1945 Quarter Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1945 quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $20,400. That record was a Grade 68 example sold through Stack’s Bowers in March 2021. To find out what yours is worth, upload a photo of your coin below for a quick value range. You can also scroll down to see recent eBay sales and what collectors are paying today.

 

1945 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s what 1945 quarters are selling for right now, from worn pocket change to top-shelf gems worth over $1,600. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump down to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Quarter Worth Money (1932 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1945 Quarter Value Results

The coin sitting at the top of this list is a 1945-D graded MS-68 that brought $20,400 at Stack’s Bowers on March 31, 2021. Only a handful of 1945 quarters from any mint have reached that grade, and when one crosses the auction block, bidding gets aggressive fast. The Philadelphia no-mint-mark follows at $16,450 (Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015), and the San Francisco variety hit $13,200 at Stack’s Bowers in November 2023.

Look at the gap between MS-67 and MS-68 prices. It’s enormous — often tens of thousands of dollars for a single grade point. That’s what happens when you’re talking about maybe three or four coins in existence at that level. Error coins show up on this list too, with Doubled Die Obverse examples pulling $500 to $870 depending on grade and variety.

 

1945 Quarter Value: History Of A Wartime Silver Coin

Silver quarters ran from 1796 all the way to 1964, when rising silver prices forced the switch to copper-nickel clad. Every 1945 quarter is 90% silver, 10% copper — the same mix used for Washington quarters from 1932 through the end of the silver era.

The Washington quarter debuted in 1932 for George Washington’s 200th birthday. No quarters were struck in 1930 or 1933, but by 1934 production was rolling steadily.

Here’s the detail that matters for your 1945: wartime die maintenance was rough at all three mints. Dies ran way past their prime and got overpolished. The result? Mushy strikes, especially on Washington’s hair curls and the eagle’s breast feathers. A truly sharp 1945 quarter is harder to find than the big mintage numbers suggest. PCGS CoinFacts notes that the 1945 Philadelphia issue “is a little bit tougher to find in Gem MS-65 condition and a lot tougher to find in Superb Gem MS-66 condition than other Philadelphia-mint quarters of the era.” Wartime quality control is the reason.

Also Read: Top 30 Most Valuable State Quarter Worth Money (1999 – 2008)

 

Is Your 1945 Quarter Value Higher Than Average? Rarity Chart

For anyone building a collection, our Coin Identifier and Value App can instantly show you scarcity ratings and current market values for any Washington quarter date.

 

1945 Quarter Value: Key Design Features To Know

The Washington quarter replaced the Standing Liberty design in 1932. Every 1945 quarter is 90% silver, so even beat-up examples carry real metal value above face.

The Obverse Of The 1945 Quarter

George Washington faces left on the obverse, replacing the Standing Liberty quarter that was notoriously hard to strike up fully. Sculptor John Flanagan based the portrait on his own existing sculpture, right down to Washington’s ponytail tied with a bow. Fun fact — Washington himself reportedly hated the British tradition of putting rulers on coins.

Look for these inscriptions:

• IN GOD WE TRUST – Struck in two lines to the left of Washington’s throat.
• LIBERTY – Required on all US metal coinage since the Coinage Act of 1792.
• 1945 – The minting date, placed along the bottom coin rim.
• JF – Flanagan’s initials, incorporated into the neck truncation.

The Reverse Of The 1945 Quarter

Flip it over and you’ll see a bald eagle with spread wings perched on a bundle of arrows — strength and defense. Two olive branches with tied ends frame the eagle, symbolizing peace.

The reverse inscriptions include:

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – The country of issue, as required on all US coinage.
• E PLURIBUS UNUM – Latin for “Out of many, one,” symbolizing the union of states.
• QUARTER DOLLAR – The denomination, struck along the coin’s bottom rim.
• The S or D mint mark – Denver and San Francisco quarters carry a small “D” or “S” beneath the olive branches. Philadelphia quarters from 1945 carry no mint mark.

Other Features Of The 1945 Washington Quarter

Like all quarters minted from 1932 to 1964, those from 1945 were made of 90% silver (5.623 g / 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver) with the remaining 10% copper. The total weight is 6.25 g (0.2009 troy ounces), with a thickness of 1.75 mm and a diameter of 24.3 mm. At current silver prices, the silver melt value of any 1945 quarter — the minimum floor value based on metal content alone — is approximately $16.95, making even heavily worn examples worth more than face value.

Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable 1776-1976 Bicentennial Quarter

 

1945 Quarter Value: Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 74,372,000 quarters in 1945. Denver made just 12,341,600, and San Francisco struck 17,004,001. That means Denver produced roughly one coin for every six from Philly.

All three mints show nearly identical survival rates around 9.99–10%. About 1 in 10 original coins still exists. That uniform rate tells you wartime and postwar spending habits chewed through these coins at the same pace no matter where they were minted.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Washington Quarter Worth Money (1932 – 1998)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1945 Quarter Value

Check the reverse below the olive branches. A “D” means Denver, an “S” means San Francisco, and no letter means Philadelphia. That’s your first step.

Next, look at the wear. Washington’s cheekbone and hair details go first, along with the eagle’s breast feathers. Those are your high points. Most 1945 quarters you’ll find in the wild grade Good to Fine (G-4 through F-12), showing heavy wear but all major design elements intact. Those trade near silver melt — around $16.95. Once you get into About Uncirculated and Mint State territory, premiums kick in based on remaining luster and sharpness.

For quick grade estimates on the go, you can use our Coin Identifier and Value App to get instant grading guidance and current market values.

 

 

1945 Quarter Value Guides

Three varieties exist for 1945, one from each active mint:

• 1945 No Mint Mark Quarter – Produced at the Philadelphia Mint with 74,372,000 coins struck
• 1945-D Quarter – Minted in Denver with “D” mint mark, with a mintage of 12,341,600 pieces
• 1945-S Quarter – Struck at the San Francisco Mint with “S” mint mark, totaling 17,004,001 coins

Same John Flanagan design on all three, but mint marks, production totals, and strike quality create real differences for collectors.

PCGS CoinFacts expert David Hall notes that the 1945-S is the easiest of the three 1945 quarters to find in Gem condition, while the Philadelphia issue is significantly harder to locate in Superb Gem (MS-66) despite its far larger mintage. Blame wartime die quality at Philly. For any 1945 quarter, serious premiums start at MS-67 and jump hard at MS-68.

 

1945 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

Think 74,372,000 coins means “common”? Not so fast. The 1945 Philly issue is actually the fifth lowest mintage among all Philadelphia Washington quarters from 1932 to 1964, trailing only the 1932, 1938, 1949, and 1958 issues. That’s a detail most collectors overlook.

Finding one in Superb Gem condition is a real challenge. PCGS has slabbed only 3 coins at the MS-68 level. The auction record sits at $16,450 set at Heritage Auctions on January 7, 2015. Below MS-67, you can still pick these up affordably, but at the top-pop level, competition is fierce.

Recent auction results reveal the premium that top-condition examples command in today’s market.

Current market activity shows steady collector interest, particularly for coins grading MS-65 and above.

 

1945-D Quarter Value

Here’s a price contrast that tells the whole story: a 1945-D in Good condition starts at $6.79 while the other two mints begin at $6.00. Small gap at the bottom. At MS-68, though, the Denver coin holds the all-time record for the date — $20,400 at Stack’s Bowers on March 31, 2021.

Denver struck just 12,341,600 quarters in 1945, roughly one-sixth of Philadelphia’s output. That’s the lowest mintage of the three varieties. Yet in MS-63, you can still grab one for under $30. I think the 1945-D is one of the better values in the series at mid-grade levels — affordable now, with real upside if you find a sharp one worth sending in for grading.

Auction records confirm steady demand for premium Denver examples.

Collector interest in this lower-mintage variety keeps growing.

 

1945-S Quarter Value

If you’re a cherrypicker, this is the variety to hunt. The 1945-S is the only mint mark that produced two recognized Doubled Die Obverse varieties (DDO FS-101 and FS-102) plus a Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) variety known as FS-501. Neither Denver nor Philadelphia has any of those.

With a mintage of 17,004,001, the 1945-S sits between the other two varieties. PCGS CoinFacts expert David Hall calls it the easiest of the three 1945 quarters to find in Gem condition — plenty of frosty, white-luster examples exist. Sharp strikes are still the exception, though. The auction record is $13,200 at Stack’s Bowers in November 2023 for an MS-68. We think the 1945-S offers the best combination of variety hunting and affordability in the 1945 series.

High-grade examples continue to draw strong bidding from collectors.

Both general collectors and San Francisco Mint specialists keep this variety in steady demand.

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

1945 Quarter Value: Rare Error Varieties List

Three wartime mints running at full speed meant mistakes happened. Some of those mistakes are now worth serious money. Here’s what to look for when you’re going through 1945 quarters.

1. 1945 DDO FS-101

This is the Philadelphia Doubled Die Obverse. Look at “LIBERTY” and the date “1945” — you’ll see a shadow effect where the die and hub were misaligned between impressions. Strong examples are visible without a loupe, but grab your 5x magnifier to confirm. The doubling also shows in Washington’s profile.

Philadelphia DDO examples are considerably scarcer than normal strikes. The FS designation comes from the Fivaz-Stanton reference system, the standard catalog for classifying US die varieties.

 

2. 1945-S DDO FS-101 And FS-102

San Francisco gave us two different Doubled Die Obverse varieties. FS-101 — also cross-referenced as CONECA DDO-002 — is the bolder one, with obvious doubling on the motto, LIBERTY, and the date. FS-102 is more subtle, concentrated in Washington’s portrait details. You need to look carefully to tell them apart.

Both are much scarcer than regular 1945-S quarters. The FS-101 gets most of the collector attention. An MS-66 example sold for $870 at auction in 2018, and an MS-65 brought $552 the same year. If you’re sorting through a bag of 1945-S quarters, these are the prizes.

 

3. 1945-S RPM FS-501 (Repunched Mint Mark)

This one’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. The “S” mint mark was punched into the die more than once at a slightly different angle, leaving a doubled or shifted mint mark. You’ll need magnification to spot it — look right beneath the olive branches on the reverse.

Repunched Mint Marks were common back when mint marks were hand-punched onto individual dies. The Mint didn’t start putting them into the master hub until 1990. The 1945-S RPM FS-501 is cataloged in the Fivaz-Stanton guide and carries a modest premium over regular 1945-S quarters, especially in Mint State where the variety is easy to authenticate in a slab.

Also Read: 20 Rare Washington Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List with Pictures)

 

Where To Sell Your 1945 Quarter Value Coin?

Now that you know the value of your 1945 quarter, do you know where to sell it for the best price? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of the top selling platforms, including their fees, pros, and cons to help you choose the right option.

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

 

1945 Quarter Value Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1945 Quarter Value

1. What makes the 1945 Washington quarter unique among wartime coins?

It’s the last Washington quarter struck entirely during WWII, and all three mint varieties are 90% silver. Wartime die maintenance was sloppy — dies ran too long and got overpolished. That makes truly sharp examples, especially the Philadelphia issue in MS-66 and above, much scarcer than the big mintage numbers suggest.

2. What are the confirmed 1945 Washington quarter auction records?

The 1945-D in MS-68 sold for $20,400 at Stack’s Bowers on March 31, 2021. The 1945 (Philadelphia) in MS-68 sold for $16,450 at Heritage Auctions on January 7, 2015. The 1945-S in MS-68 sold for $13,200 at Stack’s Bowers in November 2023. For errors, a 1945-S DDO MS-66 brought $870 at auction in 2018.

3. How much is a 1945 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia) quarter worth today?

Heavily circulated, about $6 to $8 in collector value — though melt alone is around $16.95. In MS-65 Gem Uncirculated, expect $50–$100. At MS-68, only 3 coins are certified by PCGS, and the record is $16,450 at Heritage Auctions in 2015.

4. What is the 1945-S RPM FS-501 variety and is it valuable?

The “S” mint mark was punched onto the die more than once at a slightly different angle, leaving a doubled or misaligned mint mark you can see under magnification. It’s listed in the Fivaz-Stanton guide and typically adds $20–$75 over a regular 1945-S in comparable circulated grades. Mint State examples carry higher premiums.

5. Are 1945 quarters silver? What is the silver melt value?

Yes. Every 1945 quarter is 90% silver, 10% copper, containing exactly 0.1808 troy ounces (5.623 grams) of pure silver. Melt value is approximately $16.95 per coin right now. That’s your price floor for any circulated example.

6. Which 1945 quarter mint is the rarest?

The 1945-D, with only 12,341,600 struck — roughly one-sixth of Philadelphia’s output. It holds the highest auction record at $20,400 and commands premiums in all grades. But “rare” is relative here. You can still buy a 1945-D in MS-63 for under $30. It only becomes a serious condition rarity above MS-67.

7. Why do wartime 1945 quarters often appear weakly struck?

Mint resources went to the war effort. Dies ran past their useful life and got overpolished. The result is soft detail on Washington’s hair and the eagle’s breast feathers. If you find a 1945 quarter with full, crisp hair detail and sharp feathers, it commands a premium over mushy examples at the same grade.

8. What is the 1945-S DDO FS-101, and how do I identify it?

It’s a Doubled Die Obverse recognized by both PCGS and NGC, also cross-referenced as CONECA DDO-002. The obverse die got multiple hub impressions at slightly different angles, creating visible doubling on “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the date. Strong examples show it to the naked eye. Confirm under 5x magnification. An MS-66 example sold for $870 at auction in 2018.

9. Should I get my 1945 quarter professionally graded by PCGS or NGC?

It makes sense when your coin looks MS-65 or better, shows a recognized die variety like the 1945-S DDO FS-101 or RPM FS-501, or has a significant mint error. Grading runs $20–$50 per coin depending on service level. If the coin’s estimated value is over $75–$100, the slab pays for itself through better auction results and buyer confidence.

10. What is the most valuable Washington quarter ever sold at auction?

The 1932-D in MS-66 brought $143,750 at Bowers & Merena in 2008. For proofs, the 1950 PR-68 sold for $31,200 at Heritage Auctions in 2022. The 1945-D MS-68 record of $20,400 (Stack’s Bowers, 2021) puts it among the top condition rarities in the entire Washington quarter series.