If you are a beginner in collecting coins and you have one or more quarters from 1989, you probably have some questions, like how much are they worth, how to grade them, where to find a mint mark, and similar.
You chose a good source of information because you can learn about a 1989 quarter value, grading, history, errors, and more, all in this article. Enjoy!
1989 Quarter Value Details
- Category – Washington quarter
- Mint – Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
- Mintage – 1 412 623 791
- Obverse designer – John Flanagan
- Reverse designer – John Flanagan
- Composition – copper and nickel
- Weight – 5.67 g (0.2 ounces)
- Diameter – 24.26 mm (0.9 inches)
- Thickness – 1.75 mm (0.06 inches)
The US Mint put into circulation almost a billion and a half quarters in 1989. The locations in which they were produced are Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The designer of this iconic coin was John Flanagan.
A quarter from 1989 should weigh 5.67 grams, but since it has been in circulation for over three decades, it can weigh slightly less due to the wear-off of the material.
The edge of this coin has 119 edges and it is made primarily out of copper and covered with zinc.
Also Read: Top 15 Most Valuable Quarters In Circulation
1989 Quarter Value Chart
As you can see in this chart, a 1989 quarter is not particularly valuable or pricey if you are planning to sell or buy these coins.
Most of them are still worth twenty-five cents, but the better they look and the more well-preserved they are the more you can expect to get or pay.
While the prices are low for the quarters in poorer condition, as with any other coin, you can get a lot of money if you want to sell one that is in mint state. A 1989 quarter’s price can rise to fifty dollars and more if it looks perfect.
| Condition | 1989 P Mint Mark Quarter Value | 1989 D Mint Mark Quarter Value | 1989 S Mint Mark Quarter Value |
| Poor | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Fair | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| About good | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.25 – $0.50 |
| Good | $0.25 – $0.50 | $0.25 | $0.50 – $1 |
| Fine | $0.50 – $1 | $0.25 – $0.50 | $1 – $3 |
| Very fine | $1 – $3 | $0.50 – $1 | $3 – $5 |
| Extremely fine | $3 – $5 | $1 – $3 | $5 – $10 |
| About Uncirculated | $5 – $10 | $3 – $5 | $10 – $15 |
| Mint state (60-64) | $10 – $15 | $5 – $10 | $15 – $20 |
| Mint state (65-67) | $15 – $20 | $10 – $15 | $20 – $30 |
| Mint state (68-70) | $20 – $30 + | $15 – 20 + | $30 – $50 + |
1989 Quarter Value & Varieties Guide
Since quarters were minted in different locations in 1989, there are three varieties of this coin. While they differ only by a mint mark engraved on the obverse, there are slight differences in their value as well.
Let’s dive into the details of three different types of 1989 quarters.
1989 P Mint Mark Quarter Value
A quarter made in 1989 in Philadelphia has a P mint mark. This mint didn’t use mint marks for a long time, except for a brief period during World War II. It started featuring them on coins again in 1979.
Philadelphia produced more than half a billion quarters in 1989, so there are still plenty of them to go around on the market. Their price reflects how common they are as most of them are worth just twenty-five cents.
Of course, if you have an exceptionally graded coin, it is worth much more. For example, coins that were graded 67 were sold at auctions for as much as two thousand dollars in the past.
- Type – Washington quarter
- Edge – reeded
- Mint mark – P mint mark
- Place of minting – Philadelphia
- Year of minting – 1989
- Face value – a quarter of a dollar
- Price – $0.25 – $30 +
- Quantity produced – 512 868 000
- Designer – John Flanagan
- Composition – copper and nickel
- Mass – 5.67 g (0.2 ounces)
- Diameter – 24.26 mm (0.9 inches)
1989 D Mint Mark Quarter Value
Denver produced even more coins than the Philadelphia mint, almost 900 million of them. This is why the quarters from 1989 with a D mint mark are even less valuable than the ones made in Philadelphia.
The price starts at twenty-five cents and it can reach around $5 to $10 for the coins in uncirculated condition. For those that are graded 60-65, the price is up to around $15, while the coins that are graded close to 70 can sell for hundreds of dollars as they are rare.
- Type – Washington quarter
- Edge – reeded
- Mint mark – D mint mark
- Place of minting – Denver
- Year of minting – 1989
- Face value – a quarter of a dollar
- Price – $0.25 – $20 +
- Quantity produced – 896 535 597
- Designer – John Flanagan
- Composition – copper and nickel
- Mass – 5.67 g (0.2 ounces)
- Diameter – 24.26 mm (0.9 inches)
1989 S Mint Mark Quarter Value
San Francisco produced only proof quarters in 1989. These are of higher quality than regular coins, so their price can be higher as well.
While the ones in poor condition are still worth only their face value, the price can also reach hundreds of dollars when in perfect state.
- Type – Washington quarter
- Edge – reeded
- Mint mark – S mint mark
- Place of minting – San Francisco
- Year of minting – 1989
- Face value – a quarter of a dollar
- Price – $0.25 – $50 +
- Quantity produced – 3 220 194
- Designer – John Flanagan
- Composition – copper and nickel
- Mass – 5.67 g (0.2 ounces)
- Diameter – 24.26 mm (0.9 inches)
Also Read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
1989 Quarter History
The history of US quarters starts in 1796 when the first one was produced. It consisted of silver up until 1965 when the US Mint changed its composition to copper and nickel.
The first quarters depicted Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. This design went on for 134 years when it was replaced by the Standing Liberty quarter.
This one featured Lady Liberty standing and holding a shield on the obverse, representing freedom and strength, and an eagle on the reverse.
The Washington quarter was first introduced in 1932 as a way to honor the ex-president of the US, George Washington. It was the bicentennial of his birthday so the US Mint wanted to commemorate his life and everything he did for his country.
George Washington was the first president of the United States, so it only makes sense that one of the most circulating coins depicts him.
The design that you can see in the 1989 quarter was in circulation up until 1998, with a short break in 1975 and 1976 when the design honored the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
1989 Quarter Appearance
A Washington quarter that ran between 1932 and 1998 is considered one of the most beautiful coins in US numismatic history, and for a reason.
A 1989 quarter appears to be silver because of the nickel clad. If you look at the obverse of this coin, you will see a left-facing Washington’s profile, along with the word LIBERTY on top of the coin that replaced the picture of Lady Liberty from before.
The year 1989 is engraved below the portrait. The left side of the coin features the words IN GOD WE TRUST and the right side is reserved for a mint mark.
The reverse of the coin depicts an eagle with spread wings that stands on arrows and olive branches. The US motto, ET PLURIBUS UNUM, is written above the eagle, and on top of the motto you can see the country’s name, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, is written at the bottom of the reverse side of the coin.
Also Read: 10+ Rarest State Quarter Errors Lists (Worth Much Money!!!)
1989 Quarter Grading
If you want to have your coin graded, you should take it to a nearby coin-grading service provider.
This is not always worth it because grading a coin can cost anywhere between $10 and $100, sometimes even more. However, if you think that your coin is unique or rare, it’s best to have it looked at by a professional so you don’t miss out on something valuable.
The coin-grading service gives a grade from 1 to 70 that will ultimately determine the price of your 1989 quarter.
1989 Quarter List of Errors
Apart from an excellent condition, another factor that determines the value of your coin is mint errors. These are unintentional mistakes that happen during the factory process of making coins so the coins that have errors are much rarer than those that don’t.
Here are some of the potential mistakes you can find in your 1989 quarter.
1. 1989 Quarter Off-Center Error
An off-center error happens when planchets are not in the center of the dies that engrave the design onto the coins. This results in a flat surface of the coin that can be small or larger, depending on the severity of the error.
This error is quite interesting so the collectors are willing to pay anywhere between $20 and $200 for a coin that has it. The final price depends on the condition of a coin, as always.
2. 1989 Quarter Rotated Die Error
Rotated die is another peculiar mistake that can occur during the minting process. You can easily notice it – if the obverse and the reverse of a coin are not aligned, it means that your coin has the rotated die mistake.
A 1989 quarter with this error can reach the price of around a hundred dollars.
3. 1989 Quarter Weak Strike Error
Weak strikes occur when the dies don’t strike strongly enough to properly engrave the design onto a coin. A weak strike looks like a faint picture on a coin.
Keep in mind that this error can be mistaken for a worn-off coin, so be careful if you want to buy a quarter online or without a grading certificate.
4. 1989 Quarter Double Die Error
This error occurs when the dies strike more than once, leaving a double design behind. It can be difficult to notice at first, but use a magnifying glass and carefully inspect all parts of your 1989 quarter.
Quarters with this error from 1989 have been sold for as much as two hundred dollars in the past.
5. 1989 Quarter Repunched Mint Mark Error
The repunched mint mark is self-explanatory. It happens when the mint mark is engraved twice and you can see it by looking at the edges of the letter. There have been 1898 quarters with this error that sold for around a hundred dollars, so maybe you are lucky and have one of those!
1989 Quarter FAQ
Is the 1989 quarter worth anything?
A 1989 quarter can be worth hundreds of dollars if it is in exceptional condition. The coins graded 67 and more have reached prices of up to two thousand dollars in the past, so if you have one of those, put it on an auction and see what happens!
However, keep in mind that the quarters from 1989 that are in the average state are not worth much more than their face value. You can probably expect to pay or get only several dollars for those.
What makes a 1989 quarter rare?
Your 1989 quarter can be considered rare if it is in excellent condition or if it has a mint error that is not common among the quarters from this year, such as a rotated die error.
Are 1989 quarters rare?
No, 1989 quarters are not rare. The US Mint manufactured almost a billion and a half of them. Take into account that it has only been a little bit over thirty years since they were put into circulation, so there is still a lot of them on the market.
However, we can only assume that these coins will be getting rarer as time passes. If they are not worth a lot now, hold onto them for several decades and you can rest assured that their worth will increase!
How much silver is in the 1989 quarter?
There is no silver in the 1989 quarter, so this coin doesn’t have a melt value. The US Mint stopped using silver for quarters in 1965 and the composition changed to copper and nickel instead.