The 25 cent coins minted in 1979 contained a copper core surrounded by a cupronickel alloy. This alloy contains 75% copper and 25% nickel. Every 1979 quarter contains 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper. Your coin should have a diameter of 24.3mm and weigh 5.67 grams.
The obverse of a 1979 quarter showcases a left-facing portrait of George Washington, the first US President who was reluctant about featuring on coins! You can see the legend “LIBERTY” above the portrait and the motto of “IN GOD WE TRUST” under George Washington’s chin, as well as the main attraction, the year of issue, 1979. If a mint mark is present, you can see it behind the portrait’s ponytail on the coin’s lower right.
You can also see the designer’s initials JF (for John Flanagan) to the right of George Washington’s portrait.
The reverse of the 1979 quarter features an eagle spreading its wings in full glory. A beautiful olive wreath connects the ends of both its wings. The eagle holds thirteen arrows with its feet, representing the thirteen states of the American Union. The denomination is towards the bottom of the coin’s reverse. At the top lie the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
To understand the 1979 quarter value, you should know the different types of this coin. The US Mint produced these quarters at three facilities: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
Before getting to the 1979 quarter values, let us quickly understand the different types of coins minted. Until 1990, the US Mint placed mint marks on coins with a hand puncheon, leading to various errors. You can find two types of quarters minted in 1979: type 1 and type 2. While type 1 quarters are all proof coins and carry a filled S as a mint mark, type 2 coins carry a clear S.
Let us now have a look at how much the quarters coming from each mint are worth today:
In 1979, the Philadelphia Mint produced 515,708,000 quarters with no mint mark. While they do not look expensive at first glance, an MS 68 graded quarter was sold for $ 1,440 in August 2022.
Also, there is only one PCGS coin graded MS 68, increasing its value to around $10,000!
In 1979, the Denver Mint produced 489,789,780 quarters carrying the Denver (D) mint mark. These quarters carry different values according to their grades. For example, an MS 67 1979-D quarter was sold for $1,078 in August 2014. A quarter from the same mint and MS 68 graded is valued at $6,500 due to its rarity.
The 1979 quarters produced at the San Francisco Mint are all proof coins. Made using special dies and blanks, these coins are produced especially for collectors. The type 1 proof coins of this category contain a filled “S” as the mint mark.
The San Francisco Mint produced 3,677,175 of these quarters in 1979. A PR 70 DCAM quarter was sold for $403 in the February of 2003. Due to a greater supply, the estimated value of such coins was $35 as of July 2023.
The proof quarters of this type are rarer when it comes to the San Francisco Mint. A PR 70 DCAM graded quarter was sold for $495 in September 2003. As of July 2023, the same coins were valued at $75. The PR 69s, on the other hand, were valued at around $18 at the same time.
Here is a concise table to summarize the 1979 quarter value for all coin types:
| Coin | MS 60 | MS 63 | MS 65 | MS 68 | PR 70 DCAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 (P) No Mint Mark Type 2 Quarter | $1 | $2 | $16 | $10.000 | - |
| 1979-D Type 2 Quarter | $1 | $12 | $20 | $6,500 | - |
| 1979-S Proof Type 1 Quarter | - | - | - | - | $30 |
| 1979-S Proof Type 2 Quarter | - | - | - | - | $60 |
Minting errors significantly increase the 1979 quarter value by making the coins rare. Here are a few popular errors you can look for in your 1979 quarter:
This error occurs when chopped pieces of blanks find their way to the coin press, leading to curved clips on coins. One such 1979 Philadelphia Mint quarter with double curved clips, graded MS 65, was sold for $500.
This is a double error where a coin is struck using a clipped planchet (blank) and the blank shifts before it is struck with a die for the first time. This leaves a coin’s portion unmarked. A Philadelphia Mint 1979 quarter, graded MS 64 was sold for $190 with this error.
Feeder fingers are used to push coins between dies during the minting process. The blank is struck twice or more times to imprint the design elements clearly. In this error, the blank moves before the details are fully transferred, leading to double strikes. A 1979 Philadelphia Mint quarter with this error was sold for $165.
This error occurs when the outer layer of a 1979 quarter peels off during the minting procedure. Such coins have a missing obverse or reverse. Graded MS 64, one such 1979 Philadelphia Mint quarter with a missing obverse was sold for $80!
This is a quarter struck using a planchet made for a nickel. This blank is slightly smaller than the one used to mint quarters. A 1979 quarter with grade MS 65 was once sold for $215.
Such an error called a struck thru or strike through error, occurs when a foreign object finds its way between the planchet and the die when the coin is being struck. A 1979 Denver Mint quarter, graded MS 65, was struck with a staple interrupting the process. It was sold for $325.
When a coin has already been struck twice and there is a lag in its movement forward, the blank is hit for the third time, resulting in this error. An MS 66 coin from the Philadelphia Mint showing traces of three strikes was sold for $400.
Here is an informative video discussing rare errors in the 1979 quarters:
If you find a 1979 quarter in your or your Grandpa’s coin collection, you may be sitting on quite some fortune. A more careful look at your coin can help you see any rare errors present, increasing its trade value. If you stumble upon such a coin, contact a trusted professional immediately and get the best deal for your 1979 Quarter.
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