1927 Quarter Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1927-S quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $258,500. That record belongs to a Grade 66 example sold at Heritage Auctions in August 2014. Upload a photo of yours below and you’ll get a quick value range based on your coin’s condition. Then scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what buyers are paying today.

 

1927 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s a quick breakdown of every 1927 Quarter type and grade. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Valuable Quarter Coins In Circulation Worth Money (With Pictures)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1927 Quarter Worth Money

The coin sitting at #1 is a 1927-S graded MS-66 that hammered for $258,500. Only 396,000 were originally struck in San Francisco. Finding one that survived in gem condition is like winning the lottery twice.

The 1927-S owns nearly every spot in the top 10. That’s not a surprise — it’s the undisputed key date of the Standing Liberty Quarter series. The jump from an MS-64 at $96,000 to that MS-66 at $258,500 shows you how a single grade point can more than double a coin’s price. One 1927-D also cracked the list — an MS-67 that brought $34,000, proving Denver coins in superb shape get serious respect too.

 

History of The 1927 Quarter

By 1927, the Standing Liberty Quarter was well into its stride. Hermon A. MacNeil’s design had debuted in 1916, got reworked in 1917 with chain mail covering Liberty’s chest (the Type 2 revision), and received a recessed date starting in 1925 after earlier issues kept coming back to the Mint with their dates worn completely smooth.

That recessed date fix is a big deal for collectors today. It means most 1927 quarters still show a readable date even after heavy circulation — something you can’t say about the 1916–1924 issues.

Here’s a fun detail: the series only had three years left. The economic crash of 1929 and the Depression that followed would kill off the Standing Liberty Quarter after 1930. So the 1927 sits near the tail end of one of America’s most artistically ambitious coin designs, struck right in the middle of the Roaring Twenties when nobody saw the collapse coming.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money List (1965-Present)

 

Is Your 1927 Quarter Rare?

Here’s what catches people off guard: the Philadelphia coin had a huge mintage of 11.9 million, yet the Full Head version of that same coin is genuinely scarce. Mint mark alone doesn’t tell the whole story — strike quality flips the rarity rankings. A common-date Philly quarter with a sharp Full Head can outrank a flat-struck 1927-D in collector demand. Check yours with the Coin Identifier and Value App to find out exactly where it stands in today’s collector market.

 

Key Features of The 1927 Quarter

Every detail on this coin was placed with purpose. Here’s what to look for when you’ve got one in hand.

The Obverse of the 1927 Quarter

Flip it to the front and you’ll see Liberty standing in a gateway, facing right. She’s holding a shield with the Stars and Stripes in her left hand and an olive branch in her right — defense and peace, side by side.

“LIBERTY” arcs across the top with 13 stars flanking both sides. All 1927 quarters carry the Type 2 design, so Liberty wears chain mail over her chest. That change came in 1917 after the original bare-chest version caused an uproar.

One beginner trap: MacNeil’s initial “M” sits near the lower right by the shield. People mistake it for a mint mark all the time.

The Reverse of the 1927 Quarter

Turn it over and you’ll find a bald eagle in full flight, wings spread wide, angled to the right. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” curves along the top, “QUARTER DOLLAR” runs along the bottom.

Three small stars sit beneath the eagle — added during the 1917 Type 2 redesign to balance the layout. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears between the wings. I think this is one of the best reverse designs in all of U.S. coinage — the eagle has real energy to it.

Other Features of the 1927 Quarter

The 1927 Quarter measures 24.3 mm in diameter and weighs 6.25 grams, with a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper — containing approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. The edge is reeded with uniform grooves, a standard anti-counterfeiting feature on silver coins of the era.

The recessed date (introduced in 1925) is a big plus for you as a collector. Most surviving 1927 quarters still show a clear, readable date no matter how worn they are. That’s a luxury you don’t get with the earlier Standing Liberty issues.

Also Read: Top 30 Most Valuable State Quarter Coins Worth Money List

 

1927 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out over 11.9 million quarters in 1927. Denver made 976,000. San Francisco? Just 396,000. That gap tells you almost everything you need to know about why the 1927-S commands the prices it does.

But here’s the number that really gets you: out of Philadelphia’s 11.9 million coins, only about 10,000 survive today. That’s a survival rate under 0.09%. Picture a stadium holding 11,900 people — only about 10 of them would still be standing. The branch mints fared slightly better percentage-wise (under 1% for Denver, about 2.1% for San Francisco), but their absolute survivor counts are in the same ballpark as Philly’s. Circulation chewed through these coins relentlessly.

Also Read: Top 30 Most Valuable State Quarter Coins Worth Money List

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1927 Quarter Value

Three mint marks, two major varieties (standard and Full Head), and wild price swings based on condition — the 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter is tricky to value correctly.

That small helmet area on Liberty’s head? It’s the single most important detail on the entire coin. Miss a Full Head designation and you could be leaving serious money on the table. Even experienced collectors get this wrong on raw coins.

The Coin Identifier and Value App gives you a reliable shortcut to professional-level coin analysis, right from your smartphone. Powered by up-to-date market data, it helps you pinpoint your coin’s mint mark, estimate its grade, and understand exactly where it stands in today’s collector market.

 

1927 Quarter Value Guides

A tiny letter above the date can mean the difference between a $25 coin and a six-figure auction lot. Each of the three 1927 mint varieties sits in a completely different tier of rarity and value.

Below you’ll find detailed breakdowns for each variety — what to look for, how condition moves the price, and what your coin is realistically worth today:

• 1927 No Mint Mark Quarter (Philadelphia Mint)
• 1927-D Quarter (Denver Mint)
• 1927-S Quarter (San Francisco Mint)

 

1927 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

If you’re cherrypicking for a Full Head Standing Liberty Quarter, the 1927 Philadelphia issue is your best bet in the entire series. The Philly mint consistently delivered strong strikes this year — sharp luster, clean details, and sometimes gorgeous natural toning.

That’s a big deal. Weak strikes plagued the Standing Liberty series for years, but the 1927 Philly coins largely avoided the problem. Full Head examples — where you can see three complete leaves on Liberty’s helmet, a visible hairline, and a clear ear indentation — actually show up with some regularity here. Try finding that on a Denver or San Francisco coin. Good luck.

The auction record for a standard strike is $3,995 for a MS67+ example sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2016. The Full Head version commands a much bigger premium at every grade. At the top, an MS67 Full Head brought $16,100 at a Bowers & Merena auction on November 9, 2006.

The auction record below shows how top-grade Philadelphia examples have performed in the market over the years.

The market activity data below tracks how actively this coin trades across all grade levels month by month.

 

1927-D Quarter Value

How much does condition really matter? On the 1927-D, a coin in Good grade runs about $22. Jump to MS67 and you’re looking at $34,000. That’s the kind of spread that makes this Denver issue one of the most grade-sensitive coins in the series.

Greysheet lists the 1927-D among the scarcer Standing Liberty issues, and we think it’s genuinely underappreciated. Circulated pieces trade between $22 in Good and $245 at AU — totally affordable. But once you cross into Mint State, the landscape shifts fast. MS65 and MS66 are scarce. Anything finer is a true rarity.

The standard MS auction record is $34,000 for an NGC MS67 example sold at Heritage Auctions in July 2005. Full Head examples from Denver are exceptionally tough. The dies just didn’t cooperate at that mint, so any 1927-D with sharp helmet detail deserves a close look.

The realized prices below reflect what collectors have actually paid for the 1927-D at auction — across every grade level.

Monthly auction appearances offer a reliable indicator of collector demand, and the data below captures exactly that for the 1927-D.

 

1927-S Quarter Value

Only 396,000 minted. That number alone puts the 1927-S in a league most Standing Liberty Quarters can’t touch. If you’re building a complete set, this is the coin that keeps you up at night — and empties your wallet.

Prices start steep and climb fast. A lower-end Mint State example trades in the $5,000–$7,000 range. That’s the floor. The real action is in Full Head specimens, and this is where the numbers get wild.

PCGS estimates only 50 examples of the 1927-S carry the Full Head designation, with just eight grading MS65 or better. Every time one of those crosses the auction block, it’s an event. An MS65FH carries an estimated value of around $240,000. The all-time record? A MS66FH that brought $258,500 at Heritage Auctions in August 2014. Registry set collectors and top-pop chasers drive this market hard.

The auction results below document how this key-date coin has been priced by the market over time, grade by grade.

The chart shown below gives a clear picture of just how actively the 1927-S moves through the collector market.

Also Read: 22 Rare Quarter Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1927 Quarter Error List

Error coins from 1927 can turn a ho-hum quarter into a real find. Here’s what to watch for.

1. 1927 Quarter Weak Strike Error

This is the most common production flaw you’ll run into across all three 1927 varieties. Not enough die pressure meant Liberty’s helmet, face, and the eagle’s breast feathers came out soft and mushy — even on coins that never saw a cash register.

The 1927-D is the worst offender. Most Denver coins look like they were struck through a pillow. A sharply detailed 1927-D is genuinely exceptional and commands a premium based on visual sharpness alone — separate from the actual grade on the slab.

A typical weakly struck 1927-D in circulated grades trades between $22 and $107. Find one with a crisp strike in the same grade and you’ll see noticeably higher prices.

2. 1927 Quarter Clashed Die Error

Ever wonder why some 1927-S quarters show weird lines across the surface? Clashed dies. The obverse and reverse dies smacked into each other with no planchet in between, leaving ghost impressions of the opposite design on each die.

Heritage Auctions documented that many surviving Full Head 1927-S examples were struck from severely clashed dies. The Mint tried grinding the clash marks off, but that left visible striations that transferred right onto the coins.

So on the 1927-S, clashed dies aren’t random accidents — they’re part of the coin’s production DNA. A well-documented example typically adds a 15–25% premium over a standard coin of the same grade. Pieces showing both clash marks and Full Head detail attract the strongest demand.

3. 1927 Quarter Off-Center Strike Error

You’ll spot these immediately: a blank crescent of unstruck metal along one edge where the planchet sat crooked in the collar. On 1927 Standing Liberty Quarters, they’re scarce and popular with error collectors.

Two things drive the value: how far off-center the strike landed, and whether the date is still readable. A 10–15% off-center example with a clear date in Fine condition can bring $200–$500.

More dramatic shifts — 30–50% off-center with a visible date and mint mark — can hit $800 to over $1,500. An off-center 1927-S is the holy grail of the three varieties. If you find one, get it to PCGS or NGC for authentication before you do anything else.

 

Where to Sell Your 1927 Quarter?

Selling a 1927 Quarter the right way starts with knowing exactly what you have. A coin worth $25 in a flea market bin could be worth hundreds — or even thousands — in the right collector’s hands, so choosing the right venue makes all the difference.

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

 

1927 Quarter Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About The 1927 Quarter

1. Where is the mint mark on a 1927 Quarter?

Look on the obverse (front), just above the date and to the left of Liberty’s foot. “D” means Denver, “S” means San Francisco, and no letter means Philadelphia.

2. Is a 1927 Quarter made of silver?

Yes — 90% silver and 10% copper, with approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. Even a beat-up example has melt value.

3. What is the Full Head (FH) designation, and why does it matter?

Full Head means Liberty’s helmet shows complete, sharp detail — a visible hairline at the forehead, three distinct leaves, and a clear ear indentation. Because the Standing Liberty design was struck in high relief, most coins came out with mushy helmet detail even when brand new. A Full Head example can be worth three to ten times more than a standard coin of the same date and grade.

4. Which 1927 Quarter is the most valuable?

The 1927-S, and it’s not close. Only 396,000 were minted. A Full Head example in top Mint State condition sold for $258,500 at auction — one of the most prized coins in the entire Standing Liberty series.

5. How much is a 1927 Quarter with no mint mark worth?

Circulated examples run about $15–$83 depending on wear. Mint State coins can reach $990 or more. Full Head specimens in top certified grades go for significantly higher.

6. How do I know if my 1927 Quarter has been cleaned?

Look for an unnaturally bright, shiny surface with fine parallel scratches (hairlines) visible under a loupe. Original coins have natural luster and often show subtle toning built up over decades. Cleaning destroys collector value, so never polish or wash a 1927 Quarter before having it assessed.

7. What errors exist on the 1927 Quarter?

The most common and valuable error is the weak or flat strike — especially on the 1927-S, where poor die pressure left most survivors with incomplete detail. Die cracks and minor doubling varieties have also been documented. If your coin shows anything unusual, examine it under magnification and consider submitting to PCGS or NGC.

8. Should I get my 1927 Quarter professionally graded?

For any 1927-D or 1927-S, absolutely. A slabbed coin carries more buyer confidence, commands higher prices, and protects you from counterfeits — which are known to exist for the 1927-S especially. Even a Philadelphia coin with Full Head detail in higher grades is worth the certification cost.

9. What is the difference between the 1927-D and 1927-S Quarter?

The 1927-D (Denver, 976,000 mintage) is a semi-key date — noticeably scarcer than Philadelphia but still obtainable. The 1927-S (San Francisco, 396,000 mintage) is rarer still and ranks as one of the biggest condition rarities in 20th-century U.S. coinage. In higher grades, the price gap between the two is enormous — a Mint State 1927-S can be worth many times more than a comparable 1927-D.

10. What is the best way to find out what my 1927 Quarter is worth today?

Start by identifying the mint mark and checking Liberty’s helmet area for Full Head detail — those two factors have the biggest impact on value. Then compare your coin’s condition to standard grading images to get a ballpark grade range.