extra fine pieces will net any collector around $150 to $200. While they might be worth less than their identical twin, they are still worth more than any other average coin.

1943 Silver Quarter FAQS

Do you have questions about one of the most popular coins ever minted in the United States of America? If you do, that is only natural! All frequently asked questions have frequently given answers — and we’re compiling them all for your convenience.

Why are 1943 Washington Quarters so rare?

The Washington Quarter is rare for multiple reasons: it’s old, so it has the entire vintage factor to it. It came out at the right time with the right look, so it instantly became a hit with the people.

The Lincoln penny always did exceptionally well, so it is no surprise that the Washington Quarter is one of the most popular coins ever minted in America. It also has an incredibly high amount of silver. The rarest of these coins are the Double Die Obverse error quarters that made their way into circulation.

Why Is George Washington On The Quarter?

John Flanagan won a competition held by the government centered around a redesign for the quarter in honor of the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birthday. His proposal stood out from the rest, and the rest is history.

Why Did People Use Coins In WW2?

Soldiers were often given silver or gold coins as emergency money. Additionally, it was safer to carry around money in the form of coins rather than paper. The demand shot up rather instantly as people found themselves needing solid money more than ever before.

This was immediately after the Great Depression had struck the world. The war also took up many precious metals for all the weapons that were built and constructed; the US coinage had to fight for every nickel.

Why Are Error Coins Expensive?

A faulty product should be less valuable, not more, right? That kind of sound logic works in other areas, but when it comes to collectibles, oddities actually work as a crafty USP.

Coins that sustain errors during the minting process often end up being incredibly valuable to collectors. They were not ever intended to be circulated. These coins always end up at insane value because they are one of a kind.

3 thoughts on “1943 Silver Quarter Value: are “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?”

  1. Nice article, Ned. The 1943 Washington quarter is one of only two dates with mintages of less than one million, making it the most important and scarce date in the series. Everyone knows George Washington, but many people don’t know Why Is George Washington On The Quarter? You mention every piece of information very well. So many coin dealers like Apmex, JM Bullion, SD Bullion, etc. Last month I purchased 90% Silver coins from BOLD Precious Metals, which is pretty good. Such Good work,ned.

    Reply
  2. Great info! Where can I see my 1943 S Quarter? Seems to have the double wide print and some other positive aspects. I’m in northern California and need info on good places to auction/sell it. Thanks.

    Reply

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