Coin Value Contents Table
Do you own a 1957 Washington quarter and are curious how much this old coin might be worth?
Are you looking to add a 1957 quarter to your collection to complete your Washington coin series?
You’ve come to the right place!
Washington quarter dollars are very collectible for their historical and sentimental value. Many collectors are happy to honor our nation’s first president by collecting and preserving Washington coins.
We wrote this guide to demystify the 1957 quarter value so you can know just how much this old silver coin is worth.
In the following sections, we shall explore the coin’s history and unique features. You will also learn some Washington quarter grading tips and discover a few minting errors that can significantly increase the value of your 1952 quarter.
Let’s jump in and find out: how much is a 1957 quarter worth?
1957 Quarter Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1957 No-Mint Mark Quarter Value | $9.72 | $9.72 | $9.72 | $13 |
| 1957-D Quarter Value | $9.72 | $9.72 | $9.72 | $13 |
| 1957 Proof Quarter Value | – | – | – | $150 |
History of the 1957 Quarter
The 1957 quarter belongs to the Washington quarter dollar series, first struck in 1932 to commemorate President George Washington’s bicentennial birth anniversary.
Preparations for the bicentennial celebrations began almost ten years earlier when Congress established a Bicentennial Commission in 1924. This group, however, became dormant and was replaced by a new Commission in 1930 to oversee the celebrations, which would include the introduction of a Washington coin.
The Commission proposed replacing the Walking Liberty half dollar with the new Washington coin. But Congress was more inclined to replace the Standing Liberty Quarter instead.
Although half-heartedly, it was agreed that the new Washington coin would replace the Standing Liberty Quarter. The Commission already had a designer in mind, Lauren Gardin Fraser, for the new commemorative quarter dollar.
Although Fraser had extensive experience designing coins, the Treasury rejected the Commission’s choice and instead opted to hold a competition to find another designer.
Ultimately, the Mint and Treasury chose designer John Flanagan to create the obverse and reverse designs. Flanagan based his design on a 1785 Washington portrait designed by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.
Production of the new Washington Quarter began in early July 1932, and by August, the Mint began releasing these quarter dollars into circulation.
Washington quarters were struck in silver until 1964, when silver prices skyrocketed, and the Mint transitioned to the use of copper in the production of coins.
As you will see in the following sections, Washington quarters, including those produced in 1957, are highly collectible, especially in uncirculated condition.
This is one of the longest-running coin series in American coinage history, but this fact does not take away from the coin’s collectability within numismatic circles.
Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money
Features of the 1957 Quarter
In this section, we’ll look at the features of the 1957 quarter. Familiarizing yourself with these features will help you identify 1957 quarters worth money.
The obverse of the 1957 quarter
The obverse of the 1957 quarter is quite simple and similar to all Washington quarters. It features the left-facing portrait of our country’s first president, George Washington.
In the portrait, Washington faces forward with his hair held back in a low ponytail.
The word LIBERTY appears prominently at the top along the inner rim. Our country’s motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is shown on the left surface, while the date appears at the bottom along the inner rim.
The reverse of the 1957 quarter
You are met with a more intricate design when you turn the coin over.
A left-facing balding eagle occupies most of the coin’s surface. The bird has its wings spread out wide and is perched on a bundle of arrows.
Two olive branches tied together are shown right below the bundle of arrows. The olive branches symbolize peace, while the arrows represent liberty and sovereignty.
The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear boldly at the top along the inner rim, followed by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means “Out of one, many.”
The coin’s denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, appears at the bottom along the coin’s inner rim.
Other Features of the 1957 Quarter
The 1957 quarter comprises 90% silver and 10% copper.
This reeded coin is relatively large and heavy, measuring 24.30 millimeters in diameter and 6.30 grams in weight.
The Philadelphia and Denver mints struck Washington quarters in 1957, but only the ones from Denver have a mint mark.
You can identify the Denver coins by the mint mark D on the coin’s obverse close to Washington’s ponytail.
Neither the regular strike nor the proofs from Philly have a mint mark.
1957 Quarter Grading Guides
Silver Washington quarters are prone to wear due to silver’s malleability. Grading of uncirculated silver quarters entails examining high points on the obverse and reverse.
On the obverse, examine the curls of hair around Washington’s ear. Also, observe the top of his hair and the cheeks to identify any signs of wear; these areas should retain full, complete lustre.
On the reverse, inspect the front of the eagle’s legs and feathers for signs of dullness or smoothness. Other spots to examine are the wing’s edge, which is prone to loss of luster.
Examining your silver Washington quarters under a single light source is best. Any signs of wear, dullness or smoothness indicate that the coin is circulated.
| # | 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 |
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 Washington Quarter?
1957 Quarter Value Guides
So, is the 1957 quarter worth any money?
The value of a 1957 quarter depends on factors such as the coin’s condition, mint mark, rarity and the appearance of minting errors.
There are three varieties of the 1957 quarter. These are:
- 1957 No-Mint Mark Quarter
- 1957-D Quarter
- 1957 Proof Quarter
Let’s look at the value of each.
1957 No-Mint Mark Quarter Value
The Philadelphia Mint produced about 46,532,000 Washington quarters in 1957.
That year, the quarters coming from Philly were generally poorly struck, as mint workers continued using worn or re-polished dies used in 1956 when the coin production rate was at an all-time high.
The mint tried using proof dies from the previous year to improve the strike. In many 1957 quarters without a mint mark, you will notice that while the obverse is dull with a poor strike, the reverse is a bit brighter with sharper details due to the use of proof dies instead of regular dies.
Circulated 1957 no-mint mark quarters are affordable, ranging between $4.35 and $9.72. Uncirculated examples are equally affordable, with one graded MS63 costing about $14, but this price can increase significantly for quarters graded MS67, which are very rare and can fetch up to $125.
The big price difference between mint state 1957 no-mint mark quarters can be attributed to the fact that gem-quality examples in this series are extremely hard to come by, given how poorly these coins were struck in the first place.
So, if you are lucky enough to come across a gem-quality 1967 no-mint mark quarter, i.e. graded MS67 and above, be prepared to either shell out a fortune or fetch some good money selling the coin.
To date, the most expensive 1957 no-mint mark quarter was graded MS68 and sold for $3,819 at a 2012 Heritage Auctions sale.
1957-D Quarter Value
The Denver Mint struck about 77,924,160 Washington quarters in 1957, the highest-ever mintage in the Washington quarter series since 1944.
These quarters were generally better struck than the ones produced at the Philadelphia facility. Gems graded MS67 and above are readily available, broken from previously hoarded rolls.
In circulated condition, a silver quarter from 1957 is worth between $4.35 and $6.75. Like the Philly quarters, this price might not be much but is significantly more than the face value, making these coins collectible.
The 1957-D quarters are even more desirable in an uncirculated state, with a piece graded MS67 selling for as much as $275.
According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, a collector broke the record when they paid $11,400 for an MS68 1957-D quarter at a 2021 Stack’s Bowers auction.
1957 Proof Quarter Value
In addition to the regular strike coins, the Philadelphia Mint produced proof coins for collectors.
The facility struck an estimated 1,247,952 proof quarters in 1957, a significantly high mintage which caused a dip in the quality of coins produced that year.
Due to the excessive speculation around proof sets in 1956, collectors over-ordered proof sets in 1957, and then the Mint struck more coins to meet this demand.
While proof coins are supposed to demonstrate superior strike, brilliant lustre and exceptional eye appeal, the proof quarters from 1957 show evidence of worn or over-polished dies. This resulted in proof coins lacking detail and contrast between the devices and fields.
The large mintage shocked speculators, leading to an immediate collapse of the markets and a drastic dip in the value of 1957 quarter proof coins.
Although fully brilliant proofs are common up to grade PF69, the deep cameo population is extremely small, making it exceptionally hard to come across such examples.
On average, a 1957 quarter proof will fetch about $150, while the rare deep cameo can sell for as much as $11,400, as was the case with a PF69DCAM sold at a 2023 Stack’s Bower auction.
All in all, 1957 quarters are very collectible and can be an excellent addition to complete your 1950s Washington series. These coins are worth more than their face and bullion value, making them a good investment, especially for beginner collectors with a small initial budget.
Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
Rare 1957 Quarter Errors List
The Denver and Philadelphia Mints produced more than 125 million quarters in 1957—that’s a lot of coins, and minting mistakes are inevitable in such a high mintage.
Although 1957 quarters are generally not worth a fortune, the appearance of an interesting error can significantly increase the coin’s value.
Let’s have a look at 1957 quarter errors worth money.
1957 Misplaced Mint Mark Quarter Error
A misplaced mint mark error does not occur often; mint workers are generally careful to place mint marks in their correct position.
Normally, the D mint mark would appear on the reverse between E and R in QUARTER DOLLARS. But, in some 1957, the mint mark seems slightly misplaced and is positioned more toward the R.
Such an error would fetch as much as $200 to $270, depending on the coin’s condition
1957 Re-punched Mint Mark Quarter Error
A re-punched mint mark error occurs when the punching die strikes the mint mark multiple times, resulting in a visible doubling of the mint mark. This multiple striking can also fill in the mint mark.
Mint mark errors are common in high mintage series, with collectors willing to pay as much as $75 for a 1957 re-punched mint mark error.
1957 Type B Reverse Proof Strike Error
This is the most common error in the 1957 Washington quarter series. Some 1957 quarters were struck using regular dies on the obverse, and proof dies on the reverse.
This error may have occurred because workers at the Philly Mint resorted to using proof dies to strike coins because of how badly the regular dies were.
A type B reverse-proof strike error is quite valuable and can bring in at least $200.
Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money
Where to Sell Your 1957 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)
FAQ
Is a 1957 quarter made out of silver?
Yes, all Washington quarters before 1964, including those struck in 1957, are made of 95% silver and 10% copper. However, smelting these coins for their silver value is not recommended.
What is special about the 1957 quarter?
Honestly, there is nothing special about the 1957 quarter except for the fact that it recorded the highest mintage in the Washington quarter series since 1944. The 1957 quarter is, therefore, very common across all grades.
How much does a 1957 silver quarter weigh?
A 1957 quarter is pretty heavy, weighing $6.35 grams and measuring about 24 millimeters in diameter. The silver content in the coin contributes to the coin’s heaviness.
