$19,200 Washington Quarter Found: You May Have One in Your Pocket

A rare Washington Quarter actually sold for $19200 at a professional auction. This isn't just clickbait. We'll explore the unique features

A rare 1976-S Bicentennial Washington quarter has sold for a whopping $19,200 at a professional auction, while most coins of this type go for $5 to $25.

The coin, which was part of a special collector’s edition minted in San Francisco to commemorate the United States’ 200th birthday, fetched the high price thanks to a combination of rarity, historical significance, silver content, and pristine condition.

The combination of mint condition and silver content in this 1976-S Bicentennial quarter, graded MS-69 by NGC, drove its final price to $19,200 at the recent Professional Coin Convention (P.F.C. 73) in Baltimore, an elite coin auction.

The 1976-S Bicentennial quarter is a collector’s dream coin. It features a unique reverse design with a colonial drummer boy, setting it apart from regular quarters. The coin was minted in silver to add to its value and collectability.

The coin is also noteworthy for its high grade of MS-69, which is the highest grade that a common coin can achieve. This indicates that the coin is in almost perfect condition, with no significant wear or defects.

“This superb 1976-S Bicentennial quarter in MS-69 is the finest certified,” the auction catalog noted. “It has superb original mint luster and superb toned highlights in the raised devices. This superb example is sure to be the highlight of any collection.”

Most 1976-S Bicentennial quarters in MS-60 grade sell for $5 to $10, while uncirculated examples in MS-65 can fetch $25 to $50.

Coins are graded on a 70-point scale created by Dr. William Sheldon to help buyers and sellers accurately evaluate a coin’s condition and market value.

The higher the grade, the rarer and more valuable the coin becomes. For instance, a 1976-S quarter in MS-60 might be worth $5 to $10, while one in MS-69, like the $19,200 example, can command several thousand.

It’s also worth noting that proof coins and error coins can have added value, even in lower grades.

However, don’t get too carried away just yet. Most of the Bicentennial quarters you’re likely to find in your pocket change or local bank are standard copper-nickel clad coins. These common quarters, especially in circulated grades, hold minimal value, usually around $1 to $5.

The valuable silver Bicentennial quarters were released only in special collector’s sets, making them harder to find and significantly increasing their worth, especially when graded in uncirculated or proof condition.

If you’re hoping to discover a small fortune in your coin jar, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the silver proof Bicentennial quarters, which are prized by coin collectors.

To identify a silver quarter, inspect its edge. It should have a solid silver color without any copper core, while standard clad quarters have a copper stripe visible on the edge in a side view. Silver quarters also tend to be slightly heavier than copper-nickel ones.

If you’re lucky enough to find a rare or valuable quarter, you can have it professionally appraised and graded by trusted services like NGC or PCGS.

This will help you determine its true worth and provide a third-party guarantee of the coin’s authenticity and condition.

If you’re interested in learning more about coin collecting, there are several excellent resources available online and in libraries.

You can also join local coin clubs or attend coin shows to meet other collectors and experts in the field.

With some basic knowledge, a careful eye, and a sense of curiosity, you might just uncover a hidden gem in your coin jar or pocket change. Who knows? Your next trip to the grocery store might lead to a once-in-a-life time find.

Good luck, and happy collecting!output: Named one of the Top 10 Rare Coins Found in 2023, a 1976-S Bicentennial quarter in MS-69 condition sold for $19,200 at the recent Professional Coin Convention (P.F.C. 73) in Baltimore.

The coin, which was graded by NGC, fetched an elite price at the elite coin auction.

The 1976-S Bicentennial quarter is a collector’s dream coin. It features a unique reverse design with a colonial drummer boy, setting it apart from regular quarters. The coin was minted in silver to add to its value and collectability.

The coin is also noteworthy for its high grade of MS-69, which is the highest grade that a common coin can achieve. This indicates