1930 Quarter Value Checker: Errors List, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1930-S quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $22,500. That record was set by a Grade 67 example sold through David Lawrence Rare Coins in June 2018. 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 the market looks like today.

 

1930 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s a quick breakdown of what your 1930 Quarter is worth by condition and mint mark. If you already know the grade, jump down 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 1930 Quarter Worth Money

The king of the hill is a 1930-S graded MS67+FH that brought $22,500. That’s a coin where everything had to go right — perfect strike, pristine surfaces, and Full Head detail on a date that almost never comes fully struck. It sat in a collection for years before surfacing, and when it did, bidders didn’t hold back.

FH coins own the top of this list. A 1930-S MS68FH hit $17,250, and a 1930 (no mint mark) MS67+FH reached $15,600. Even without the FH tag, a 1930-S MS68 still pulled $12,650. Drop to MS66 territory and you’re looking at $1,500 to $4,560 depending on mint mark and strike. The pattern is clear: Full Head plus high grade equals serious money.

 

History of the 1930 Quarter

By 1930, the Standing Liberty quarter had been in production for fourteen years. Hermon A. MacNeil’s design — Liberty striding forward with shield and olive branch — had already gone through two major revisions. The 1917 update added chain mail after public complaints, and the 1925 change recessed the date to stop it from wearing flat. That recessed-date version is what you’ll find on every 1930 quarter.

Here’s the fun detail: 1930 turned out to be the last year anyone struck Standing Liberty quarters, and nobody planned it that way. The Great Depression crushed demand for new coinage. No quarters at all were minted in 1931. Then in 1932, the Washington quarter showed up to mark George Washington’s 200th birthday, and MacNeil’s design was done for good. So your 1930 quarter is the accidental finale of one of America’s most beautiful coin series.

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

 

Is Your 1930 Quarter Rare?

Here’s what trips people up: the 1930-S had a smaller mintage, but the Philadelphia coin actually has a lower survival rate — just 0.2663% versus 0.6427% for the S-mint. So which one is “rarer”? Depends on whether you’re counting how many were made or how many are left. The FH versions of both are a completely different kind of rare, since the vast majority of 1930 quarters came off the press with mushy head detail.

Check your exact rarity score and ranking in the Standing Liberty Quarter series with our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

Key Features of the 1930 Quarter

The 1930 quarter uses the final version of MacNeil’s Standing Liberty design — the one with the recessed date that debuted in 1925. That sunken date area is the first thing to check. If the date sits down inside a raised platform, you’ve got the right type.

The Obverse of the 1930 Quarter

Liberty stands facing you, mid-stride, holding an olive branch in her right hand and a shield in her left. “LIBERTY” arcs across the top, with “IN GOD WE TRUST” split on either side. The date sits recessed at the bottom.

Look just to the left of the date, slightly above it. If you see a small “S,” that’s your San Francisco coin. No letter there? Philadelphia. You’ll also spot MacNeil’s initial “M” to the right of Liberty’s foot.

The Reverse of the 1930 Quarter

Flip it over and you’ll see an eagle in full flight, wings spread wide. Three stars sit below the eagle, five on each side. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” run across the top, with “QUARTER DOLLAR” at the bottom.

Other Features of the 1930 Quarter

The 1930 quarter measures 24.3mm in diameter, weighs 6.3 grams, and is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, with a reeded edge. No proof versions were struck for this series, making every surviving example a business strike coin.

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

 

1930 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 5,632,000 quarters in 1930. San Francisco made just 1,556,000. That’s roughly 3.6 to 1 — a huge gap in original production.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Only about 15,000 Philadelphia coins survived, a rate of 0.2663%. The 1930-S has around 10,000 survivors at a 0.6427% rate. So proportionally, more S-mint coins made it through. To put 15,000 survivors in perspective, that’s fewer coins than seats in most minor league baseball stadiums.

Both issues are genuinely scarce. I think the takeaway for collectors is simple: don’t assume the lower-mintage coin is always harder to find.

Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable Bicentennial Quarter Worth Money List

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1930 Quarter Value

You need three things: mint mark, grade, and Full Head status. Check the obverse just left of the date — a small “S” means San Francisco, no letter means Philadelphia.

Grade matters most for value. But the Full Head designation is the real multiplier. A sharp FH coin can bring double or triple what a mushy-strike example fetches in the same grade. Look above the yoke on Liberty’s helmet for three distinct leaves, a clear hairline, and a visible ear indent.

Use our Coin Identifier and Value App to check your coin’s grade directly and see what it’s worth.

 

1930 Quarter Value Guides

Two mints, two different collecting experiences. Here’s what you’re working with:

• 1930 No Mint Mark Quarter — the Philadelphia issue, more commonly encountered but still scarce in high grades.
• 1930-S Quarter — the San Francisco issue, harder to find in well-preserved condition and consistently stronger in value.

For both, condition and strike quality drive the price.

 

1930 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

Most collectors can actually find this one in Mint State without too much trouble — at least compared to other Standing Liberty dates. A decent number of uncirculated examples survived. Don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re all the same, though.

The gap between a regular MS65 and an MS65 with Full Head detail is enormous. FH coins command a clear premium at every grade level. Sharp luster, clean surfaces, and that crisp helmet detail are what separate a nice coin from a registry-quality piece.

The auction record sits at $15,600 for an MS67+FH example, sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2021. That’s serious money for a Philadelphia quarter, and it shows you what top-pop FH coins can do.

See the full auction record chart below for a closer look at how prices have moved across different grades.

Take a look at the market activity data below to get a sense of where collector demand currently stands for this issue.

 

1930-S Quarter Value

Did you know fewer than 1% of original 1930-S quarters qualify as Full Head? That makes this a true strike rarity. You can have a gorgeous, lustrous MS66 coin that still falls short on the head detail. Finding one that checks every box is genuinely tough.

When a sharp FH example does show up at auction, it draws heavy bidding. The record — $22,500 for an MS67+FH — tells you everything about demand versus supply on this date.

Even circulated, raw examples without FH hold decent value. So few coins from this mintage survived in any condition that the market respects them across the board. We think the 1930-S is one of the most underappreciated coins in the whole Standing Liberty series.

The auction record chart below traces how realized prices have shifted across different grades over the years.

The market activity chart below reflects how much collector attention this issue attracts month to month.

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

 

Rare 1930 Quarter Error List

A handful of 1930 quarters left the mint with mistakes baked right in. If you know what to look for, cherrypicking one of these from a dealer’s junk box is entirely possible.

1. 1930 Quarter Clashed Die

This happens when the obverse and reverse dies slam together with no planchet between them. Each die picks up a ghostly impression of the other side’s design.

On a 1930 quarter, look for faint traces of the eagle or bits of “E PLURIBUS UNUM” showing up on Liberty’s side. The classic pickup point is a backward “E” to the left of Liberty’s knee. Grab a loupe and use angled lighting — these can be subtle.

Value depends on how dramatic the clash marks are. Circulated examples typically sell for $35 to $75. Uncirculated pieces in MS-63 to MS-65 can reach $150 to $300.

2. 1930-S RPM FS-501

This is a cherrypicker’s favorite. The “S” mint mark was punched into the die more than once at slightly different angles, leaving a doubled or offset “S.” You’ll need magnification, but once you spot it, it’s unmistakable.

It’s formally catalogued and recognized by the major grading services, so slabbed examples carry extra credibility. The sharper the repunch, the higher the premium. If you find one that also qualifies as Full Head, you’ve really hit the jackpot.

3. 1930 Quarter Strike Through

A strike through happens when something — a wire, thread, metal shaving — gets trapped between the die and the planchet during striking. The result is a recessed groove or impression where the design should be fully struck up.

Location matters a lot here. A strike through running across Liberty’s body draws more attention than one hiding near the rim. These are genuinely scarce on 1930 quarters since quality control was fairly tight at both mints that year.

 

Where to Sell Your 1930 Quarter?

Getting a fair price for your 1930 quarter starts with knowing where to sell it. We’ve put together a full breakdown of the most trusted platforms for selling coins online, complete with their introductions, pros, and cons, so you can make the best decision for your coin.

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

 

1930 Quarter Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about the 1930 Quarter

1. How much is a 1930 Quarter worth?

Circulated examples typically bring $15–$111. A well-struck Full Head coin in Mint State can break $1,000 easily. The top auction price is $22,500 for a 1930-S MS67+FH.

2. What mint marks exist on the 1930 Quarter?

Just two: Philadelphia (no mint mark) and San Francisco (“S”). Look on the obverse, just left of and slightly above the date. There’s no Denver issue for 1930.

3. What does “Full Head” mean on a 1930 Quarter?

Full Head (FH) means Liberty’s helmet shows three complete leaves, a clear hairline, and a visible ear indentation. It’s the single most important detail on any 1930 quarter. FH coins routinely bring double or triple the value of a non-FH example in the same grade.

4. Is the 1930 Quarter made of silver?

Yes — 90% silver, 10% copper, containing 0.1808 troy ounces of silver. Even beat-up examples carry a melt value floor.

5. Which 1930 Quarter is rare, Philadelphia or San Francisco?

The 1930-S had a smaller mintage, but Philadelphia has a lower survival rate of just 0.2663% compared to 0.6427% for the S-mint. Both are genuinely scarce. Mintage alone doesn’t tell the full story.

6. Were any proof 1930 Quarters made?

No. The Standing Liberty quarter is the only 20th-century regular issue U.S. coin with zero proof production. Every surviving 1930 quarter is a business strike.

7. What errors should I look for on a 1930 Quarter?

Three to watch for: Clashed Die (ghostly opposite-side impressions), the 1930-S RPM FS-501 (doubled mint mark), and Strike Through errors (recessed channels from foreign material). All can add meaningful value depending on how dramatic they are.

8. Why did the 1930 Quarter series end after this year?

The Great Depression killed demand for new coinage. No quarters were struck in 1931. By 1932, the Washington Quarter replaced the Standing Liberty design to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth.

9. Is a 1930 Quarter a good coin for beginner collectors?

Absolutely. Circulated examples are affordable, and you’re holding the final year of one of America’s most iconic coin designs. As you move up in grade and strike quality, the collecting gets deeper and more rewarding.

10. How do I find the 1930 Quarter value of my specific coin?

Nail down three things: mint mark, overall condition, and Full Head status. Compare your coin against grading images, then check the price charts above for your specific grade and mint mark combo. For high-value pieces, professional authentication from PCGS or NGC is worth the cost.