The 1977 quarter may not be as popular as the quarters made years before due to its lack of silver, but it proved to be one of the best collectibles in the market. Depending on the error or the cladding, it can fetch as much as $4,900 from the auction block.
If you’re wondering if your quarter can make you lots of money, then be sure to read this comprehensive guide on the 1977 quarter value.
1977 Quarter Details
- Category: Washington quarters
- Mintage: 468,556,000
- Minted at: Philadelphia
- Mint mark: No Mint Mark
- Designation: MS
- Strike type: Business
- Designer – Engraver: John Flanagan
- Metal Composition: 67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel
- Diameter: 3 mm
- Thickness: 956 mm
- Mass / Weight: 67 grams
- Edge: reeded (119 reeds)
- Coinage years:1965-1968
Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
1977 Quarter Value Chart
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated | Proof |
| 1977 No Mint Mark Quarter | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $6.81 | n/a |
| 1977 D Quarter | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 | $6.81 | n/a |
| 1977 S Quarter | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5.84 |
1977 Quarter Value and Varieties Guides
There are three varieties of the 1977 quarter, produced by the mints in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. They are:
1977 No Mint Mark Quarter
- Category: Washington quarters
- Mintage: 468,556,000
- Minted at: Philadelphia
- Mint mark: No Mint Mark
- Designation: MS
- Strike type: Business
- Designer – Engraver: John Flanagan
- Metal Composition: 67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel
- Diameter: 3 mm
- Thickness: 956 mm
- Mass / Weight: 67 grams
- Edge: reeded (119 reeds)
- Coinage years:1965-1968
The 1977 no mint mark quarter, which was produced in Philadelphia, features the bust of George Washington on the reverse. This was designed by John Flanagan, who drew inspiration from a sculpture that was made of the president when he was still alive.
Washington’s bust is flanked by the word ‘Liberty’ atop and the year ‘1977’ below. Meanwhile, the saying ‘In God We Trust’ is placed on the left of the founding father.
As with most Philadelphia-minted coins, this currency has no mint mark – a sign that is usually placed on the obverse’s lower right side.
The quarter’s reverse side, on the other hand, features an eagle with outstretched wings. Its talons carry arrows while it sits on top of an olive branch.
The eagle is flanked by the words ‘United States of America’ and ‘E Pluribus Unum’ on top and the ‘Quarter Dollar’ label below.
Because so many no-mint mark 1977 quarters were created, its value is not as high as other rarer coins.
However, an uncirculated or near-perfect coin can fetch as much as $200 from the auction house. That’s because MS66 or higher grades of 1977 no mint mark quarters are rare, while MS 67 grades or above are tough to secure.
1977 D Quarter
- Category: Washington quarters
- Mintage: 256,524,978
- Minted at: Denver
- Mint mark: D
- Designation: MS
- Strike type: Business
- Designer – Engraver: John Flanagan
- Metal Composition: 67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel
- Diameter: 3 mm
- Thickness: 956 mm
- Mass / Weight: 67 grams
- Edge: reeded (119 reeds)
- Coinage years:1965-1968
The 1977 D quarter is widely similar to all the 25-cent coins in this list. The only difference is it bears the ‘D’ mark on the obverse. This symbolizes the Denver mint, a branch that first struck coins in 1906.
Like the no-mint mark 1977 quarter, D quarters of high grades are rare. MS 66 coins are hard to come by, while only a dozen MS 67 quarters have been graded.
Uncirculated 1977 D quarters are worth about $6.81, though auctioneers have sold a near-perfect version of this currency for an impressive $430.
Erroneous D quarters, which are often struck on the wrong planchets, have been known to sell for as much as $4,900.
1977 S Quarter
- Category: Washington quarters
- Mintage: 3,251,152
- Minted at: San Francisco
- Mint mark: S
- Designation: MS
- Designer – Engraver: John Flanagan
- Metal Composition: 67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel
- Diameter: 3 mm
- Thickness: 956 mm
- Mass / Weight: 67 grams
- Edge: reeded (119 reeds)
- Coinage years:1965-1968
The 1977 S quarter is a proof coin minted in San Francisco. This means it is created mainly for collectors. As a result, this coin bears a mirror-like finish that makes it popular with many currency aficionados.
Like other S-proof coins, you can find the ‘S’ label on the coin’s obverse side (near Washington’s ponytail.)
The 1977 S quarter actually has the lowest value of the three versions, for it only costs about $5.84 as a proof coin. That said, this quarter has been known to sell for $340 in a recent auction.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation
1977 Quarter History
As the name suggests, the quarter is a coin worth a ‘quarter’ of the dollar (or 25 cents.) It has been produced since 1796, though irregularly. Ironically, Washington, who would then be the face of this coin, was the president when this currency was first created.
The quarter coin was produced regularly starting in 1831.
Quarter Composition
Quarters minted in 1796-onwards were made with 6.7 grams of 89.24% fine silver. The composition was revised to 90% fine silver in 1838 and remained so until 1964. The weights fluctuated from 6.682 grams in 1838 to 6.25 grams in 1964.
Because of the rising costs of silver, the composition in the succeeding years was shifted to nickel and copper.
That being said, many silver-clad quarters were released in the following years as part of commemorative sets. They include:
- The US Bicentennial coin from 1975-1976
- Silver proof set quarter from 1992-1998
- America the beautiful silver bullion coins from 2010-2021
Quarter Design
Since its production in 1796, the US quarter has undergone several designs. The draped was used from 1796 to 1807, while the capped bust was utilized from 1815 to 1838.
Other designs include:
- The seated Liberty from 1838-1891
- The barber from 1892-1916
- The Isabella quarter in 1893
- The standing Liberty from 1916-1930
The quarter’s popular Washington design started in 1932 and ran until 1998. This makes it one of the longest-running obverse designs on the US coin.
That said, it was primarily intended to run for only one year – all to commemorate the first American president’s 200th birth anniversary. However, politicians voted to continue the production of the said coin in 1934.
The famous Washington quarter obverse features the design of John Flanagan, a renowned sculptor and coin designer. He won over the 97 other hopefuls who submitted their design for the commemorative coin.
His initials can be found near Washington’s neck on the obverse side.
After the Washington quarter’s run concluded in 1998, the US mint released the following ‘regular’ editions:
- 50 state quarters from 1999-2008
- DC and US territory quarters in 2009
- America the Beautiful quarters from 2010-2021
- Washington crossing Delaware on 2021
Future releases include:
- American women quarters from 2022-2025
- Semiquincentennial quarters on 2026
- Youth sports quarters from 2027-2030
1977 Quarter Grading
Coins such as the 1977 quarter are graded according to a 70-point scale. And depending on this score, your coin can be categorized as poor, fair, about good, good, good plus, or very good.
Better-preserved coins may be tagged as fine, very fine, good very fine, extremely fine, and choice extremely fine.
Those that sell the highest fall under the about uncirculated, good about uncirculated, and mint state basal clusters.
Lists of 1977 Quarter Errors
1977 quarters may not be as valuable as the other silver-clad quarters, but it can get a pretty penny off the auction block. This privilege is often reserved for coins that feature these distinct errors:
1. 1977 Quarter Off-Center Error
The off-center mistake occurs when the design is minted off the planchet’s center. As a result, a good part of the design is missing from the coin.
Off-center mistakes are categorized by percentage (1% to 99% off-center.) The higher the percentage, the higher the value of the currency. However, coins that are 40%-60% off-center are known to rake in more money in auctions.
A 1977 quarter with an off-center has been historically sold for $15.
2. 1977 Quarter Broadstrike Error
A broad strike error occurs when the device that imprints the coin’s image – the die – isn’t adequately secured. As a result, the coin’s image comes out enlarged or stretched.
This kind of erroneous coin has been sold for $65.
Another type of broadstrike error is the multi-struck coin, where the quarter is minted multiple times. This results in a widely-spread fluted rim. As a unique error, multi-struck quarters can be sold for as much as $95.
Another broadstrike mistake that’s seen on the market is one that was minted on a curved planchet. Since the material had a big clipped area, the resulting coin is shaped bigger.
The value of this erroneous quarter is pegged at $50.
3. 1977 Quarter Struck on the Silver-Clad Planchet Error
A Denver-minted 1977 quarter was struck on a silver-clad planchet rather than a copper-nickel one. This is believed to result from an accident, as the US Mint created special, 40% silver-clad quarters a year before to celebrate the bicentennial.
Many experts believe such a planchet was mistakenly used to make the rare quarter. And, because silver was used, it weighs heavier than most (5.7 grams instead of the usual 5.67 grams.)
The ‘accidental’ coin sold for a whopping $4,900 at auction.
4. 1977 Quarter Struck on a One-Cent Planchet Error
Another 1977 D quarter has been spotted with another striking error. This time, the coin was imprinted on a one-cent planchet – so the result is a quarter minted on Lincoln penny metal.
Because this meant that the currency was copper-colored, it sold for a high price at auction: $1,100, to be exact.
5. 1977 Quarter Struck on a Five-Cent Planchet Error
One 1977 quarter, minted in Denver again, was struck on a nickel planchet. This resulted in a quarter made with the metal intended for a Jefferson nickel.
Although it’s not as valuable as the mistakes above, it has sold for $55 at an auction.
1977 Quarter FAQs
Is a quarter from 1977 worth anything?
Yes. Uncirculated 1977 no-mint mark or D quarters are valued at $6.81. Meanwhile, proof coins minted from the San Francisco location cost $5.84.
1977 quarters with noticeable mistakes can fetch anywhere from $15 to $4,900.
What is a 1977 D quarter worth?
A 1977 D quarter is worth $6.81 uncirculated. A near-perfect coin, however, was sold for as much as $430 in an auction.
How much is a 1977 S quarter worth?
A 1977 S quarter proof coin is worth $5.84. However, high-grade coins of this edition have been sold for as much as $340.
How much is a 1977 silver-clad quarter worth?
A 1977 quarter, which was mistakenly struck on a silver-clad planchet, was sold at auction for $4,900. It’s a rare error created in the Denver mint.
Are all 1977 quarters silver?
No. Most are made with 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. However, there is a 1977 quarter mistakenly struck on a silver-clad planchet, and as such, it contains 40% silver.
How can you tell if a 1977 quarter is silver?
A 1977 quarter is made from silver if the:
- Edge has a solid silver stripe
- The coin does not stick to a magnet (silver has a weak magnetic effect, while iron or nickel have strong magnetic properties)
- Weight is heavier (silver-clad 1977 quarters weigh 5.7 grams, while most 1977 quarters weigh only 5.67 grams)
What is the error on the 1977 quarter?
1977 quarters have a bunch of mistakes, such as:
- Off-centered – some of the design is missing
- Broad struck – the image is stretched or enlarged
- Struck on the wrong planchet – the quarter is struck on a planchet meant for another coin, resulting in a different metal composition