1894 Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “O”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Are you curious about the 1894 Barber quarter value? Whether you are building your Barber coinage collection or simply want to learn more about this classic coin, you’ve come to the right place!

While the 1894 quarter is not considered a key date, it is a critical piece for anyone looking to complete a Barber set by date. In this guide, you will learn about this coin’s history, its stand-out features, and tips for grading. You will also discover minting errors that can increase the value a standard silver Barber quarter.

So, let’s now find out: How much is an 1894 quarter worth today?

1894 Quarter Value Chart
Mint Mark	Good	Fine	Extremely Fine	Uncirculated
1894-No Mint Mark Quarter Value	$25	$55	$175	$6, 750
1894-O Quarter Value	$25	$100	$250	$13,00
1894-S Quarter Value	$25	$85	$225	$17,500
1894- Proof Quarter Value	0	–	–	$15,000

 

 

History of the 1894 Quarter

The 1894 quarter is part of the Barber coinage series, which include the quarter, dime, and half dollar minted by the United States Mint from 1892 to 1916. The design is named after its creator, U.S. Mint Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber.

The Barber design replaced the Seated Liberty design, which has been featured on silver coins since the 1830s. By the late 1880s, the old design had faced mounted dissatisfaction, with the public and officials calling for its replacement.

In response and following approval from Congress, Mint Director Edward Leech organized a competition for the new coin designs. But, because only the winner would receive a cash reward, the invited elite artists did not participate, resulting in a failed competition.

With no other alternatives, Leech immediately turned to Barber to design the new silver coins, including the half dollar, quarter, and quarter. Only after many arguments, revisions and adjustments did Barber and Leech agree on the final coin designs for all denominations.

Production of Barber quarters began in January 1892 and continued to 1916. The 1894 quarters were minted at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco Mints. With all three mints recording relatively high mintages, the 1894 quarter is not necessarily considered a key date. However, the 1894-S quarter is relatively rare and Mint State 1894-S examples can command premium prices and, making them a  valuable addition to any Barber coinage collection.

Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money

 

Features of the 1894 Quarter

Let’s now look at the distinctive features of the 1894 Barber quarter. Understanding these features will help with grading, identifying minting errors, and spotting Barber quarters worth money.

Obverse of the 1894 Quarter

The obverse features a right-facing Liberty wearing a Phrygian hat, decorated with a laurel headband with the words LIBERTY etched in it.

The motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” is arched above Liberty’s head while the date, 1894, appears at the bottom. Six stars are displayed on the left and seven on the right, representing the initial thirteen states to join the Union.

Reverse of the 1894 Quarter

The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with wings spread and a shield on its chest, symbolic of the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The eagle holds olive branches in its left talon representing peace and a bunch of arrows in its right talon, symbolic of the country’s readiness to defend itself. There’s a flag in the eagle’s beak with the Latin inscriptions, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” meaning “Out of many, One.”

A constellation of thirteen stars appears over the eagle’s head, also representing the thirteen states. The words, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” are arched at the top while the coin’s denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, is spelt in an arch at the bottom.

Other Features of the 1894 Quarter

Additional features of the 1894 quarter worth noting are:

• Diameter: 24.30 millimeters
• Weight: 6.30 grams
• Edge: Reeded
• Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
• ASW: 0.1808oz
• Fineness: 0.9

Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money

 

1894 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

You don’t need to be an expert to grade an 1894 quarter. But there are some guidelines to follow. Pay attention to the coin’s strike quality, luster, and wear on high contact points.

Here are some Barber quarter grading tips to keep in mind:

Good (G4-G6)

The coin shows heavy wear even though most of the major design elements are still visible. The inscription LIBERTY on the headband is smooth and not easily readable. The stars, date and inscriptions are also faint. The eagle’s wings and lines on the shield are smooth, showing very little detail.

Fine (F12-F15)

The coin displays moderate wear but the design details are more visible than in lower grades.  Liberty’s hair around the forehead shows more detail and while the inscription “LIBERTY” is weak, it is readable. The stars, date, and inscriptions are weak but visible as well. On the reverse, there’s more detail to the shield and the eagle’s wings.

Extremely Fine (XF40-X45)

 The design details are sharper than in lower grades. The inscription LIBERTY is more visible and easily readable. The same sharpness and visibility apply to the stars, date, inscriptions. On the reverse, the eagle’s fathers, talons and shield show crisp details as well. Protected areas will have some mint luster.

Uncirculated (MS60-MS70)

The coin shows no sign of wear. Liberty’s portrait shows full, crisp details, including the inscription, “LIBERTY.” On the reverse, the eagle’s wings and talons show sharp detail. The surface is brilliant, with full mint luster, and strong eye appeal.

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?

 

1894 Quarter Value Guides

So, how much is a 1894 quarter worth? The value depends on the coin’s condition, mintage, mintmark, and rarity. There are four varieties of the 1894 Barber quarter, each with its own value:

• 1894 No-mint mark Quarter
• 1894-O Quarter
• 1894-S Quarter
• 1894 Proof Quarter

Let’s look at how much each is worth.

1894 No Mint mark Quarter Value

The Philadelphia Mint struck about 3,432,000 quarters in 1894, none of which bore a mintmark, either on the obverse or reverse. This was a fairly high mintage considering the economic recession of 1893-97. Circulated examples are plentiful and easy to add to any collection, Mint State examples are only fairly scarce, while gems are notably rare.

Here’s a breakdown of the values:

• Circulated Examples: These are common and although they are worth more than face value, they are relatively affordable. Examples graded Good (G) will fetch as much as $25 while a Fine (F) one will sell for up to $55. At Extremely Fine (XF), expect up to $175 while an About Uncirculated (AU58) will command prices of up to $300.
• Mint State Examples: These are fairly scarce and will fetch premium prices even in lower grades. For example, an MS60 will sell for as much as $420 while an MS63 is worth up to $550. Prices shoot up at MS64 where an example can sell for as much as $1,000 while the rare M67 will bring in up to $6,750.
• Auction Record: In 2019, Legend Rare Coin Auctions sold an MS66+ for a record-breaking $7,050.

1894-O Quarter Value

The New Orleans Mint had the second-highest mintage, producing 2,852,000 quarters in 1894. There are two varieties of these coins: the first have the mintmark “O” centered between R and D on QUARTER DOLLARS on the reverse while in the second variety, the mintmark is positioned more toward the right.

Circulated examples are plentiful but relatively scarce in higher grades. Mint State examples are quite a few relative to the overall mintage while gems are rare. There’s no significant difference in value between the centered and far-right varieties.

Here’s what to expect regarding the 1894-O quarter value:

• Circulated Examples: These are relatively common and affordable for any collector. Examples graded Good (G) will fetch as much as $25 while a Fine (F) one is worth about $100. An Extremely Fine (XF) quarter will sell for up to $250 while an About Uncirculated (AU58) will command prices of up to $535.
• Mint State Examples: These are quite scarce and lower grade examples often fetch high premiums. For example, an MS60 is worth as much as $590 while an MS63 will sell for up to $1100. At MS65, expect examples to bring in as much as $3,000 while MS67 gems will fetch up to $13,000 or more.
• Auction Record: In 2007, Heritage Auctions sold an MS67 for a record-shattering $14,950, making this the most valuable 1894-O quarter to date.

1894-S Quarter Value

The 1894-S quarter is a semi-key date given its relatively low mintage of 2,648,821. That said, circulated examples are plentiful, only becoming rare from grade Very Fine to About Uncirculated. Mint State examples are also relatively abundant although gem-quality specimens are genuinely rare.

Like their New Orleans counterparts, the quarters struck in San Franciso also have a centered and far-right mintmark positioning but there’s no difference in value between the two varieties.

Here are the expected values:

• Circulated Examples: These are common but worth more than face value. Examples graded Good will sell for as much as $25, one graded Extremely Fine (XF) will fetch up to $225, while an About Uncirculated (AU58) will sell for $470.
• Uncirculated Examples: These are more plentiful than expected but will fetch premium prices across the grade. At MS60, expect an example to fetch as much as $520 while an MS62 will sell for up to $650. At MS64, examples will bring in up to $1,525 and as much as $6,750 – $17,500 for gem specimens graded MS66- MS67.
• Auction Record: In 2022, Legend Rare Coin Auctions sold an MS67 for a remarkable $20, 563.

1894 Proof Quarter Value

In addition to the regular strike coins, the Philadelphia Mint produced 972 proof quarters in 1894. Regular proof examples are plentiful and so are Cameo strikes. Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo examples are, however, extremely rare.

• Proofs: These can fetch up to $415 at grade MS60 all the way to $13,850 for specimens graded MS68.
• Cameo: With a lower population, these examples will command higher prices. Specimens graded MS62 will sell for as much $700, $1500 for an MS64, and as much as $57,500 for gem-quality cameo proofs graded MS69.
• Deep Cameo: Few known examples exist beyond grade MS65 where prices range between $3,000 and $5,000.

 

 

 

Rare 1894 Quarter Errors List

There aren’t many minting errors in the 1894 Barber quarter series. But the few notable ones can command premium prices and are a worthwhile addition to your collection.

Here’s what to watch for:

1. 1894 Quarter Off-Center Strike Error

Some 1894 quarters, especially the no-mintmark variety, show an off-center error. This error occurs when the die strikes the planchet further away from the center and more toward the edge, due to a misalignment during the minting process. Sometimes, the misalignment can result in some of the design details missing.

Off-center strike errors are eye-catching and more valuable when the misalignment is particularly dramatic. For example, a 30% off-center strike error will usually be more valuable than a 5% off-center strike.

Depending on the coin’s condition, an off-center strike error can increase the value of your 1894 quarter by $50-$100.

2. 1894 Quarter Die Crack Error

Die cracks also regularly appear on 1894 quarters due to the series’ relatively high mintage. A die crack error occurs when cracks form on the coin’s surface, leaving gaps that are eventually filled with small metal pieces.

As the die continues to be put to use, the metal-filled cracks will leave their impression, appearing like raised lines on the coin’s surface.

Larger, dramatic die crack errors are generally more appealing and valuable. Such an error can add as much as $50-$200 depending on its eye-appeal.

3. 1894 Quarter Lamination Error

There are different types of lamination errors but these occur due to improper mixing of the alloy during the planchet-making process. Lamination errors result in the coin’s upper layer peeling or cracking, exposing the inner copper core.

Lamination errors can fetch between $20-$50 depending on the extent of delamination, with extensive peeling patterns attracting more interest.

Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money

 

Where to Sell Your 1894 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

Is the 1894 Barber quarter rare?

No, 1894 quarters are not rare—all three mints recorded relatively high mintage numbers. That said, finding Mint State examples today can be difficult as most are already in collectors’ hands. Circulated examples are also quite worn and finding a gradable one can also be challenging.

How much is an 1894 quarter worth?

The value of your 1894 Barber quarter depends mostly on its condition although the mintmark also plays a role in determining the coin’s value. Expect anything from $25 for a lower-grade circulated example to as much as $13,000 for high-grade Mint State specimens.

Is an 1894 quarter real silver?

The 1894 Barber quarter is made from 90% silver and 10% copper. To authentic your coin, perform the magnet test—a silver coin should not stick. But, you should also look at other factors such as the weight, diameter, edge and inscriptions to ensure that your coin is genuine.