Coin Value Finder » 1980 Quarter Value: are “P”, “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

1980 Quarter Value: are “P”, “D”, “S”, No mint mark worth money?

Although originally minted as a commemorative piece, George Washington has been central to the American quarter’s design since 1932.

The 1980 quarter has a vibrant history in America, marking the first time Philadelphia minters placed a maker’s mark on their coins. The coin’s composition also continued the tradition of mixing copper and zinc for a cheap but long-lasting currency. Because of this, millions of 1980 Washington quarters are still circulating across America today.

This article will explore everything you need to know about the 1980 quarter. Like any collectible, certain variations of this iconic coin can be worth a hefty sum at auction!

1980 Quarter Details

1980 Quarter

  • Category: Washington quarter-dollar coin
  • Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
  • Total Mintage: Over1,157,714,293
  • Obverse designer: John Flanagan
  • Reverse designer: John Flanagan
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Diameter: 3 mm
  • Thickness: 75 mm
  • Composition: Copper (91.67%), Nickel (8.33%) 
  • Weight: 67 grams
  • Face Value: $0.25

The 1980 quarter is one of American history’s most well-known and iconic coins. Part of the Washington quarter series, its origins date back to 1932.

The 1980 coin uses a standard design found in many iterations of the series; both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin are designs by John Flanagan.

The obverse side features a portrait of 1st president George Washington, with the letters ‘Liberty’ and ‘in god, We Trust’ around him. On the reverse, there’s an eagle with its wings open.

One of the most significant features of the 1980 quarter is its composition. Previously, quarter coins included high amounts of silver. But in 1965, the price of silver and the low availability of the metal meant quarters were made with cheaper materials, like copper and nickel. The 1980 coin comprises mainly copper (91.67%) and nickel (8.33%).

This change in composition meant that the 1980 quarter was much lighter than previous models, weighing in at just 5.67 grams. That said, neither the diameter nor the thickness changed over this period.

Like many coins, the 1980 quarter has maker marks imprinted to help identify the place of production. But one unique feature of the 1980 Washington quarter is that it was one of the first series made in Philadelphia with the letter P used in its design.

A common concern with coins was counterfeiting. With this in mind, quarters had reeding (ridges) that were near impossible to recreate.

In today’s market, the 1980 Washington quarter values are close to its face value of 25c. This is because of the sheer production volume, where millions of coins were made and are still in circulation. That said, uncirculated coins have been known occasionally to sell for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

Value chart

1980 Quarter Value Chart
Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated
1980 P Washington Quarter value $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $5.50
1980 D Washington Quarter value $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $6
1980 S Washington Quarter value $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $5.84

Below is a quick guide to the four most common value categories:

  • Good is when the coin’s design is outlined but missing key details. There may be signs of wear and tear
  • Fine – this is when coins have few visible details, some of which may be worn away.
  • Extremely fine – the coin has only light wear over high points. There may be signs of mint luster (sheen).
  • Uncirculated means that the coin presumably never went into public circulation and is in extremely good, if not pristine, condition. There are only trace amounts of use, with medium to full luster. 

Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation

1980 Quarter Value and Varieties Guides

1980 Washington quarters are separated into three categories, based mainly on the place of production. They are as follows:

1980 P Washington Quarter value

1980 P Washington Quarter

  • Type: Washington series
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: P
  • Place of minting: Philadelphia
  • Year of minting: 1980
  • Face value: $0.25
  • $ Price: $0.25 – $5.50
  • Quantity produced: Over 635,832,000
  • Designer: John Flanagan
  • Composition: Copper (91.67%), Nickel (8.33%) 
  • Mass: 67 grams
  • Diameter:3 mm

Philadelphia minted the most Washington quarters in 1980, at an estimated 635,832,000. But there’s also something hugely significant about the quarter series here. The Washington quarter was the first coin with the maker mark ‘P’ incorporated. Before this, coins minted in Philadelphia had no such markings.

Because of the enormous production, P Washington quarters are still commonly found in circulation. As such, they have an average price ranging from their face value, at 25c, as high as $5.50 for uncirculated quality.

That said, 1980 P quarters can still fetch a high figure at auction if they are pristine or have unique variations or errors. One such coin, graded at Mint condition, brought $900 at a public auction.

1980 D Washington Quarter value

1980 D Washington Quarter

  • Type: Washington series
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: P
  • Place of minting: Denver
  • Year of minting: 1980
  • Face value: $0.25
  • $ Price: $0.25 – $6.81
  • Quantity produced: Over 518,327,487
  • Designer: John Flanagan
  • Composition: Copper (91.67%), Nickel (8.33%) 
  • Mass: 67 grams
  • Diameter:3 mm

If your quarter has a ‘D’ letter on its inverse, this tells us that the coin was made in Denver. With an estimated 518,327,487 quarters produced that year, it is still a standard quarter across all of America.

As such, it doesn’t sell for much beyond its face value at 25c. If your coin is in excellent condition, it can sell for a modest amount of about $6-7.

But some D washing quarters have immense potential, and if it has a unique error or is in pristine condition, they can far exceed expectations. For example, this Mint-condition D Washing quarter sold for an unprecedented $1,380 at auction.

1980 S Washington Quarter value

1980 S Washington Quarter

  • Type: Washington series
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Mint mark: S
  • Place of minting: San Francisco
  • Year of minting: 1980
  • Face value: $0.01
  • $ Price: $0.25 – $5.84
  • Quantity produced: Over 3,554,806
  • Designer: John Flanagan
  • Composition: Copper (91.67%), Nickel (8.33%) 
  • Mass: 67 grams
  • Diameter:3 mm

The final variety of 1980 quarters is from San Francisco. You can easily spot these coins with the letter ‘S’ as their maker mark.

San Francisco quarters were particularly unique in that only proof coins were made. As such, these coins were of high quality. These coins were still clad compositions and had no silver traces. And because over 3,554,806 coins were minted here in 1980, this high number means they are still relatively low in value.

You can expect an average S Washington quarter to sell for between 25c to $5.84. Having said that, if your coin is in impeccable condition, it may still be worth a small fortune. One S Washington quarter sold at an incredible $253 back in 2004, proving there can be high demand from collectors.

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

1980 Quarter History

The Washington Quarter series began in 1932 to celebrate the bicentennial birth of America’s first president, George Washington. Initially, the coin was a temporary replacement for the half-dollar Waking Liberty. That is until Congress decided it would permanently replace the Walking Liberty quarter.

The original design of the Washington series was an open competition, with only one rule – the obverse side had to be inspired by Jean-Antoine Houdon’s bust of George Washington. The reverse side was open to any design.

The winning design was by John Flanagan, who designed George Washington facing left with the words ‘Liberty’ and ‘In God, We Trust,’ and the reverse of an eagle with its wings spread.

The new design was popular for two reasons – it had an improved design that resisted erosion, protecting the coin for longer. Because the old Waking Liberty design ceased production, no quarters were minted in 1931, further adding to the Washington quarter’s initial appeal.

At first, Washington quarters were made of silver until 1965, when the Coinage Act of 1965 reduced the amount of silver allowed in coin production. This was in response to rising silver costs and because people hoarded several silver-based coins as collectibles, including the older Washington quarter and Kennedy half-dollar.

Copper-nickel cladding proved a popular replacement, as it was cheaper to make while still being long-lasting. The 1980 edition of the quarter had a particular composition of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. It weighed just 5.67 grams and had a diameter of 24.3 millimeters.

Like most quarters, the 1980 quarter has a reeded edge, meaning a series of ridges surround it – helping to prevent counterfeit coins from being produced.

Each location had its own signature maker’s mark that told a person where it was minted. Although Philadelphia mints regularly avoided using minting marks – the Washington 1980 quarter is an exception, with the letter ‘P’ printed on coins of that year.

Today, the Washington quarter is one of American history’s most recognized and beloved coins. With an estimated 1.14 billion quarters produced in 1980, they are widespread and still in circulation today.

1980 quarter grading

Like all coins, determining the 1980 quarter’s actual value can be based on several different criteria, including the coin’s quality, the strike, luster left intact, color, and if there are any noticeable errors found.

Below is a quick guide on grading the value of your 1980 quarter at home:

List of 1980 Quarter Errors

Below are some common errors found in the 1980 quarter. Together with a high-quality coin, they can transform the entire value of your collection:

1. 1980 Quarter on different coin types

Sometimes, the wrong coin size was used in production. This meant you could find a 1980 quarter printed on other coins, like pennies and half dollars. Because the original design was 24.3 millimeters, the obverse, and inverse portraits would often be cut off or distorted on other coins.

As such, they can sell for a hefty premium at auction if found. A 1980 quarter printed on a 5-cent planchet sold for $180 at auction.

2. 1980 Quarter with Off-Center Errors

1980 Quarter with Off-Center Errors

Because they were mass-produced, there weren’t always stringent quality controls for the 1980 quarter. As such, many coins had off-center portraits, or part of their pictures was missing. The currency itself might not be a perfect circle, either. This kind of error will fetch between $18-20 at auction.

3. 1980 Quarter with filled-in maker mark

1980 Quarter with filled-in maker mark

1980 was the first year the Philadelphia mint decided to mark their products with ‘P.’ As such, many coins have incorrect or distorted ‘P’ lettering, adding a tiny bit of value to the coin. This 1980 Washington quarter, for example, has a filled-in ‘P,’ which can sell for up to $3.

4. 1980 Quarter with clad errors

1980 Quarter with clad errors

Clad errors are when the outer layer of nickel is missing from the copper core. As such, the coin looks quite different than average and usually weighs about 15% less.

Because the 1980 quarter was composed of copper and nickel, you can find coins with one or two sides with clad errors. This 1980 quarter with clad error sells for an impressive $86.24.

1980 Quarter Value FAQ

What makes a 1980 Washington quarter penny rare?

If your 1980 quarter is in uncirculated or mint condition, it will often sell at a premium at auction. But with the 1980 quarter, it was one of the first coins minted in Philadelphia with a ’P’ maker mark printed.

How much is an average 1980 quarter worth?

Because of their high production numbers, these coins are still regularly found in circulation. As such, they aren’t that valuable, often only selling for a couple of dollars.

Does a 1980 quarter contain any silver?

Sadly, no. Because of rising prices and shortages, coins made after the Coinage Act of 1965 had reduced silver. By the 1970s, silver had been completely removed from most production.

Can I still use my 1980 quarter today?

Yes, 1980 quarters are still considered legal tender and can be found in circulation today.

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