1892 Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “O”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Are you interested in owning an 1892 quarter? Or have you discovered a Barber quarter dated 1892 and wonder how much it is worth? Whether you are looking to sell or buy, our 1892 quarter value guide will break down everything you need to know about the coin’s value so you can make an informed decision.

The 1892 quarter has an interesting history and is one of the most sought-after in the Barber coinage series.

Read on to explore everything from the coin’s key features, varieties that could be worth a premium, and all the details on how much is an 1892 quarter.

Let’s get started!

1892 Quarter Value Chart
Mint Mark	Good	Fine	Extremely Fine	Uncirculated
1892-No Mint Mark Quarter Value	$20	$40	$90	$17,500
1892-O Quarter Value	$30	$75	$175	$22,500
1892-S Quarter Value	$75	$175	$425	$30,000

 

History of the 1892 Quarter

The 189 quarter is an important piece of American numismatic history, as it was the first quarter in the Barber Coinage series. The Barber series, which included quarters, dimes, and half dollars, replaced the long-standing Seated Liberty coins which had been in use since the 1830s.

By the 1880s, government officials, numismatists, and the general public began reiterating for new coin designs, given that the Seated Liberty design had served for more than 50 years. There was a general feeling that U.S. coins were not as beautiful as other world currencies—the design was outdated and needed to be revamped and given a fresh look.

Congress authorized U.S. Mint Director, Edward Leech, to approve new coin designs and by 1891 Leech called for a competition for designers to submit their proposals for a new look for U.S. silver coins. But, because only the winner would be awarded a cash prize, designers refused to participate in the competition, as even their efforts would go uncompensated.

Leech wasted no more time on the failed competition and went ahead to ask U.S. Chief Engraver, Charles Barber, to present designs for the new coins. Barber did as he was instructed and Leech approved the designs so that by January 1892, production of the new coins, which were named after their designer, began.

The U.S. mint struck Barber coins from 1892 to 1916 although no half dollars were minted in the final year. The new 1892 Barber quarters feature a bust portrait of Liberty facing right adorned in a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath on the obverse. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle, modelled from the Great Seal of the United States.

Being the first year of production, 1892 quarters were hoarded in large numbers as soon as the Mint released them into circulation. As such, Mint State examples are plentiful compared to other dates in the series, although 1892 quarters graded as proof-like are scarce.

There are several notable 1892 Barber quarter die errors, including die cracks and doubled-dies, which, depending on the coin’s condition, can be worth premium prices. The 1892 quarter is definitely a prized possession for any serious collector.

Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money

 

Features of the 1892 Quarter

As mentioned, the 1892 quarter has various die varieties that can make one coin more valuable than the other. Familiarizing yourself with the features can help you assess unique varieties, authenticate your quarter, and identify 1892 quarters worth money.

Here’s what to look for:

Obverse of the 1892 Quarter

On the front side, the 1892 quarter features Liberty’s right-facing portrait adorned in Phrygian cap decorated with a laurel wreath.

The motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is etched above Liberty’s head along the coin’s inner rim. The date, 1892, appears along the rim at the bottom.

Thirteen stars, representing the first states to join the Union, surround Liberty’s portrait, with stars on the left side and seven on the right.

Reverse of the 1892 Quarter

The back of the coin features a heraldic eagle modelled on the Great Seal of the United States. The eagle has spread out its wings while holding an olive branch in its right talon and a bunch of arrows in the left one.

A shield, symbolizing sovereignty, appears boldly on the eagle’s chest. The bird also holds a ribbon in its beak with the words E PLURIBUS UNUM, a Latin motto that means, Out of Many, One. Thirteen stars appear above the eagle’s head, also symbolic of the first 13 states to join the Union.

In addition, there is the inscription, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, etched along the coin’s upper half rim while the denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, is displayed along the coin’s lower rim. Two dots on the right and left separate the upper and lower inscriptions.

Other Features of the 1892 Quarter

Additional features that set apart the 1892 quarter are:

• Diameter: 24.30 millimeters
• Weight: 6.30 grams
• Metal composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
• Fineness: 0.9
• ASW: 0.1808oz
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint mark: New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Philadelphia (No Mintmark)

Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

 

1892 Quarter Grading

#	Grade
1	Basal State-1
2	Fair
3	Very Fair
4, 5, 6	Good
7, 8, 10	Very Good
12, 15	Fine
20, 30	Very Fine
40	Extremely Fine
50	About Uncirculated
60	Mint State
65	Mint State
70	Mint State

There are key things you can check to determine the grade of an 1892 Barber quarter:

Luster: Coins with an original surface shine and minimal signs of wear are generally more valuable than those lacking luster.

Liberty’s hair: Quarters in which Liberty’s curls are well define and the cap exhibits sharps detail are usually of a higher grade and will generally be worth more.

Eagle’s feather: Check the eagle’s feather pattern, which should be crisp and distinct, a sign of a higher-grade. Such 1892 quarter will tend to be more valuable.

Mintmark: Examine the reverse for the mintmark—quarters with the “S” mint mark are rare and will be worth good money, especially in higher-grades.

Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.

Check Out Now: How to Grade Barber Quarter?

 

1892 Quarter Value Guides

Next, we’ll discover how much is an 1892 Barber quarter. The value of an 1892 quarter will depend on factors such as the mintage, coin’s condition, rarity, and mint mark.

There are three varieties of the 1892 quarter:

• 1892 No Mintmark Quarter
• 1892-O Quarter
• 1892-S Quarter

Let’s find out how much you can expect from each variety.

1892 No Mintmark Quarter Value

The Philadelphia Mint struck the highest number of quarters in 1892, bringing the mintage to 8,236,000. As was the tradition then, these coins did not bear a mint mark and are therefore referred to as “no mintmark” 1892 quarters.

Coin collectors hoarded these quarters in large quantities, believing they would be scarce and highly valuable since they were a first-year issue. The upside is that many of these quarters were preserved, making Mint State examples quite plentiful. Circulated 1892 quarters are equally abundant although they are worth more than face value.

Here’s a breakdown of the value of the 1892 no mintmark quarters:

Circulated examples: Circulated 1892 quarters are plentiful but even in lower grades they can be worth more than face value. For example, pieces graded Poor or Average are worth about $12 while those graded as Extremely Fine (XF) can fetch up to $90. Quarters in this series with an About Circulated (AU58) rating can bring in premium prices of up to $210.

Mint State examples: Because many 1892 quarters were preserved, finding pieces in Mint State is relatively easy. Most Mint State examples are graded between MS63 and MS64, with those graded MS65 being scarce and MS67 being rare. A specimen graded MS63 will bring in as much as $500 while an MS65 can sell for as much as $1,000.

Auction Record: Legend Rare Coin Auctions sold an extremely rare 1892 quarter graded MS68 for a whopping $35,250 in 2002, according to records from the Professional Coin Grading Service.

1892-O Quarter Value

The New Orleans Mint had the second highest mintage of `1892 quarters, producing 2, 640,000 coins bearing the mintmark “O” on the reverse.

Compared to the quarters struck in Philadelphia, the New Orleans 1892 quarters had a weaker strike. In addition, a smaller number of these coins was hoarded making Mint State examples harder to find than their Philadelphia counterparts.

A peculiar feature of 1892-O quarters is the mintmark placement. One of two of the reverse die hubs created a tight space between the eagle’s tail and the inscription, “QUARTER”, resulting in the “O” mint mark being placed over the last R. In subsequent years, the mintmark was placed over the D in DOLLAR or between the last R in QUARTER and the D. A similar mintmark placement is seen on 1892-S quarters.

Here’s how much an 1892-O quarter is worth:

Circulated examples: Even in lower grades, 1892-O quarters are worth more than face value. Pieces graded as Poor or Average are worth about $20, which is significantly more than what their Philadelphia counterparts are worth. Examples graded Extra Fine (XF) will bring in as much as $175 while those rated About Uncirculated (AU58) can sell for up to $370.

Mint State examples: Most Mint State examples in the 1892-O series are clustered between MS62 and MS64, with those graded MS63 being the most plentiful.  At MS63, an 1892-O quarter will fetch as much as $675 while an MS65 quarter can sell for an impressive $2250. Rare examples graded MS67 can fetch as much as $17,500.

Auction Record: At a 2009 Bowers & Merena auction, a collector paid a whopping $22, 425 for an 1892-O quarter graded MS68, according to the PCGS, making this the most expensive New Orleans 1892 quarter so far.

1892-S Quarter Value

 The 1892-S quarter is the scarcest in this date, with a mintage of just 964,079. The historically low mintage could be because of the low demand for additional quarters given the relatively high mintages at Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Mint State examples are relatively scarce due to the overall low mintage and the fact there wasn’t extensive hoarding of the 1892-S quarters as there was for their Philadelphia and New Orleans counterparts.

What stands out about the 1892-S quarters is the mintmark positioning, which is specific to this date. The “S” mintmark is positioned between the eagle’s tail feather and the last R in QUARTER. But, because the space was too tight, it resulted in excessive die chipping, forcing the Mint to change the mintmark position more to the right in subsequent years.

So, how much are 1892-S quarters worth?

Circulated examples: Due to their relative scarcity, circulated 1892-S quarters are worth slightly more than their counterparts from Philadelphia and New Orleans. For example, a piece graded Poor or Average is worth about $35, an XF quarter can fetch an impressive $425, while an AU58 will bring in up to $750.

Mint state examples: Examples in Mint State are mostly clustered between MS61 and MS63 with values ranging between $935 and $1850. Gem-quality specimen are hard to find but the few survivors often attract premium prices of up to $30,000 at grade MS67.

 Auction record: According to the PCGS, Heritage Auctions sold an 1892-S quarter graded MS67 for a remarkable $35,250 at a 2014 sale.

 

Rare 1892 Quarter Errors List

There are a few well-known minting errors in the 1892 quarters series, some of which can significantly increase your coin’s value.

Let’s take a look at the 1892 quarter errors:

1. 1892 Quarter Doubled Die Error

A doubled die error occurs when the die strikes the planchet multiple times at slightly different angles, resulting in visible doubling on the devices or inscriptions. On 1892 quarters, doubling is most visible on the word LIBERTY, particularly on the upper left and top portion. Doubled die errors are relatively common on 1892 quarters and, depending on the doubling intensity can be worth between $100 and $500.

2. 1892 Quarter Die Crack Error

Die crack errors are also common, especially on 1892-no mintmark and 1892-O quarters due to their relatively high mintage that could have worn out the die. Check out for die cracks, or raised lines, especially on the reverse where they appear next to the eagle’s wing and along the inner rim. 1892 quarters with a die crack error can fetch between $50 and $200 depending on the size and pattern of the cracks.

3. 1892 Quarter Re-Punched Date Error

Although not common, some 1892 quarters show a re-punched date error. As the name suggests, this is an error in which there is doubling on the date due to a misalignment between the die and planchet. Depending on the coin’s condition, a re-punched date error can be worth up to $500.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money

 

Where to Sell Your 1892 Quarter?

Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

FAQS

Where is the mintmark on 1892 barber quarters?

Only the 1892 barber quarters minted in New Orleans (O) and San Francisco (S) have a mint mark. The letter “O” and “S” will be positioned on the reverse below the eagle’s tail feathers.

How much is the 1892 quarter worth today?

The value of an 1892 quarter will mostly depend on the coin’s condition and mintmark/rarity. Generally, the value ranges from $12 to $50 for circulated examples but the rare, high-grade quarters in mint state can fetch anything from a few hundreds to thousands of dollars.

How can I tell if my 1892 Barber quarter is real?

There are several things you can do to check your coin’s authenticity. For example, look for random as opposed to uniform signs of wear, which is common in older coins. In addition, examine details such as Liberty’s hair and the eagle’s feathers, which should not have an odd texture or shape as this may be indicative of a fake 1892 quarter. Also, check for the mint mark positioning, which is unique for 1892-O and 1892-S quarters.