1956 quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $8,519. That record was a Grade 67 example sold through Heritage Auctions in October 2016. Upload a photo of yours below and you’ll get a quick value range right away. You can also scroll down to browse recent eBay sales and see what buyers are actually paying right now.

 

1956 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s the value chart for 1956 quarters across all mint varieties and condition grades.

If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

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

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1956 Quarter Value Examples Ever Sold

The Denver mint mark owns the top spot here. A 1956-D graded MS-67+ fetched $8,518.75 at Heritage Auctions on October 31, 2016—the all-time record for any 1956 quarter. That’s a coin that probably sat in someone’s roll for years before a sharp-eyed collector pulled it out.

Philadelphia’s best showing? A MS-68 that brought $5,280 at Heritage Auctions on November 19, 2023. Meanwhile, a standard MS-65 from the same mint sells for $20–$30. That gap tells you everything about what condition does to value. On the proof side, a 1956 PR-69 realized $3,818.75 at Heritage Auctions on January 8, 2014. Even the Type B Reverse FS-901 in MS-66 pulled $2,400 at auction.

 

History of the 1956 Quarter Value and Its Background

The Washington quarter series launched on August 1, 1932, marking George Washington’s 200th birthday. It was supposed to be a one-year commemorative, but it permanently replaced the Standing Liberty design, which had long frustrated collectors with weak strikes and design problems.

By 1956, John Flanagan’s Washington portrait had been on quarters for 24 years. The specs hadn’t changed since the Coinage Act of 1873 set them: 90% silver, 10% copper, 6.25 grams.

Philadelphia struck 44,144,000 quarters that year. Denver added 32,334,500. Nobody was saving these—most went straight into cash registers.

Here’s what makes 1956 quarters special: they’re from the last decade of silver coinage. The Coinage Act of 1965 killed silver quarters for good, driven by people hoarding coins as silver prices climbed. Every 1956 quarter you find is a piece of that vanishing era.

The 1956 proof set was a big deal for everyday collectors getting into proof coinage. Each set had five coins: Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter, and Franklin Half Dollar—all struck at Philadelphia.

About 669,384 proof sets came out that year, a solid jump over earlier 1950s production. This is also when the famous Type B Reverse variety appeared—the Mint ran short on regular reverse dies in late 1956 and had to improvise.

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

 

Is Your 1956 Quarter Value Above Average? Check Its Rarity

The rarity scores here might surprise you. Both business strikes had massive mintages, but their survival rates are identical—roughly 9.99%. The real action is in the proofs. Regular proofs survive at 35%, Cameos drop to 17.18%, and Deep Cameos sit at just 6.72%. So the same original mintage of 669,384 produces three completely different levels of scarcity depending on surface quality. You can check the rarity scores for any coin using our Coin Identifier and Value App.

 

Key Features That Affect 1956 Quarter Value

Flanagan’s Washington design had been running for nearly 25 years by 1956, and it was still sharp. Here’s what to look for on your coin.

The Obverse of the 1956 Quarter

Flip your coin to the front. You’ll see Washington facing left, with IN GOD WE TRUST in front of his throat, LIBERTY arcing above his head, and the date 1956 beneath his neck.

Look at the base of the neck truncation—John Flanagan’s initials “JF” are tucked in there. When you’re grading, check Washington’s cheekbone and the hair above his ear first. Those are the high points where wear shows up earliest.

The Reverse of the 1956 Quarter

Flip it over. A heraldic eagle with spread wings sits above thirteen arrows and two olive branches. The arrows represent military readiness; the olive branches stand for peace.

Look between the denomination and where the olive branches meet. Denver coins carry a small “D” mint mark right there. No letter? That’s Philadelphia. The inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and QUARTER DOLLAR.

Physical Specs and Silver Content of the 1956 Quarter

Each 1956 quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. With silver trading above $48 per troy ounce in recent months, the melt value of every 1956 quarter has risen to approximately $8.70 or higher—meaning even a heavily worn coin has real intrinsic value.

The coin measures 24.3 mm in diameter, weighs 6.25 grams total, and has 119 reeds around its edge. It is 1.75 mm thick.

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

 

1956 Quarter Value: Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 44.1 million quarters. Denver added 32.3 million. Huge numbers—but only about 9.99% of each survive today. That means roughly 90% were lost, melted, or worn into oblivion.

Proofs tell a different story. Regular proofs survive at 35% from the original 669,384 mintage. Cameos drop to 17.18%. Deep Cameos? Just 6.72%—roughly 45,000 coins total. To put that in perspective, that’s fewer coins than attend a single Major League baseball game.

The Mint hadn’t figured out consistent cameo production yet in 1956. Getting that heavy frost on the devices was basically luck of the draw, which is why DCAM examples are a completely different kind of rare.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1956 Quarter Value

 

1956 Quarter Value Guides by Type

Five versions of the 1956 quarter exist. Philadelphia and Denver produced business strikes totaling over 76 million coins. The three proof types all share the same 669,384 mintage but vary wildly in survival and value.

Regular proofs are easy to find. Cameos get tougher. Deep Cameos are the crown jewels—I think they’re the best value play in the entire 1956 series for collectors who want something genuinely scarce.

1956 Quarter Types:

• 1956 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
• 1956-D (Denver)
• 1956 Proof (Standard proof)
• 1956 CAM (Cameo proof)
• 1956 DCAM (Deep Cameo proof)

Should you get your coin slabbed? Yes—if it looks like MS-66 or better, shows visible cameo or deep cameo contrast, or might be a Type B Reverse. Don’t bother for heavily circulated coins that are only worth melt value.

 

1956 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

Most people assume 44,144,000 coins means “common.” And up through MS-66 or even MS-67, they’re right—you can find nice examples without much trouble. That makes this a great entry-level silver quarter for new collectors.

But at MS-67 and above, the supply dries up fast. That’s true of almost every silver quarter from this era. The jump to MS-68 is where things get wild: one example sold for $5,280 at Heritage Auctions in November 2023. From $25 to $5,280 in just a couple grade points.

Here are the auction records for this variety across different grades.

Current market activity for the 1956 No Mint Mark quarter:

Market activity score: 85/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 27 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1956-D Quarter Value

Did you know the 1956-D holds the all-time price record for any 1956 quarter? A PCGS MS-67+ brought $8,518.75 at Heritage Auctions on October 31, 2016. With only 32,334,500 struck—lower than Philadelphia—this one is genuinely scarcer in gem condition than most 1950s Washington quarters.

Denver strikes from this period also tend to show weaker detail on the eagle’s breast feathers. So when you find one with a sharp, full strike in high grade, everything had to go right. That combination of lower mintage and strike quality makes the 1956-D a sleeper that more collectors are catching on to.

Auction records showing how the rarity premium plays out at each grade level:

Market activity for the 1956-D quarter:

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Sep 2026 — down 5 points from Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 69 (Oct 2025).

 

1956 Proof Quarter Value

If you’ve never owned a proof coin, this is a great place to start. Proof coins are struck on polished planchets with polished dies, usually hit multiple times to bring out every detail. The result is a deep mirror finish that business strikes can’t touch.

With 669,384 minted, the 1956 proof quarter is one of the more affordable 1950s proofs. PCGS CoinFacts confirms most examples are well-struck, and you can find nice ones up through PR-68 without breaking the bank. It’s only at PR-69 where prices jump seriously.

Auction data showing how condition affects pricing for this proof date:

Market activity for the 1956 Proof quarter:

Market activity score: 61/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 6 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1956 CAM Quarter Value

Here’s a common mistake: people see light frosting on a 1956 proof and assume it’s a Cameo. It usually isn’t. PCGS and NGC award the CAM designation only when there’s clear contrast between frosted white devices and deep mirror fields. Partial or uneven frosting doesn’t cut it.

Only about 17.18% of 1956 proofs earned the CAM label. That’s a huge drop from regular proofs. A coin with strong, even frost across all the devices commands a real premium over one with spotty contrast. If you’re cherrypicking raw proofs at shows, bring a loupe and check both sides carefully.

Auction records showing the cameo premium over standard proofs:

Market activity for the 1956 CAM quarter:

Market activity score: 78/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 27 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1956 DCAM Quarter Value

Only 6.72% of all 1956 proofs survived with Deep Cameo surfaces. That’s roughly 45,000 coins from the entire mintage. Deep Cameo—called Ultra Cameo by NGC—means the devices are heavily frosted white against jet-black mirror fields. The visual impact is stunning.

The finest known example, a PR-69 DCAM, realized $3,819 at Heritage Auctions in January 2014. We think these are underappreciated compared to what similar DCAM coins from the early 1950s bring. The Mint simply hadn’t mastered consistent cameo production yet, so every DCAM from 1956 is basically a happy accident.

Auction results for Deep Cameo examples:

Market activity for the 1956 DCAM quarter:

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Sep 2026 — down 3 points from Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 52 (Dec 2025).

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1956 Quarter Value Boosters: The Error and Variety List

Even with huge mintages, interesting things happen when dies wear out or get damaged. The 1956 quarter has several documented varieties that are worth hunting for.

These aren’t dramatic wrong-planchet errors. They’re subtle die varieties you need magnification to spot. That’s what makes finding one so satisfying.

1. 1956 Type B Rev FS-901

This isn’t really an error—it was a deliberate fix. Philadelphia ran out of regular reverse dies in late 1956 and grabbed retired proof reverse dies to keep the presses running.

How do you spot it? Look at the “E” and “S” in “STATES” on the reverse. On the normal Type A, those letters nearly touch. On the FS-901 Type B, there’s a clear, wider gap. That proof-die spacing was never supposed to appear on circulation strikes, making the 1956 Type B the rarest in the entire nine-coin series running from 1956 to 1964.

Most uncirculated examples top out at MS-64 or lower. MS-65 pieces are extremely elusive. MS-66? Genuinely rare. The 1956 Type B Reverse FS-901 in MS-66 has sold for $2,400 at auction.

2. 1956-D RPM FS-501

RPM means Repunched Mint Mark. Back in the 1950s, mint marks were punched into dies by hand. Sometimes the punch landed slightly off on the second strike, leaving a ghost image. The FS-501 shows visible doubling on the “D” under magnification—it’s one of the more dramatic RPMs from the 1956-D series.

This kind of variety was common before the Mint switched to hub-punched mint marks. Well-preserved examples with clear doubling are getting harder to find as they disappear into specialized collections. If you’re sorting through raw 1956-D quarters, check every mint mark with a loupe.

3. 1956 FS-701, Reverse Die Gouge

A foreign object scraped across the die face during production, cutting a groove into the steel. That groove shows up as a raised line on every coin struck from that die. Simple as that.

What’s interesting is that this variety appears on both business strikes and proofs. On proofs, the raised line really pops against those mirror fields. Proof versions carry a much bigger premium than business strikes for exactly that reason.

4. 1956 Rev Die Gouge FS-701 CAM

Now you’re looking for two things on one coin: the die gouge variety plus genuine Cameo contrast. That narrows the population fast. Most FS-701 proofs don’t have strong enough frosting to earn the CAM designation.

Finding one that checks both boxes takes real patience. That scarcity makes the CAM version a high-priority target for advanced collectors building specialized proof sets.

5. 1956 Rev Die Gouge FS-701 DCAM

This is the holy grail of the FS-701 series. You need the die gouge, plus Deep Cameo surfaces—and only 6.72% of all 1956 proofs qualify as DCAM in the first place.

The deeply mirrored fields make that raised die gouge line stand out with incredible contrast. These are collector catnip for error specialists and proof enthusiasts alike. Finding one is extraordinarily rare.

6. 1956 DDO FS-101 (Bonus Variety)

The 1956 quarter also has a Doubled Die Obverse listed as FS-101. A DDO happens when the die gets two impressions from the hub at slightly different angles, creating doubling on design elements.

This one appears on the proof version and shows extra thickness on inscriptions and design details. It’s listed in the PCGS related coins database. Most casual collectors walk right past it, which means cherrypicking opportunities still exist.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1956 Quarter for Best Value

Knowing where to sell your 1956 quarter is just as important as knowing what it’s worth. The best platform depends entirely on your specific coin and your timeline.

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

 

1956 Quarter Value Market Trend

Market interest: 2,490 collectors tracking this coin as of Sep 2026 — up 900 from Mar 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

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

 

FAQ About the 1956 Quarter Value

1. How much is a 1956 quarter worth today?

At minimum, melt value—currently above $8.50 based on 0.1808 troy ounces of silver. Slabbed MS-65 examples sell for $16–$33. At the top, an MS-68 brought $5,280 at Heritage Auctions in November 2023.

2. What is the silver melt value of a 1956 quarter?

Every 1956 quarter contains 90% silver and weighs 6.25 grams total, giving it a pure silver weight of 5.623 grams (0.1808 troy ounces). With silver prices trading above $48 per troy ounce in recent months, the melt value sits above $8.70 per coin. That’s your floor no matter what condition the coin is in.

3. Is there a rare 1956 quarter?

No 1956 quarter is rare by date alone—both mints had multi-million mintages. Rarity comes from condition. MS-67 and above examples are genuinely scarce. Varieties like the Type B Reverse FS-901, RPM FS-501, and Die Gouge FS-701 also carry strong premiums. Deep Cameo proofs with only a 6.72% survival rate are the scarcest of all.

4. What is the difference between a 1956 Proof, CAM, and DCAM quarter?

All three come from the same 669,384 proof mintage at Philadelphia. A standard proof (PR) has mirror fields but minimal frosting. A Cameo (CAM) shows clear contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields. A Deep Cameo (DCAM) takes it to the extreme—intensely frosted white devices against jet-black mirror fields. DCAM is the most visually dramatic and most valuable.

5. How do I find the mint mark on a 1956 quarter?

Flip to the reverse. Look just above “QUARTER DOLLAR” and below where the olive branches meet under the eagle. A small “D” means Denver. No letter means Philadelphia. San Francisco didn’t produce quarters in 1956.

6. What is the 1956 Type B Reverse, and why does it matter?

Philadelphia ran out of regular reverse dies in late 1956 and used retired proof dies to keep striking coins. Those proof dies left different lettering spacing—especially a wider gap between “E” and “S” in “STATES.” This created an unintended variety that’s now the rarest in the nine-coin Type B Reverse series (1956–1964). MS-65 examples are described as extremely elusive.

7. Should I clean my 1956 quarter before selling it?

Never. Cleaning creates hairlines—microscopic scratches that tank the grade and value. A cleaned MS-65 can drop to a details-grade worth a fraction of the original. PCGS and NGC will note any cleaning on the label, and that follows the coin forever.

8. When did the U.S. Mint stop making silver quarters?

The last 90% silver quarters were struck in 1964. The Coinage Act of 1965 switched to copper-nickel clad because rising silver prices made the metal value approach face value. People started hoarding silver coins, creating shortages. The 1956 quarter belongs to that final silver era, which adds appeal for both silver stackers and collectors.

9. What grade should I look for when buying a 1956 quarter?

For a budget-friendly entry, MS-64 or MS-65 examples offer great eye appeal at $15–$35. If you want investment-grade, MS-67 is where premiums kick in—the 1956-D jumps from around $60 in MS-66 to approximately $750 in MS-67. For proof collectors, PR-67 Deep Cameo gives you the best mix of visual impact and value. PR-69 DCAM is top-of-market territory.

10. Is the 1956-D quarter worth more than the 1956 Philadelphia quarter?

In circulated grades, they’re basically the same—melt value. But in high uncirculated grades, the 1956-D pulls ahead. It holds the all-time record at $8,518.75 (Heritage Auctions, October 2016 for MS-67+), versus $5,280 for Philadelphia’s best (Heritage Auctions, November 2023 for MS-68). The Denver coin is king of the 1956 series in top condition.