PARRIS ISLAND COINS » 1935 Quarter Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?

1935 Quarter Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?

1935 Quarter Value

Many old coins such as the 1935 quarter can be worth more than their face value. While 1935 dollars in good condition are worth between $5 and $6, uncirculated specimens can sell for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. How do you know which 1935 quarters are really valuable?

The coin’s value depends on various factors such as its condition, rarity, and where it was minted. In this article, we look at the value range of 1935 quarters, including the auction records for each mint variety. You will also find information on grading and errors that may increase the coin’s value.

1935 Quarter Value Chart

Mint Mark Very Good VG8 Very Fine VF20 About Uncirculated AU50 Uncirculated MS60 Uncirculated MS65
1935 No Mint Mark Quarter Value $5.97 $6.54 $8.72 $25 $170
1935 D Quarter Value $5.97 $8.72 $141 $274 $721
1935 S Quarter Value $5.97 $7.48 $43 $113 $343

In 1924, congress approved a resolution to commemorate 200 years since the birth of former President George Washington. The Bicentennial Commission launched a competition to find a design for the coin, which was won by the artist Laura Gardin Fraser.

However, her idea was not used on the commemorative coin. Instead, Andrew Mellow, the Secretary of the Treasury, organized a new competition, which was won by the sculptor John Flanagan. This caused a minor scandal at a time and makes the coins more interesting for collectors.

The first Washington quarters were minted in 1932. 6,248,000 coins were minted in 1932, which was more than was needed. This is why no quarters were minted in 1933. By the next year, more quarters were needed in circulation, so the US Mint increased production. In 1934, the US Mint produced 35,484,000 quarters, and a total of 46,924,000 quarters in 1935.

The Washington quarters minted in 1935 contained 90% silver, which is no longer the case. Initially, the US Mint opted for a quarter with high silver content to stimulate the economy of the country. In 1932, when the first Washington quarters were issued, the US was going through the great depression and many people were struggling and out of work.

It was thought that by minting coins high in silver, there would be more demand for these coins. Therefore a higher than-necessary number of quarters were struck and released into circulation in 1932.

The US Mint continued to use the same combination of silver and copper until 1964. After that year, silver was no longer used and instead, the coins were made with a mix of copper and nickel. The change was due to a silver shortage that was increasing the price of silver. As a result, it made no sense financially to mint quarters with silver.

1935 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

1935 No Mint Mark Quarter Value
Image Credit: pcgs

In 1935, the Philadelphia mint produced by far the largest number of quarters. While the other two facilities produced less than six million quarters each, the Philadelphia mint struck 32,484,000 quarters in 1935.

It is because they were struck in such a large quantity that they are still reasonably easy to come across, especially at the lower grades. A specimen that is still in very good condition is worth just under six dollars, while an uncirculated 1935 quarter graded as MS60 is worth around $25 and you can expect to sell an MS65-graded dollar for $170.

While most 1935 circulated dollars with no mint mark will be worth more than their face value, you want to look for coins graded as MS67 or above. The auction record for a 1935 no-mint mark quarter is from 2021 when an MS68-graded coin sold for $7,200 at a Stack’s Bowers auction.

The Obverse of the 1935 Quarter

The obverse of the 1935 quarter features a portrait of former president George Washington. The portrait is facing left and is cut off just above the shoulders. Washington’s hair is tied with a bow which was the fashionable style for men at the time.

Below the portrait are the year the quarter was minted and the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is positioned in front of the portrait. The word LIBERTY is above the portrait curving along the rim of the coin.

The Reverse of the 1935 Quarter

On the reverse of the quarter is an image of a bald eagle with its wings spread out. The eagle faces left and holds a bundle of arrows in its talons. Below the eagle is an olive branch. The arrows symbolize defending the country’s freedom and the olive branch symbolizes peace.

The coin’s denomination is below the olive branches along the bottom rim. The Latin phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is above the eagle’s head and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA run along the top half of the rim. The mint mark on Denver and San Francisco minted coins is below the olive branch just above the letters E and R.

Other Details of the 1935 Quarter

The 1935 quarters belong to a series called Washington quarters because they feature his portrait on the front. The coins minted in 1935 still contained 90% of silver and the rest was copper. This composition was changed later as silver prices rose.

The coin is 1.75 millimeters (0.955 inches) thick and the diameter is 24.26 millimeters (0.069 inches). The coin weighs 6.25 grams (0.22 ounces). The round coin has a reeded edge with 119 reeds in total.

1935 D Quarter Value

1935 D Quarter Value

Coins with the mint mark D are generally the most highly valued varieties among the 1935 quarters. The Denver mint struck 5,780,000 quarters in 1935 so coins at lower grades are not considered rare and are not worth much more than the no-mint mark quarters struck in the same year.

1935 D quarters in the higher grades, especially from AU50 onwards, are not as common and therefore can be worth much more than their no-mint mark counterparts. For example, an AU50 graded 1935 D quarter is worth around $141 compared to $8.72 for a no min mark variety.

MS60 graded 1935 D quarter is worth around $274 and an MS65 graded can be valued at $721. The auction record dates back to 2003 when an MS67 graded 1935 D quarter sold at Heritage Auctions fetched $9,775.

1935 S Quarter Value

1935 S Quarter Value

San Francisco produced the lowest number of quarters in 1935 with 5,660,000 of them released into circulation from the San Francisco facility. Even though their mintage was lower than the Denver variety, they are not as valuable. Usually, this is because it is easier to find 1935 S quarters at higher grades than it is 1935 D quarters.

While 1935 S quarters have very similar values to the other varieties at lower grades, from AU50 onwards they fall in the middle of the values for no mint mark and D minted varieties.

An AU50 graded 1935 S quarter is worth around $43, at MS60 you can expect to pay about $113, and over $300 for a 1935 S quarter graded as MS65. The auction record is the lowest of the three mint varieties. In 2003, a 1935 S quarter sold for $6,900 at a Heritage Auctions sale.

1935 Quarter Grading

The 1935 quarters are graded in the same way as any other old coins using a scale known as the Sheldon scale. This scale is numerical and runs from one to seventy. The lowest grade is PO1, which means the coins are in poor condition. Most often, these coins will not be worth more than their face value and are of no interest to collectors.

The scale then moves through to good and very good coins, which in the case of the 1935 quarter are worth from a few to around six dollars. It then moves through fine and extra fine grades to about uncirculated. Finally, numbers 60 to 70 are for coins in mint state. The highest grade, MS70, will only be awarded to coins in perfect condition.

You can find out more about grading dollars from this video from Coin Study.

Rare 1935 Quarter Error Lists

1935 Quarter Repunched Mint Mark Error

1935 Quarter Repunched Mint Mark Error
Image Credit: ebay

In the past, mint marks on coins were struck by hand which resulted in mint marks being punched more than once. If the person punching the mint mark didn’t get it in the right position the first time, they would try again, meaning there is more than one visible mint mark. Look for this error on D- and S-minted coins.

1935 Quarter DD Error

1935 Quarter DD Error

Some 1935 quarters have an error known as doubled die error. It means the coins have a doubled image due to the coin die striking the coin more than once. Often the second image is slightly offset from the one struck first.

1935 Quarter Cracked Die Error

When the die used to strike the coins gets older, it begins to show signs of wear and tear. These imperfections are transferred from the die to the coin during the minting process and result in irregular lines, grooves, or bumps on the surface of the coin.

1935 Quarter Off-Center Error

An off-center error occurs when the coin is not inserted into the coin machine properly or it moves during the minting process. As a result, the image is not struck in the center of the coin and may look incomplete.

These errors vary in severity from 1%, which is hardly noticeable to 99% where most of the image has missed the coin. Generally, coins where the date is clear and the off-center error is 50%, are valued the most highly.

1935 Quarter Filled-Die Minting Error

Filled-die errors occur during the minting process when foreign substances get stuck on the die that strikes the coins. It can be, for example, debris or grease, and lead to a distorted or incomplete design.

Note About 1935 Quarter Errors

There are no widely known coin errors among the 1935 quarters unlike on quarters from other years. The ones listed here are examples of errors that may occur during the minting process. While not all errors increase the value of a coin, some error coins can sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

To find out more about 1935 quarters worth a lot of money, you can watch this video from Couch Coin Clips. If you suspect you may have a valuable 1935 quarter with an error, it is always best to get it professionally valued.

1935 Quarter Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 1935 quarter pure silver?

The 1935 quarter is not pure silver. However, it does have a very high silver content. All 1935 quarters are made with 90% silver and 10% copper. Quarters made after 1964 do not contain any silver at all but get their color from a copper and nickel composite.

Where is the mint mark on the 1935 quarter?

The mint mark on the 1935 quarters is on the reverse side. It is located above the letters E and R of the denomination of the coin and below the olive branch.

Mint marks can only be found on 1935 quarters minted in Denver or San Francisco. The coins minted in Denver have a capital D and the San Francisco coins have a capital S. There is no mint mark on the quarters minted at the Philadelphia Mint in 1935.

What is a 1935 quarter worth?

There is no simple answer to this question since there are various factors that determine a coin’s value. While some 1935 quarters are worth around $5, others will sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars.

The value of the coins is determined by professional coin grades who look at the overall condition of the coin, its eye appeal, and color among other things. The coin’s rarity will also have a big impact on the price. Coins with an interesting history can also attract higher offers from collectors.

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