1893 Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “O”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Do you wonder what it would be like to own an 1893 Barber quarter, a coin that’s more than 100 years old? Or maybe you’ve come across one and are curious about the 1893 quarter value? Either way, we wrote this guide just for you!

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this historic coin, from its fascinating history to key features, and rare minting errors that can significantly increase its value. You will also get expert tips for grading and learn the market price of 1893 quarters.

If you are building your Barber collection, an 1893 quarter is a must-have. Knowing what to expect in terms of pricing will help you make more informed decisions as you build your set.

So, without further ado, let’s get started and find out: how much is an 1893 quarter worth?

1893 Quarter Value Chart
Mint Mark	Good	Fine	Extremely Fine	Uncirculated
1893-No Mint Mark Quarter Value	$20	$45	$115	$17,500
1893-O Quarter Value	$20	$65	$175	$17,250
1893-S Quarter Value	$40	$150	$275	$22,000
1893 Proof Quarter Value	–	–	–	$13,750

 

History of the 1893 Quarter

The 1893 quarter is part of the famous Barber coinage series, minted from 1892 to 1916. The series replaced the Seated Liberty design, which the Mint had used since the 1830s on early silver coins.

Many felt that the long-running Seated Liberty design was outdated and there were widespread demands for its replacement. In 1891, Congress authorized Mint Director Edward Leech to introduce new designs. The Treasury Department held a competition, inviting artists to send their proposal for the new coin designs. The competition was a flop—only a few artists participated since only the winner would receive a cash prize.

With no successful submission, Leech instructed the Mint’s Chief Engraver, Charles Barber, to present designs for the dime, quarter and half dollar.  Leech approved Barber’s design and sent it to President Benjamin Harrison, who gave it the final nod in November 1891. Production of the coins began in January 1892.

Although the Seated Liberty design had been widely criticized, the Barber series didn’t fare much better. These new coins received mixed reaction, with many numismatists voicing their disappointment. By 1904, there was an intense push for a redesign of U.S. coinage. In 1916, when Barber coins could be changed without Congressional approval, preparations for a new design got underway.

The 1893 Barber quarter is significant because it was only the second year of the series. The mintage was slightly lower than for the 1892 issue, and since the frenzy over Barber coins had died down, collectors didn’t save as many 1893 quarters as they did the 1892 issue. These quarters were struck at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco Mints.

Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money

 

Features of the 1893 Quarter

Whether you are grading or authenticating m 1893 quarter, familiarizing yourself with the coin’s key features is important. You’ll also be able to identify Barber coins worth a premium.

Here’s what to look for:

Obverse of the 1893 Quarter

The front of the 1893 Barber quarter features Liberty’s right-facing. She wears a Phrygian cap with a laurel wreath tied at the back. The motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” is inscribed above her head.

Liberty’s portrait is encircled by 13 stars—six on the left and seven on the right—representing the original 13 states. The date, 1893, appears at the bottom, just below the truncation of Liberty’s portrait.

Reverse of the 1893 Quarter

The back of the coin features a heraldic eagle with its wings stretched wide and a shield on its chest, symbolizing of national strength and unity.

The eagle holds a bunch of arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in the right, representing victory and peace respectively. In its beak, the eagle also clutches a flag bearing the Latin motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” which means “Out of many, one.”

Above the eagle’s head are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” followed by a constellation of 13 stars, symbolic of the original 13 states.

The coin’s denomination, “QUARTER DOLLAR,” is inscribed at the bottom. The mintmark, if present, appears just below the eagle’s tail feather.

Other Features of the 1893 Quarter

Additional features of the 1893 quarter include:

• Diameter: 24.30 millimeters
• Weight: 6.30 grams
• Edge: Reeded
• Metal composition: 90% copper, 10% silver
• Fineness: 0.9
• ASW: 0.1808oz

Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

 

1893 Quarter Grading

You don’t need to be an expert to estimate the grade of an 1893 quarter. When grading, pay attention to the coin’s condition, strike quality and wear patterns.

Here is a guide to help you estimate how much your coin is worth:

#	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

Good (G4-G6): This coin is heavily worn. The outlines around Liberty’s head, ear, and hair are smooth but slightly visible. On the reverse, the eagle’s feathers and the shield on the chest are smooth. The rim is almost invisible as it merges into the inscriptions.

Fine (F-12 -F-15): This coin shows wear, especially on high contact points but the details, such as Liberty’s hair, laurel and ear, are visible. The word “LIBERTY” is lightly visible and the outline along the eagle’s wings, tail feather, and shield are more visible than in lower grades.

Extremely Fine (X-40 – X-45): The coin shows only moderate wear on the high contact points such as Liberty’s hair and the wreath. But, most of the details are fully visible including the word “LIBERTY” and the eagle’s feathers.

Uncirculated (MS60-MS70): The coin has no wear and all the details on the obverse and reverse are sharp, although there might be slight signs of contact marks. The original mint luster is fully intact and the strike quality is appealing to the eye.

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?

 

1893 Quarter Value Guides

How much is an 1893 quarter worth today? That depends on the coin’s condition, mintage and rarity.

There are four varieties of the 1893 quarter, each with its own value. The four are:

• 1893 No-mintmark Quarter
• 1893-O Quarter
• 1893-S Quarter
• 1893- Proof Quarter

Let’s find out how much each is worth.

1893 No-Mintmark Quarter Value

In 1893, the Philadelphia Mint struck about 5,444,023 Barber quarters, one of the highest mintages in the entire series. Circulated examples are plentiful and affordable for most collectors but in About Uncirculated (AU 58), these coins begin fetching higher premiums. Mint State specimens become increasingly scarce, and grades M66 to MS67 are genuinely rare.

Here’s what to expect in terms of pricing:

• Circulated examples: At the lower end of the grade (Poor/Average) these coins can bring in as much as $15 while an Extremely Fine (XF) example may fetch up to $115. For an AU58, expect an average of $320.
• Uncirculated examples: In lower Mint States, expect between $360 and $800. Examples graded MS65 to MS67 are extremely rare and valued between $1975 and $22,500.
• Auction record: In 2013, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 for $22,325, making it one of the most expensive 1893 no-mintmark quarters.

1893-O Quarter Value

The New Orleans Mint recorded the second-highest mintage, producing about 3,396,000 quarters in 1893. These coins bear a mintmark “O” on the reverse, positioned between the R in QUARTER and D in DOLLAR. Many 1893-O quarters have a weak strike and a noticeable feature is the incomplete arrows in the eagle’s left talon.

Since excitement over the Barber coin had died down by this time, collectors did not preserve as many 1893-O quarters as they did in the previous year. As such, these coins are scarce in all grades, with gem-quality being particularly elusive.

Here’s a breakdown of the values:

• Circulated examples: These are worth between $10 in the lower grades (Poor/Average) and $390 in AU58.
• Uncirculated examples: In lower Mint State, values range between $450 and $1500. Higher-grade Mint States specimens are extremely rare and will sell from $2550 to $17,250.
• Auction record: In 2014, Heritage Auctions sold an MS68 for a record-breaking $25,500.

1893-S Quarter Value

The San Francisco mint produced only 1, 454, 535 Barber quarters in 1893, the lowest mintage of the year.

Collectors have discovered two varieties of the 1893-S quarter based on the mintmark position. On some of these quarters, the “S” mintmark appears in the space between the R in QUARTER and D in DOLLAR. In others, the S is placed just above the left corner of the D in DOLLAR.

Although this difference is interesting, neither of the two varieties is more desirable than the other.

Here’s what to expect:

• Circulated examples: Most survivors are well-worn, and Fine or better examples are scarce. Values range from $30 at the lower end of the grade to about $670 for an AU58.
• Uncirculated examples: Mint State examples are quite scarce, even in lower grades. Prices start from $725 for MS60 and can reach $22,000 for the extremely rare MS67 specimens.
• Auction record: In 2020, Heritage Auctions sold an M67 for a remarkable $28,800.

1893 Proof Quarter Value

The Philadelphia mint struck only 792 proof quarters in 1893. Being the first year of production, sales of 1892 proof quarters skyrocketed. However, interest fell drastically in 1893 after the novelty of these coins wore out, leading to lower sales.

Most 1893 proof quarters are well-struck and gem survivors are readily available. However, Cameo and Ultra/Deep Cameo specimens are extremely rare.

• Proof examples: A PR60 proof quarter will fetch as much as $415, while an MS67 can sell for up to $13,750.
• Auction record: In 2013, Stack’s Bowers sold a PR69 for a record-setting $29, 375.

 

Rare 1893 Quarter Errors List

The 1893 Barber quarter series has several high value minting errors worth adding to your collection. If you own one of these errors, it could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than a regular quarter.

Here’s what to watch for:

1. 1893 Quarter Re-Punched Date Error

The re-punched date error is common among quarters minted in Philadelphia, likely due to repurposing of the dies used in the previous year. At closer look you will notice the tail in “2” protrudes slightly under the 3 in “1893.”

A re-punched date error occurs when a die from a previous year (1892) is re-used to and overpunched with the new year.

The value of such an error depends on the strike quality—the more visible the re-punched date, the more valuable the error.  Values can range between $100 and $200.

2. 1893 Quarter Clipped Planchet Error

Another error that comes up in the series is the clipped planchet. As the name implies, a clipped planchet is one in which the coin appears bitten off.

A clipped planchet errors occurs during the planchet-making process when the overlaps a previously punched blank. A clipped planchet error can be straight, curved or jagged. In the case of the 1893 quarters, the jagged is the most common. Some of the details such as some stars on the clipped side may be missing or incomplete.

If you come across an 1893 quarter with a clipped planchet error, it might add up to $200- $250 more to the coin’s value.

3. 1893 Quarter Doubled Die Error  

A doubled die error occurs when the die strikes the planchet at different angles multiple times. This results in a visible doubling on the design elements and the inscriptions.

The value of a doubled die error depends on the intensity of doubling, with stronger doubling fetching more. Doubled die errors were common in early coinage, including the 1893 quarters due to the crude minting techniques that required the dies to strike the planchet severally to obtain a strong strike.

Depending on its intensity, a doubled die error can increase the value of your 1893 quarter by as much as $100-$150.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money

 

Where to Sell Your 1893 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

How much is an 1893 quarter worth today?

The value of an 1893 quarter depends on the coin’s grade. Lower grade examples can fetch between $10 and $500, while uncirculated specimen are worth $800 to $4,000 or more.

What makes an 1893 quarter dollar rare?

The 1893 quarter dollar is not necessarily rare.  However, examples in higher-grade Mint State are difficult to find. Those struck at the San Francisco Mint are also scarce due to the low mintage. So, if you come a quarter with full original mint luster or one with the “S” mintmark, you likely have a rare 1893 quarter.

How can I tell if my 1893 quarter is rare?

There are key features to look out for to verify that your 1893 quarter is genuine. First, check that the weight and diameter are the correct dimensions. The edge should have tiny grooves, also known, as reeds, as opposed to a smooth edge. Also, pay attention to the mintmark location, which should be on the reverser right below the eagle’s tail feathers.