1980 Quarter Value: How Much Is It Worth Today?
Are you ready to dive deeper into coin collecting? Find out more about the 1980 quarter value through our comprehensive guide below. Here, you acquire in-depth knowledge of how this coin is graded as well as how this has been distributed in the market.
Likewise, the article will expound more on the key features, mint marks, and common errors during the production of the coin. Now, let’s get to know these aspects one by one before adding this coin to your collection. For sure, you’d learn a lot from the information we’ve prepared for you.
1980 Quarter Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | MS 64 | MS 65+ | PR65 |
| 1980 P Quarter Value | $0.30 | $0.30 | ― | $6.81 | ― |
| 1980 D Quarter Value | $0.30 | $0.30 | $5 | $15 | ― |
| 1980 S Quarter Value | ― | ― | ― | ― | $4.52 |
1980 P Quarter Value
In the year 1980, Philadelphia released a total of 635,832,000 quarter coins, emulating the original design of a Washington Quarter. This particular coin series began in 1932, upon the retirement of the Standing Liberty in 1930.
The design of the Washington Quarter was crafted by John Flanagan. The approval of the design, however, was quite a grueling process. Initially, the United States aimed to produce a new design to honor the bicentennial birth of the country’s first president, George Washington.
Though the committee was happy with the initial design provided by Laura Gardin Fraser, her work was replaced by John Flanagan. With the approval of the latter’s coin illustration, the circulation of the Washington Quarters commenced.
Since this coin series is a commemoration of George Washington, the image of the leader is engraved on the obverse side. The left-facing portrait highlights the facial features of Washington, specifically his distinct ponytail hairstyle. It is surrounded by several keywords that have a certain meaning.
One of the markings etched on the coin is the word “LIBERTY.” This is a fundamental value not just in the country’s pollical system but in the American way of life. Aside from this, the renowned US motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” as well as the year of minting are added on the planchet.
Accordingly, for this year, Philadelphia-minted coins come with a “P” mint mark right below the hair bow on the right side. This is quite unusual because, since 1945, the “P” mint mark was removed from the coin.
The reason for the exclusion of the mark was the national coin shortage caused by collectors. This was covered in the Coinage Act of 1965 when silver was also eliminated from the coin composition.
So, for certain years, the government discourage the people to collect coins as a hobby to help with the crisis associated with the low silver supply. After the coinage problems, the city’s mint mark was incorporated again in 1980, except for cents.
If you flip the coin, the design would show the famous American bald eagle in the center. The eagle grasps a bundle of arrows while being perched on two branches of olive.
Along with these designs, there are other some markings on the reverse. These include the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the top. Additionally, the “QUARTER DOLLAR” label is imprinted below.
In general, coins struck in Philadelphia were released for circulation, and this occurred during the minting of Washington quarters in 1980. This is the reason why most 1980 P quarters are valued slightly higher than their face value, which is $0.25.
Good to extremely fine-condition coins are only estimated to be around $0.30. But if you have an MS 65+ in your possession, you’d be getting a better price for sure. Coins in their mint state would sell for $5 up to $6.81. Likewise, coins with unique errors are more marketable, hence a costlier price tag.
1980 D Quarter Value
In the same year, Denver produced 518,327,487 quarters. As the second-highest mintage in 1980, most of these coins were allocated for daily transactions. As a result, 1980 D quarters are not that pricey since you won’t have to go through the eye of a needle just to acquire this piece.
In fact, there are still several 1980 D quarters up to the present, making it a good starting piece for new collectors. Because of its availability, circulated coins that are in good condition are valued the same as those minted in Philadelphia. You can buy a 1980 D quarter for as low as $0.30.
On the contrary, coins that have preserved their original luster and key details are estimated to price higher. Some would be appraised at $5 while others in the mint state can sell for up to $15. Compared to earlier Washington quarters, this coin series is certainly much cheaper.
Why? It’s because of the change in the material composition. During the initial production of Washington Quarters, minting locations used silver as the primary metal. However, this was halted in 1964 when there was a low supply of silver. Because of the silver problem, the Coinage Act of 1965 was established.
With the approval of the act, silver was eventually removed from the composition of coin minting. So, from 90% silver and 10% copper, it was modified to 75% copper and 25% nickel. The new composition is still being used up to the present, though there were some tweaks incorporated in certain coin series.
Because of the modification in the materials used, the weight of the 1980 Quarters is significantly lighter compared to older Washington quarters. It only weighs 5.67g, which is almost 1 gram lighter than silver quarter coins.
As part of the Washington Quarter category, the design of the 1980 D quarters is the same as others. It contains the left-facing portrait of George Washington and other key labels on the front. On the other hand, the back side holds an outline of the American bald eagle.
The only difference would be the mint mark. So, instead of “P,” it has “D” to signify the city of Denver. The location of mint mark is also located along the hair bow of the portrait.
1980 S Quarter Value
San Francisco is the last mint location for the 1980 quarters. So, for coins released from this mint, you’d see a specific mark, which is “S”. It is etched on the obverse side of the coin. Unlike the other two cities that struck hundreds of millions of coins, San Francisco is widely known to produce limited coins.
The reason for this is that the city is generally tasked to release proof coins. And when say proof coins, these are pieces that are highly commemorative, which means created for collectors. Because these encompass the finest coin quality, US Mint only manufactures a controlled number of proof coins.
It’s easy to determine a proof coin from a standard coin. You just take a closer look at the physical features of the coin. Proof coins are more striking due to the usage of special dies and top-notch quality strikes. Likewise, the planchets for proof pieces are struck twice to provide a sharp and polished outline.
Because of these factors, proof coins are the best choice for dealers. The well-defined features help accentuate the entire appearance of the coins, which is one of the core factors taken into account by experts.
And in 1980, only 3,554,806 1980 S quarters were made. Although a few were used for circulation, most of these were purchased and kept by collectors. As a result, getting a 1980 S Quarter proof is very challenging. But if you come across a proof coin in mint state, then you’re definitely lucky.
It’s because the starting rate is $4.52, which is definitely much higher than the 1980 P quarters and 1980 D quarters. Not only that but proof coins with unique errors are more desirable because of their distinctness. So, might as well have your proof coin checked before using it for purchase!
1980 Quarter Value Grading
When it comes to grading coins, experts have to consider not just the coin condition but also the elements that make the piece unique. Thus, errors are vital in estimating the current value of a 1980-quarter coin. More so, you also have to establish the minting location through the coin’s mint mark.
It’s because coins that were produced by San Francisco were generally proof ones. And of course, proof coins are sought-after items among collectors, hence higher in price.
1980 Quarter Value Error Lists
Production of coins is not an easy feat. It goes through a series of processes to create sturdy and long-lasting coins. Because of these aspects, errors are inevitable. And when coins contain flaws, it increases the demand―so as its value.
Thus, you should take time to learn about the errors associated with the 1980 Quarter. To guide you, we’ve gathered all the common errors that occurred during the manufacturing of these coins.
1. 1980 Quarter Off-center
Some 1980 quarters have issues with the alignment of the design. The main key point is the misalignment of Washington’s portrait on the obverse and the American bald eagle on the reverse. Because of the awry positioning, there are some elements in the coin that are not included in the planchet.
While this kind of error limits the appearance of the coin design, this is actually a determining factor when appraising the value. The bigger the percentage from the center, the higher the worth of the coin. While this is the general rule, it’s a must for the year of minting to be visible or else it would follow its face value.
2. 1980 Quarter with Filled-in Mint Mark
We’ve mentioned earlier that the 1980 P quarters had the “P” mint mark. During the production of these coins, some had filled-in errors. And when we say filled-in, the inner section of the letter “P” is occupied with die. Since this is a special error, many desire to have this piece in their collection.
However, there isn’t much difference in the value, perhaps just an increase of a few dollars. Meanwhile, you also have to check if the filled-in mark was actually caused by a production mistake. It’s because some coins with this issue might just be caused by wear.
3.1980 Quarter Struck on Wrong Planchet
Did you know that there were some Washington quarters produced in 1980 that were struck on a 5-cent planchet? Due to this unique error, these coins are considered rare by collectors. The difference in the size of the planchet boosts the value to a couple of dollars.
4. 1980 Quarter Struck on a Damaged Planchet
Aside from coins using a 5-cent planchet, another recorded error was quarters struck on dented or impaired planchets. While the primary way to determine this flaw is by checking the appearance, you can also verify it with the weight of the coin.
A standard 1980 quarter weighs 5.67g. So, if it’s lower than this, this means that there’s an issue with the planchet itself.
5. 1980 Quarter with Missing Clad Layer
Some quarter coins during this year also had issues with the clad layers. Few did not have this prominent component. Hence, one side has copper while the other side features nickel. The difference in the elements results in lesser weight, normally by 15%.
And because of these unique physical characteristics, collectors are very interested to obtain this coin in their collection. Others would even be willing to shell out $75 up to $200 to get a hold of this special item.
1980 Quarter FAQ
1. How much is a 1980 quarter worth?
Circulated 1980 quarters that are in good condition only sell up to $0.30 while those in the mint state can be sold between $6.81 and $15, depending on the mint mark. Mint state coins from Denver are slightly pricier than those in Philadelphia. On the other hand, proof coins from San Francisco start at $4.52.
2. Is there a rare 1980 quarter?
Generally, the 1980 Washington quarters are not rare. However, a coin could become special if this contains unique elements due to production issues. One specific example is some coins that were minted on a 5-cent planchet. There were also certain pieces with off-center designs and a missing clad layer.
