1965 Quarter Value: How Much is it Worth Today?
The history of how coins are made is frequently linked to our history, and some coins have some unique value that occurred only that year and thus become special.
This is true of the 1965 quarter. This is a transitional coin, as the 25-cent coins would transition from almost entirely silver to a metal amalgamation, making the coin’s cost more manageable for the government.
Because many of these coins did not immediately change composition due to a machine error, there are several examples of pure silver that are extremely valuable. Normal coins are also collectible, but their prices are affordable to all.
In this guide, we will provide you with all of the tools you need to evaluate all of the elements that distinguish the 1965 quarter.
1965 Quarter Value Chart |
|
| Quality | 1965 No Mint Mark Quarter Price |
| MS 60 | $1 |
| MS 61 | $2.50 |
| MS 62 | $3.50 |
| MS 63 | $5 |
| MS 64 | $7.50 |
| MS 65 | $10 |
| MS 66 | $35 |
| MS 67 | $395 |
| MS 67+ | $795 |
| MS 69 | $5,250 |
1965 No Mint Mark Quarter Value
For the 1965 quarter, there are only two values. Because they were only ever made at one mint, these coins are very easy to identify. The Philadelphia mint was given the task of minting 1,819,717,540 coins.
Because the Denver and San Francisco mints were not in operation at the time, Philadelphia had to handle everything on its own.
There were no proof coins printed at the Philadelphia Mint or any other mint. However, there is a significant difference that distinguishes these coins.
Some coins are entirely silver and coins have changed their composition to a metal amalgamation.
When the materials for the new coin composition were changed, traces of silver were also left in the machine, so the first coins produced came out with pure silver until they ran out. the material and discovered copper and nickel.
Obverse
President George Washington is depicted on the obverse of the 25-cent coin. Ironically, Washington is on US coins and bills, because the country’s first president, like the European monarchies from which the Americans had just been freed, supported the motion never to mint the faces of real people.
The coin was designed by artist John Flanagan, who depicted President Washington in a profile pose looking to the left.
The word LIBERTY appears on the coin’s upper edge, while the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST appears on the coin’s left side, near Washington’s neck.
The date of minting is visible beneath the bust of the first President of the United States.
The 1965 quarters lack a mint mark because they were all minted in Philadelphia, and as the primary mint, it was not customary to mark the coins.
So, if you come across a 1965 coin with any kind of mintmark, it is almost certainly a forgery.
Reverse
The reverse depicts the traditional American eagle, a symbol of strength and intelligence for the American people. The wing is discovered with its wings spread moderately as if preparing to fly.
The eagle is supported by a trunk made of accumulated arrows. The arrows represent the nation’s military might, and beneath the arrows is a pair of olive branches tied together. Olive branches represent peace.
It’s fascinating to see how a contradiction appears in various American currencies. The 25-cent coin is not the only one with a peace symbol, such as an olive branch and arrows, which also represent military might.
Some justify these symbols by claiming that the American people always want peace while also being ready to respond to any attack or aggression.
Along with the American eagle, the coin bears the words UNITED STATES OF AMERIC on the top edge. The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM appears just below it.
E PLURIBUS UNUM is a Latin phrase that means: One of many. This is a phrase found on the majority of American coins.
Finally, the bottom edge of the coin bears the words QUARTER DOLLAR. You don’t need to look for a mint mark on either side of this coin because it was only printed at the Philadelphia Mint.
History
Beginning in 1965, the US government approved a motion to change the composition of all 10 and 25-cent coins.
By the 1960s, the price of silver had risen, and because of their high silver content, people kept 10 and 25-cent coins.
This is how a law was passed to replace all of the silver in the 10 and 25-cent coins with copper with a nickel coating.
However, something strange happened at this point. Some earlier series of planchets ended up in error in 1965 coin machines. Because these planchets were made of silver, a large number of coins with the old composition of pure silver.
The exact number of pure silver coins struck in 1965 is unknown, but single copies can fetch thousands of dollars.
The obverse of the coin has not changed, but the reverse has. It was designed by John Flanagan.
The 1965 coin is also notable for lacking a mint mark, unlike previous years’ coins. This is due to the closure of the mints in San Francisco and Denver for several years.
Value
Because the 1965 quarters were minted in large quantities and many copies have survived to this day, the coins in circulation are only worth their face value. However, things can start to change when we talk about coins that are not in circulation or have a very high gem quality.
Uncirculated coins start at $1 and gradually rise to $35 for an MS 66 coin, $400 for an MS 67 coin, and thousands of dollars for a high-quality coin. An MS 69 has been reported to have sold for $5,250.
Prices for silver coins, on the other hand, are a completely different story. One of these uncirculated coins in excellent condition can easily sell for more than $1,000.
They are one-of-a-kind coins; no one knows how many were made, and they are highly sought after by expert collectors willing to pay their high price.
Silver coins in circulation are extremely rare. Most people save them to trade or sell later, so the only copies available for purchase will be in stores and online auctions.
Identification
Identifying a 1965 coin is simple because you only need to look at the minting date, but identifying among all the coins made of pure silver and with the current composition and coating is more difficult.
When you notice that your coin has a brighter shine than usual or that it weighs slightly more than other coins of the same type, you should be suspicious.
If you believe you have a 1965 silver coin, use the criteria listed below to ensure you have a truly valuable coin.
Determine the distinction between a 1965 silver coin and other nickel-copper coins. The main distinction between the two coins is that the nickel-plated copper coins have a reddish rim.
While entirely silver coins have no color change on the edges and shine brighter than the rest of the coins, even if they are older and poorly cared for.
The next step is to weigh the coin. Get a gram-weighing scale and place it on the digital scale. Coins made entirely of silver are heavier than nickel-plated copper coins.
The silver quarter from 1965 weighs 6.25 grams, while the copper coin with nickel weighs only 5.67 grams.
Finally, you should take your coin to a coin certification company. Companies that provide this service have highly trained professionals who will verify that your coin is authentic and will assist you in pricing and selling it more easily in the market.
A coin’s sale will be easier and safer if it has a certificate of authenticity.
1965 Quarter Grading
The degree of conservation of a coin is critical in determining its purchase or sale price. There are coins in circulation ranging from Good to Extra Fine.
Uncirculated coins are the ones that start to become valuable. The 1965 quarter must be well preserved because only coins in gem condition have significant value. To ensure that you understand everything about the grading of this coin, we have included a video with useful information.
Rare 1965 Quarter Error List
Being a transitional coin with only silver copies makes the 1965 quarter a very special coin. However, if an error in the coin’s minting is discovered, the price and uniqueness of the coin can skyrocket.
We will go over all of the possible errors that you may encounter with this coin. We will also leave you a video where you can review the concepts and tricks again and again so that you can easily identify errors and review them whenever you want.
The Double-tailed Quarter Error
This error has only been found in three specimens. It is a very rare error in which the reverse of the coin is minted on both sides.
Because it lacks a year of minting mark, determining which year this coin belongs to is difficult with the naked eye. If you see an offer for this coin, be very cautious because scammers make them on purpose to fool new people who don’t know much about valuable coins.
This is a common practice for this type of coin because two of the real coins sold for 40,000 and 80,000 dollars, respectively.
1965 Quarter Broad Strike Error
This error occurs when the ring that holds the coin does not fit perfectly, causing the coin to shift and the minting to be imperfect.
The letters are flat and elongated, which distinguishes this error. Many of these coins have a strikethrough somewhere on them. This is because an impurity entered between the stamps of the coin during minting, and the mark was visible.
You must examine the details with a magnifying glass, and if you believe you have made one of these mistakes, it is best to take it to a professional who will give you a final verdict and an approximate price of how much this coin can cost in the market.
1965 Quarter Obverse Error
This is a very common error in most coins because it is one of the most frequently repeated errors in coin production.
This error occurs when the die is struck multiple times on the same planchet. This results in a weaker duplicate of the main image, which is usually visible in the outlines of the numbers or letters on the coin.
The most well-known duplicates are the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST and the word LIBERTY. On the obverse of the coin, there are also traces of duplication in President Washington’s eyes and hair.
A copy of one of these coins in good condition sells for 300 dollars, but their value depends on their conservation.
1965 Quarter FAQ
Is there anything special about the 1965 quarter?
The 1965 quarters are unique in that they are transition coins. That is, the composition of the coin was changed from 1964 to 1965, but when it came to making them, there were silver planchets from the previous series and they were minted with the remaining silver by mistake.
It is unknown how many pure silver coins were produced, but a good copy can fetch thousands of dollars.
How can you tell if a 1965 quarter is rare?
There are two indicators that you have a rare quarter of pure silver. To begin, examine the brightness and edge of the coins. Copper coins with nickel coatings have a bronze-colored edge, whereas silver coins are solid and have a deeper shine.
You should also consider the weight. Silver coins are heavier than 6 grams. If your coin weighs more than 6 grams, you should have it examined by a professional.
