If you’re searching for valuable coins in your pocket change, keep an eye out for Washington quarters produced in 1946. These coins contain 90% pure silver, so their value may depend on their silver content if they’ve been circulated heavily.
Discover your 1946 quarter value with our comprehensive review. Explore the fascinating history and rarity of this classic coin. Learn how to maximize the worth of your collection and determine its true value in today’s market. Find out if your 1946 quarter is worth a fortune now!
1946 Quarter Value Details
- Category: Washington Quarter
- Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Total Mintage: 66,712,800
- Obverse Design: George Washington
- Reverse Design: American Eagle with outspread wings
- Designer: John Flanagan
- Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
- Diameter: 24.3 mm (0.9566929 inches)
- Mass: 6.25 grams
- Thickness: 1.75 mm (0.069 inches)
- Edge: Reeded
- ASW: 0.18 oz
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation
1946 Quarter Value Chart
1946 Quarter Value Chart |
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Mint Mark | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 |
1946 No Mint Quarter Value | $14.18 | $20.25 | $47.25 | $105 | $1,020 |
1946 D Quarter Value | $16.20 | $25.92 | $40.50 | $61 | $260 |
1947 S Quarter Value | $13.37 | $22.68 | $47.25 | $84 | $328 |
1946 Quarter Value and Varieties Guide
This section will explore the value and varieties of the 1946 Washington quarters and provide you with all the information you need to know to start or expand your coin collection.
1946 No Mint Mark Quarter Value
- Type: Washington Quarter
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: None
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting: 1946
- Face value: $0.25
- $ price: $14.18 to $1,020
- Quantity produced: 53,436,000
- Designer: John Flanagan
After World War II, a lot of quarters were made, and it wasn’t until 1947 that people started to notice the economy slowing down. Many 1946 (P) Quarters are available, but it’s hard to find really good ones. Some of them have slight differences, but only coin experts would be interested. There are also fewer quarters with more significant differences, and they are less exciting.
The 1946-P Washington Quarter is a silver coin produced at the Philadelphia mint with a face value of $0.25. It contained moderate silver and was minted as a Mint Strike coin for monetary use. Despite a large production of 53,436,000 coins, it has lower collectibility.
Nonetheless, a specific date and no mint mark combinations are highly coveted by collectors and command a premium price. We suggest you identify these rare and valuable varieties to find a treasure among your spare change.
1946 D Quarter Value
- Type: Washington Quarter
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: D
- Place of minting: Denver
- Year of minting: 1946
- Face value: $0.25
- $ price: $16.20 to $260
- Quantity produced: 9,072,800
- Designer: John Flanagan
When graded, coins are rated based on their condition, known as the Mint State (MS) rating. The higher the rating, the better the condition of the coin, and thus, the more valuable it is.
A 1946 Washington Quarter with a rating of MS67 is in almost perfect condition, with no signs of wear or blemishes. This grade of 1946 D Quarter can be sold at an estimated $260.
To find a 1946-D Washington Quarter for your collection, look for a coin with a nice frosty luster and beautiful surfaces. Mint State coins from this date are easy to find and well-struck.
1946 S Quarter Value
- Type: Washington Quarter
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 1946
- Face value: $0.25
- $ price: $13.37 to $328
- Quantity produced: 4,204,000
- Designer: John Flanagan
The rarity of the 1946-S Washington Quarter made it more likely to survive in lower grades. It wasn’t collected much until the mid-1960s, and even then, it was saved for its silver content, not collectibility. Like other silver coins, it could have melted down when the price of silver soared in the late 1970s.
People who owned the 1946-S saw it more as a valuable silver asset than a rare coin. If they sold it, finding a replacement in circulation would have been challenging, but they could have anticipated finding a cheaper one if silver prices dropped.
Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
1946 Quarter Value History
1946 marked the end of World War II and the beginning of a new era in the United States. During this time, the US Mint produced a significant number of quarters that collectors now highly sought after.
The Washington quarter is the 25-cent piece of the United States currently in circulation. Originally, it was supposed to be issued for only one year, in 1932, to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. However, it remained in production and replaced the Standing Liberty quarter.
Since 1965, Washington quarters have been made of cupronickel clad to copper, but silver coins for collection from 1974 are still obtainable. The bicentennial committee established in 1932 planned to replace the Walking Liberty fifty-cent piece, but Congress chose to replace the Standing Liberty quarter instead, featuring Washington’s image on the quarter dollar’s obverse ever since.
Controversy arose over the design of the Washington quarter coin. The Commission of Fine Arts supported Laura Gardin Fraser’s design, but Treasury Secretary Mellon and Charles Moore chose John Flanagan’s instead. Ogden Mills upheld the decision when he succeeded Mellon, and Flanagan’s design was revealed in April 1932. And that is what the 1946 Quarter value design we know today is.
Regarding the design of the 1946 Washington Quarter, on the front side, you’ll find none other than George Washington himself, flanked by the words “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “Quarter Dollar. “Flip it over and feast your eyes on a soaring eagle, its majestic wings spread wide, clutching both an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with the words “United States Of America,” “Quarter Dollar,” and the mint mark.
The location of the mint mark on quarters changed over time except for all coins minted in Philadelphia, which has no mint mark. Between 1932 and 1964, and from 1965 to 1967, you could find a mark on the back of a quarter, right above the letter ‘R’ in the word “QUARTER.” But, there was no mark on quarters made from 1965 to 1967. Commencing from 1968, the mint mark was shifted to the obverse side of the coin, specifically behind the hair tie of George Washington.
A 1946 Washington Quarter can be worth between $4.45 and $7 if it has been used, but if it’s in perfect condition, it can be sold for up to $2950. The selling price was according to the report of the NGC Coin website.
According to Rarest.org, the three highest selling prices of the 1946 quarter were sold in two different auctions and in different years. The first was in 2003 by Heritage Auctions, when a rare 1946 Washington Quarter (MS67) was sold for over $8,000.
Another quarter (MS68) was sold at almost $15,000 in 2011. And five years later, in 2016, another 1946 Washington Quarter (MS67) was sold for over $6,000 at an auction. The auction was held by Bowers & Merena, a different place than the other two coins, but it was still in really good condition.
In addition, from the Greysheet website’s data, in 2020, a 1946 Washington Quarter (MS67) was sold at $810 by the same auction house, Heritage Auctions. And last year, in 2022, another coin with the same grade was sold at Stack’s Bower for $408.
If you have quarters from 1946 or earlier, their value mostly depends on the amount of silver they have. To make sure they’re accurate and valuable, it’s best to calculate their silver bullion value.
Also Read: 10+ Rarest State Quarter Errors Lists (Worth Much Money!!!)
1946 Quarter Value Grading
The condition of a 1946 quarter determines its value, with a higher Sheldon Scale grade being more valuable. Uncirculated quarters are the most valuable, with no wear on their surfaces. Extremely Fine quarters have slight wear on high points, while Fine quarters have flattened areas of wear. Good quarters show all major details but are flattened by wear and worth their silver value.
The price you pay for a coin is called the buying price, and the price a dealer pays you to buy a coin is called the sell value. A Sheldon scale shows the buying and selling prices for an average circulated and uncirculated Washington Quarter, but your actual price may depend on the coin’s condition and other factors.
To better understand it, watch the video about how much this coin is worth today more than its face value.
List of 1946 Quarter Value Errors
The 1946 Quarter is particularly interesting to collectors because of the various errors and varieties produced during its minting. This section will explore the list of 1946 Washington Quarter value errors and the unique characteristics that distinguish them from regular coins.
1. 1946 Quarter Double Die Error
When coins are minted, sometimes errors occur that affect their appearance. In 1946, an error occurred during the minting of Washington Quarter coins where the coin’s reverse side had a doubled die. This was caused by mistakes in the die core process, resulting in a partial or fully doubled image struck on the planchet.
While die cracks are relatively common, the specific placement and extent of this particular crack make it somewhat unusual and potentially more valuable to collectors.
2. 1946 Quarter Cud Error
Another 1946 quarter value error is called a cud error, which happens when the die used to stamp the coin breaks or cracks. This can cause a blob-like mark on the coin’s surface, especially in the case of the 1946 Washington quarters. These errors are relatively rare and can be of interest to collectors.
3. 1946 Quarter Lamination Error
A lamination error in the 1946 quarter when a layer of metal on the Washington Quarter’s surface separated from the rest of the coin, creating a flat area on its surface. This makes the coin look different from a regular coin and can affect its value and rarity depending on the severity and location of the error.
1946 Quarter Value FAQs
Q1: What were quarters made of in 1946?
Quarters minted in 1946 were made of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition is known as coin silver and was used for many US coins until the mid-1960s. The reeded edge was added to prevent counterfeiting and make detecting if a coin had been shaved or clipped easier.
Q2: How much is the highest grade 1946 Quarter coin?
According to the Greysheet and CPG Price Guide, the highest grade of the 1946 quarter coin, which is MS68, could fetch up to $6,720 to $8,400, respectively.
Q3: Is a 1946 quarter pure silver?
No, the 1946 quarter is not pure silver but has a large silver content, a combination of 90% silver and 10% copper, and a total weight of 6.25 grams.
Q4: At what point do 1946 Washington Quarters become valuable?
A 1946 Washington quarter’s value depends on its rarity and condition. As mentioned above, the valuable 1946 quarter was sold at $15,000. So, if you happen to have a flawless one with zero signs of wear and tear, don’t be surprised if its worth is way more than just its face value of 25 cents.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 1946 Washington quarter is a silver coin that can be valuable depending on its condition and mint mark. It was produced in large quantities, but certain varieties with no mint marks or high Mint State ratings can command high prices among collectors.
The 1946-P, 1946-D, and 1946-S varieties were produced in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, respectively, and each has a different quantity produced and value range. Collectors should look for good-quality coins with nice surfaces and luster to maximize their value.