Coin collectors know that Quarters from the year 1944 Quarters do not possess a uniform value. One quarter may possess a unique quality that makes it more valuable than the other. Every aspect of the coin matters, from its composition to the production, condition, and situation surrounding its existence.
In this guide, we compile every information about the 1944 Washington Quarter coin to help you maximize its value, as the coin can be worth more than the 25C written on its face.
1944 Quarter Details
Before going in-depth with the 1944 Quarter details, let’s describe common terms that’ll come up in the section. Professional coin study and collection is called numismatic. Laymen call the two sides of a coin – heads and tail, but numismatics call them obverse and reverse.
The coin’s coloring is made of a liquid called a die, while the process of engraving words and images on the coin is called a “strike.” Hence “First Strike” is the first engraving, while off-strike means the machine missed the mark.
Here is a summary of this coin’s details
- Category: Washington Quarters
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 104,956,000
- Observe Designer: John Flanagan
- Reverse Designer: John Flanagan
- Composition: Silver
- Fineness: 0.9
- Weight: 6.25
- ASW: 0.1808oz
Now let’s address the pressing question – “How can you distinguish a 1944 Washington Quarter from other coins?”
Beyond the face value, which is 25 cents, you must certify the details on the coin. As a Washington Quarter, you should see a sculpture of George Washington’s head on the obverse (head/front).
The sculpture is a side profile showing Washington facing left while his hair is in a low ponytail. Beneath his chin, there’s an engraving of “In God We Trust,” an all-caps “LIBERTY” crowns the head on the top edge while “1944” sits at the base.
On the reverse, the coin has an eagle with open wings on a tree branch. The top edge has an engraving saying, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and a smaller “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Beneath the Eagle’s branch is an inscription of “QUARTER DOLL.”
1944-D and 1944-S Quarters have an additional “D” or “S” underneath the Eagle’s branch.
Beyond the obvious physical features, the scientific composition also matters. The slightest variation in the 1944 Quarter’s components would deliver different results from authentic pieces.
The 1944 quarter coin had 6.30g of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper melted into a 24.3mm circle. Use a magnet to rule out the presence of iron and nickel from your 1944 Quarter, as copper and silver aren’t magnetic.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation
1944 Quarter Value Chart
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| No Mint Mark | $6.00 – $6.50 | $8.1 – $13.4 | $14.8 – $47.2 | $54 – $74 |
| Certified Mint State (MS) | $5.7 | $55.00 – $74 | $286 – $370 | $8,120 – $16,800 |
| Special Mint Set | Undocumented | |||
| 1944-S | $14 – $40 | $8.1 – $16.2 | $14.8 – $27.5 | $32.4 – $88 |
| 1944-D | $5.7 – $12.00 | $13.5 – $61 | $54 – $74 | $68 – $88 |
1944 Quarter Value and Varieties Guides
Non-collectors often take every coin at face value, but a true enthusiast knows that the face value differs from the numismatic (study of currency and medals) value. You can decipher each coin’s value by grouping it based on its unique features.
1944 Quarter – Special Mint Set (SMS)
- Type: Washington
- Edge: Crisp & Clean
- Mint Mark: unknown
- Place of Minting: Unspecified
- Year of Minting: 1944
- Face Value: 25C
- Dollar Price: $0.25 | 25 Cents
- Quantity Produced: unknown
- Designer: John Flanagan
Eva Adams, the Director of the United State Mint, requested a Special Mint Set for the 1944 Quarter. There’s little information about this variety because it didn’t enter the market through official circulation.
Per Coin Trackers, the 1944 SMS Quarter has similarities with unpolished proof and first-strike coins. It’s lustrous because the first strike hit a fresh die, and its elements settled together.
1944 “D” Quarter Value
- Type: Washington
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: D
- Place of Minting: Denver
- Year of Minting: 1944
- Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
- Diameter: 24.3mm
- Mass: 6.30g
- Thickness: 1.75mm
- Face Value: $0.25
- Dollar Price: $15 – $36
- Quantity Produced: 14,600,800
- Designer: John Flanagan
The Denver Minting facility produced over 14 million Washington quarters in 1944, and you can distinguish them with their “D” mark. Although 14 million is a lot, it’s barely more than ten percent of the quarters from the Philadelphia mint; hence it’s rarer in availability.
1944-D quarters saw less production because of improved features, including a lustrous coating with fresh dies. Hence, they’re more beautiful than the regular mass-produced no-mint-mark 1944 quarters.
Most 1944-D quarters come in high grades from MS67 to MS68 and MS70, with the last two being the rarest of the bunch.
1944 “S” Quarter Value
- Type: Washington
- Edge: Regular Strike
- Mint Mark: S
- Place of Minting: San Francisco
- Year of Minting: 1944
- Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
- Diameter: 24.3mm
- Mass: 6.30g
- Thickness: 1.75mm
- Face Value: $0.25 | 25 Cent
- Dollar Price: $11 – $41
- Quantity Produced: 12,560,000
- Designer: John Flanagan
Every 1944 Quarter produced in the San Francisco mint has a distinctive “S” mark on its reverse side, and the facility made over 12 million of them. However, that’s the least number officially produced in 1944, making it the rarest regular strike quarter coin from that year.
Many of the available 1944-S quarter coins today have MS67 grading, while rarer pieces fall within the higher MS68 and MS70 category.
1944 No Mint Mark Quarter Value
- Type: Washington
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: none
- Place of Minting: Philadelphia
- Year of Minting: 1944
- Composition: 90% silver and 10% copper
- Diameter: 24.3mm
- Mass: 6.30g
- Thickness: 1.75mm
- Face Value: $0.25 | 25 Cents
- Dollar Price: $9.00 – $16.00
- Quantity Produced: 104,956,000
- Designer: John Flanagan
Philadelphia holds the record for most 1944 Quarters because of its simple design. It had no mint marks and used a regular strike pattern to create reeded edges. Due to its mass production, it’s the most available variety for today’s collectors.
You can access the MS67 grades at an average of $9 – $16, while it’ll cost you more to get the rare MS68 and MS70 grade 1944 No-Mint-Mark Quarters. Last year, 2022, Heritage Auctions sold a rare 1944 No-Mint-Mark quarter for $16,800.
Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
1944 Quarter History
During the Second World War, America realized it needed to mint more money to keep the funds circulating in the economy. To prevent complications with the minting process, the Director of Mint, Eva Adams, requested a simple design suitable for mass production.
Adams also made a special order of 1944 Quarter Coins, which reached the public despite not being released officially.
Famous American sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser, known for the 1921 coin, lost the 1944 Quarter designing contract to John Flanagan.
He honored the first U.S. President, George Washington, by sculpting his head on the obverse of the 1944 quarter per the U.S. Congress’ Special Committee.
His designs went to the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Minting facilities.
Each facility left its mark on its productions for identification, and Philadelphia made the highest number of 1944 Washington Quarter Coins. You can distinguish the Denver Quarters with their “d” marks while the San Francisco Quarters carry an “s.”
Philadelphia held that record for twenty years before the 1964 coins displaced it from the top. Hence, most 1944 quarters come from the region, while the Denver and San Francisco mints produced the rest.
Due to the 1944 Washington Quarters mass production, some coins came out with errors. Minting facilities began using alternative planchets for other coins to produce the 25C Washington Quarter.
The Director of the Mint ordered them out of circulation to avoid compromising the quarter’s value. However, some pieces had already entered circulation. Those rejected coins are now valuable collectibles; here’s everything you need to know.
Scroll down to watch a grading tutorial, learn about the different errors and their values, and get answers to all your burning questions.
Also Read: 10+ Rarest State Quarter Errors Lists (Worth Much Money!!!)
1944 Quarter Grading
1944 Quarter Value varies depending on its intrinsic features as the face, and numismatic worth differs. Experts measure the worth of every coin on a scale of 1 (poor) – 70 (perfect).
The letters MS before the numbers mean “Mint State” and are conferred by certified coin-grading companies.
List of 1944 Quarter Errors
It’s impossible to create pieces for over a century without making mistakes, but compared to other coins, the 1944 Quarter has few errors. Its simple design meant there weren’t many intricate details to fumble, although it still did.
1944 Quarters with errors might’ve been worthless in the past, but they’ve become valued among collectors today.
1. 1944 Quarter Double Die Obverse (DDO) Error
Coins have two sides known popularly as head and tail, but in numismatic terms, they’re called, Obverse and Reverse. The Double Die Obverse error is common with 1944 quarters made in Philadelphia.
It happens when the die strikes the planchet (blank slate) twice instead of once. Hence, its engravings appear twice and typically look like layers. You’d notice these double elements on the written parts, from the figures to the words.
2. 1944 Quarter Double Die Reverse (DDR) Error
Like the DDO error, the Double Die Reverse follows the same pattern on the coin’s tail. You’d often see the layering on the words and numbers rather than the eagle engraving.
Hence, discovering this error requires a trained eye or a magnifying glass to read between the lines.
3. Struck on 5C Philippines Plates Error
Due to the high demand for quarters and other funds during the Second World War, minting facilities sometimes improvised when they ran out of planchets. It wasn’t ideal, but it happened, and the 5 cents Philippines Plates made a manageable alternative.
Since the 1944 quarter wasn’t meant for the 5C Philippines Plate, the parameters were off. Some of the markings on the latter appeared on the quarter’s face, like the end of “Liberty” peaking on the top edge.
4. 1944 Quarter Struck on 5C Nickel Plates Error
The 1944 quarters struck on 5C Nickel Plates had the same problem and reasons as the Philippines Planchets. The resulting error is, however, different as the head on the obverse is too big for the circumference while the markings barely make it onto the face.
Note that the 5C nickel plates had different parameters from the 1944 quarter. Its dimensions include – Diameter of 21.3mm on the corners and 20.9 mm on the opposite ends, a Thickness of 1.7mm, and a composition of 0.88 copper.
5. 1944 Quarter Strike-Through Error
Striking machines in 1944 didn’t always hit their mark, and sometimes they veered off course leading to a strike-through on the coin. You’d notice a dash across the number or letters on either side of the coin, and it’s not always a fine line.
1944 Quarter FAQs
How Rare is a 1944 Quarter?
1944-S and 1944-D Quarters are the rarest of the bunch, while the Philadelphia-made pieces are easily accessible. The 1944 Washington Quarter is common for interested collectors since 132 million plus entered the market.
Within those 12 million and 14 million Denver and San Francisco-made 1944 quarters, the mint state separates thousand dollar pieces from the less than $100 worth of coins. Ensure you appraise your 25-cent 1944 coin and get a mint state from MS67 – MS70 for top dollar.
Are 1944 Quarters all Silver?
All standard varieties of 1944 Quarters are made of 90 percent silver with 10 percent copper or less. However, those with errors often have variations on their remaining ten percent based on the alternative plate used.
If your 25-cent quarter has an alloy of copper and nickel coating, then it’s a 1965 and later creation.
How much is a 1944 Quarter with No Mint Mark?
A 1944 quarter value depends on its mint state and rarity, with MS67 – MS70 being the most valuable. Regular 1944 Washington coins fetch at most $80, especially those minted in Denver and San Francisco.
If your coin is certified MS67 and above, you’ll only cross the thousand-dollar mark. Popular auction houses that trade rare coins include Heritage Auctions and PGS Gold & Coin.