1962 Quarter Coin Value: Errors List, “D” & No Mint Mark Worth
1962 quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $26,400. That record was a Grade 67 example sold through Heritage Auctions in March 2019. Upload a photo of yours below and you’ll get a quick value range in no time. You can also scroll down to browse recent eBay sales and see what buyers are paying right now.
1962 Quarter Value Checker
Identify 1962 Quarter D and No Mint Mark Price
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1962 Quarter Value By Variety
Here’s what your 1962 quarters are worth based on condition and type. If you know the grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.
| Type | Good(G4-6) | Fine(F12-15) | AU(AU50-58) | MS(MS60-70) | PR(PR60-70) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶1962 No Mint Mark Quarter Value | $15 | $15 | $19 | $20 - $1,840 | — |
| ▶1962 D Quarter Value | $15 | $15 | $19 | $20 - $1,610 | — |
| ▶1962 Proof Quarter Value | — | — | — | — | $17 - $220 |
| ▶1962 CAM Quarter Value | — | — | — | — | $18 - $110 |
| ▶1962 DCAM Quarter Value | — | — | — | — | $19 - $7,360 |

























Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Quarter Worth Money (1932 – Present)
Top 10 Most Valuable 1962 Quarter Worth Money
Most Valuable 1962 Quarter Chart
2002 - Present
The king of 1962 quarters is a Philadelphia MS-67+ that crossed the block at Heritage Auctions in March 2019 for $26,400. That’s the all-time record for any business-strike 1962 quarter. The 1962-D in MS-67 isn’t far behind—it hit $18,400 at Heritage in April 2012 during the George’s Army Collection sale.
That Denver result makes more sense when you see the population numbers. By December 2024, PCGS had graded only 5 examples at MS-67+ and NGC had certified just 9 at MS-67+. Denver quarters from this era tend to come with rougher surfaces than Philly coins. Bag marks are the enemy. So when a truly clean one shows up, bidders go after it hard.
On the proof side, contrast is everything. A PR-70 DCAM brought $7,800, while a PR-70 standard proof sold for just $322 back in 2002. Even within DCAM, one grade point is brutal: that PR-70 at $7,800 versus a PR-68 DCAM at roughly $180. This market punishes anything less than the best.
History of The 1962 Quarter and the Silver Era
By 1962, America was running out of coins. Not slowly—dramatically. The Federal Reserve had been rationing coins to banks since 1959. By the 1962 holiday shopping season, stores were begging customers to empty their piggy banks. The Mint ran around-the-clock shifts at Philadelphia and Denver, but demand kept outpacing supply.
The real problem was silver itself. Open-market silver was creeping toward $1.38 per ounce—the point where the metal in a quarter would be worth more than 25 cents. Industrial demand from photography, electrical contacts, and chemical manufacturing had doubled new silver production. Government reserves were getting squeezed from every direction.
Congress tried a band-aid first. Public Law 88-36 on September 3, 1964 froze coin dates at 1964, hoping to discourage collectors from hoarding “last year” silver issues. It didn’t work. President Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-81) on July 23, 1965, pulling silver from dimes and quarters for good. In his signing remarks, Johnson admitted silver consumption had grown to more than double new production each year.
The 1962 quarter—carrying John Flanagan’s Washington portrait design used since 1932—was part of that final generation of 90% silver quarters made for everyday pocket change. Flanagan, also known for the bronze “Manhattan” statue on the Manhattan Bridge, probably never imagined his design would become collectible just because of the metal underneath it.
Here’s a fun detail: Denver struck 127,554,756 quarters that year. Philadelphia made just 36,156,000. Both mints also produced 3,218,019 proof sets—struck exclusively at Philadelphia.
Also Read: Top 30 Most Valuable State Quarter Worth Money (1999 – 2008)
Is Your 1962 Quarter Rare?
1962 No Mint Mark Quarter
1962-D Quarter
1962 Proof Quarter
1962 CAM Quarter
1962 DCAM Quarter
For a complete picture of where any quarter stands in terms of rarity, you can check specific coins instantly using our Coin Identifier and Value App, which provides detailed rarity assessments alongside current values.
Key Features of The 1962 Quarter
John Flanagan designed the Washington quarter, which launched in 1932 and replaced the Standing Liberty design. It’s the longest-lived design in U.S. coinage history—surviving with minor tweaks through 1998 and finally pulled from circulation in 2022.
The Obverse Of The 1962 Quarter
Flip your coin to the front. You’ll see George Washington facing left, with Flanagan’s tiny initials (JF) tucked at the neck truncation. LIBERTY arcs above Washington’s head, IN GOD WE TRUST sits in front of his neck, and the date 1962 runs along the bottom.
When you’re grading, focus on the cheek and the hair above Washington’s left ear. Those are the first spots to show wear. On a fully uncirculated coin, you’ll see crisp detail and original luster with zero friction. Once the high points of the hair start flattening, you’re looking at a circulated coin.
The Reverse Of The 1962 Quarter
Flip it over. The heraldic eagle in the center grips 13 arrows—one for each original state. Olive branches beneath the wings represent peace. Arrows plus olive branches together: strength balanced with peaceful intent.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA runs across the top, E PLURIBUS UNUM sits below that, and QUARTER DOLLAR wraps around the bottom. Look just below the eagle for the mint mark—a small “D” means Denver, no mark means Philadelphia.
Other Features Of The 1962 Quarter
This is one of the last silver quarters before the 1965 composition change. Each coin weighs 6.25 grams (0.2009 troy ounces) and contains 5.623 grams of pure silver—90% silver, 10% copper. The diameter is 24.3 mm (0.9567 inches), the reeded edge prevents shaving, and thickness runs 1.75 mm (0.0687 inches).
That silver content gives every circulated 1962 quarter a floor price tied to the spot market—currently around $17 in melt value (with silver at approximately $94 per troy ounce as of early 2026). Your coin is always worth at least its silver weight. Anything in better condition is worth more to collectors.
Also Read: Top 20 Most Valuable 1776-1976 Bicentennial Quarter
1962 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data
1962 Quarter Mintage & Survival Chart
Survival Distribution
| Type | Mintage | Survival | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Mint | 36,156,000 | 3,616,000 | 10.0011% |
| D | 127,554,756 | 12,755,000 | 9.9996% |
| Proof | 3,218,019 | 1,150,000 | 35.7363% |
| CAM | 3,218,019 | 550,000 | 17.0913% |
| DCAM | 3,218,019 | 230,000 | 7.1473% |
Here’s the part that trips people up. Denver struck 127,554,756 quarters—more than three and a half times Philadelphia’s 36,156,000. Yet PCGS CoinFacts says the Philly issue is actually about twice as easy to find in Gem (MS-65) condition. How? Most of that massive Denver run went straight into cash registers and got spent. Meanwhile, collectors set aside a bigger share of the smaller Philadelphia batch.
On top of that, 1962-D quarters tend to come with rougher surfaces—bag marks and contact abrasions that knock many examples below the Gem threshold. That’s why the 1962-D actually outranks the Philly coin in rarity despite having far more coins originally struck.
The proof numbers tell their own story. All three proof types—regular, CAM, and DCAM—started from the same 3,218,019 mintage. Regular proofs show roughly a 35.7% survival rate (~1.15 million). CAM examples drop to about 17.1% (~550,000). DCAM quarters represent just 7.1%—around 230,000 coins. Of those, only a handful survive at the top. PCGS recorded just one coin at the absolute peak of PR-70 DCAM as of the $7,800 Heritage sale in 2022.
Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Washington Quarter Worth Money (1932 – 1998)
The Easy Way to Know Your 1962 Quarter Value
Start by checking the reverse, just below the eagle. A small “D” means Denver; no mint mark means Philadelphia. Next, look at Washington’s cheek and hair under good light—an uncirculated coin shows no dull or flat areas and keeps its original silver luster. A circulated coin will have smooth, worn high points.
For proof coins, look for mirror-like fields that reflect like polished glass. CAM (Cameo) proofs also show frosted lettering and devices that pop against those mirror fields. DCAM (Deep Cameo) proofs take it further—the devices look like white frosted glass against a perfectly black mirror. That black-and-white contrast is what collectors pay up for, and you can see it with the naked eye on the best examples.
Skip the guesswork with our Coin Identifier and Value App—it instantly analyzes mint marks, wear patterns, and proof characteristics through one photo, providing accurate valuations in seconds.

1962 Quarter Value Guides
The 1962 quarter breaks into five collector-recognized types, each with its own rarity level and price range.
Before you buy or sell proofs, know the designations. CAM (Cameo) means the raised design elements have a frosted texture that pops against mirror-like background fields. DCAM (Deep Cameo) is a stronger, more dramatic version of that same contrast. Both PCGS and NGC assign these labels only when a coin meets strict contrast standards. Plenty of high-grade proofs don’t make the cut for CAM or DCAM—which is exactly why those that do are genuinely scarce.
MS stands for Mint State—the grading scale for uncirculated business strikes, running from MS-60 (lowest uncirculated) to MS-70 (perfect). PR stands for Proof. Both use the Sheldon Scale, developed by Dr. William Sheldon and adopted by PCGS and NGC as the U.S. numismatic standard.
1962 Quarter Types
- 1962 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
- 1962-D (Denver Mint)
- 1962 Proof (Philadelphia)
- 1962 CAM (Philadelphia)
- 1962 DCAM (Philadelphia)
1962 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

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Most people assume the lower-mintage coin is harder to find. Not here. The 1962 No Mint Mark quarter came from Philadelphia, which made 36,156,000—less than a third of Denver’s output. But collectors saved a bigger share of the Philly run, so it’s actually easier to find in high grades than the 1962-D.
In lower circulated grades, you’re looking at silver melt value—currently around $17 based on silver near $94 per troy ounce. The real action starts above MS-65. PCGS price data shows MS-65 examples trading around $22–$30, MS-66 coins jumping to the $75–$150 range, and MS-67 grades reaching roughly $2,000–$2,250. The all-time record belongs to the MS-67+ that sold at Heritage Auctions on March 16, 2019, for $26,400.
1962 No Mint Mark Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Here’s how 1962 No Mint Mark quarters have performed at auction over the years.
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06/26 | SB | $976 | 67 |
| 08/25 | SB | $1,140 | 67 |
| 09/24 | SB | $45 | 66 |
| 08/24 | HA | $1,140 | 67 |
| 01/24 | HA | $3,840 | 67 |
| 01/24 | HA | $1,400 | 67 |
| 09/23 | HA | $3,120 | 67 |
| 07/23 | HA | $4,320 | 67 |
| 04/23 | SB | $1,380 | 67 |
| 04/23 | DL | $725 | 67 |
Current market activity for the 1962 No Mint Mark quarter:
Market activity: 1962 No Mint Mark Quarter
Market activity score: 74/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 16 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.
1962 Type B Reverse Quarter Value (FS-901)
If you’re a cherrypicker, pay attention. The 1962 Type B Reverse is catalogued as FS-901 in the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties and features a distinctly different reverse die with altered eagle feather details and modified wing positioning. It’s one of the most significant die varieties in the entire Washington quarter series.
The variety was recognized relatively recently. That means plenty of examples are almost certainly hiding in collections and old rolls right now. A Type B reverse in MS-66+ sold on eBay for $1,500 in 2019. Because most sellers and buyers don’t check for this variety, you’ve got real upside potential if you’re willing to look.
1962 No Mint Mark Type B Reverse Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Auction results for the 1962 Type B Reverse show how the market has grown since this variety gained traction.
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/23 | DL | $95 | 65 |
| 08/22 | HA | $228 | 66 |
| 08/21 | HA | $1,500 | 66 |
| 07/21 | HA | $74 | 65 |
| 07/21 | HA | $456 | 66 |
| 04/21 | DL | $105 | 65 |
| 09/19 | HA | $288 | 66 |
| 07/19 | HA | $192 | 66 |
| 10/18 | HA | $63 | 65 |
| 10/18 | HA | $69 | 65 |
Current market activity for the 1962 Type B Reverse:
Market activity: 1962 Type B Reverse Quarter
Market activity score: 43/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 8 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.
1962-D Quarter Value
How can a coin with 127,554,756 struck be scarce? Easy—when almost none of them survived in nice condition. PCGS CoinFacts specifically flags the 1962-D as one of the scarcer 1941–1964 silver Washington quarters in Gem grades. Denver quarters from this era just came out of the press rougher than Philly coins. More bag marks, more contact abrasions.
As of December 2024, the PCGS population at MS-67+ stood at just 5 coins. NGC had certified only 9 at the same level. Think about that—5 coins out of 127 million. The auction record of $18,400 (Heritage Auctions, April 2012, George’s Army Collection) makes sense when you see those numbers. A CAC-stickered MS-67+ later sold through Stack’s Bowers in March 2021 for $5,280, showing how prices can shift as the certified population slowly grows.
I think the 1962-D is one of the best examples of why mintage numbers alone don’t tell you anything about rarity.
1962-D Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Auction records for the 1962-D quarter:
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/25 | SB | $168 | 66 |
| 11/25 | SB | $1,080 | 67 |
| 07/25 | HA | $1,320 | 67 |
| 06/25 | SB | $660 | 67 |
| 05/25 | HA | $5,160 | 67 |
| 07/24 | SB | $85 | 66 |
| 07/23 | HA | $69 | 66 |
| 08/22 | DL | $51 | 66 |
| 07/22 | DL | $50 | 66 |
| 06/22 | DL | $50 | 66 |
Current market activity for the 1962-D:
Market activity: 1962-D Quarter
Market activity score: 58/100 as of Sep 2026 — down 5 points from Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 70 (Dec 2025).
1962 Proof Quarter Value
Want to start collecting 1962 proofs without spending a fortune? This is your entry point. The standard 1962 Proof quarter had 3,218,019 struck at Philadelphia for annual collector proof sets. These coins have mirror-like fields and sharp strikes, but they lack the frosted device contrast needed for CAM or DCAM status. About 1.15 million are estimated to survive today—a roughly 35.7% survival rate.
PR-65 examples trade in the $10–$25 range. Values climb fast from there: PR-68 coins sell for $100–$200, and the top grade of PR-70 produced a Heritage Auctions record of $322 back in 2002. Worth noting: U.S. proof set production ran from 1950 through 1964, paused during the coin shortage years, then resumed in 1968. That makes the 1962 proof part of a continuous silver proof run that set collectors prize as a group.
1962 Proof Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Historical auction results for 1962 Proof quarters:
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/25 | SB | $45 | 66 |
| 04/25 | SB | $105 | 69 |
| 07/22 | DL | $48 | 69 |
| 04/22 | DL | $25 | 68 |
| 03/22 | DL | $40 | 68 |
| 01/22 | DL | $24 | 66 |
| 12/21 | DL | $24 | 67 |
| 05/21 | DL | $15 | 66 |
| 05/21 | DL | $21 | 68 |
| 02/19 | DL | $25 | 68 |
Current market activity for the 1962 Proof quarter:
Market activity: 1962 Proof Quarter
Market activity score: 56/100 as of Sep 2026 — down 2 points from Jun 2026. 12-month peak: 76 (Dec 2025).
1962 CAM Quarter Value
A lot of collectors overlook CAM proofs and jump straight to DCAM. That’s a mistake, in my opinion. The 1962 CAM quarter earns its designation when the frosted lettering and raised design elements create visible contrast against the polished mirror fields. It’s an official PCGS and NGC designation—not every proof qualifies, even high-grade ones. From the same 3,218,019 mintage, only coins with enough contrast get the CAM label. Roughly 17.1% survived, or about 550,000 examples.
The CAM bump is real. A PR-65 CAM runs $30–$50 versus $10–$25 for a standard proof at the same grade. PR-68 CAM examples sell in the $75–$150 range. A Heritage Auctions sale in 2005 recorded a PR-69 CAM at $196. You get something genuinely prettier than a standard proof at a fraction of the DCAM price.
1962 CAM Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Auction results for 1962 CAM quarters:
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06/23 | HA | $78 | 69 |
| 06/22 | HA | $89 | 69 |
| 07/20 | HA | $126 | 69 |
| 06/19 | HA | $74 | 69 |
| 03/19 | HA | $67 | 69 |
| 10/18 | HA | $132 | 69 |
| 04/17 | HA | $31 | 67 |
| 04/17 | HA | $25 | 67 |
| 12/14 | GC | $9 | 66 |
| 11/14 | GC | $10 | 66 |
Current market activity for the 1962 CAM quarter:
Market activity: 1962 CAM Quarter
Market activity score: 53/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 16 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.
1962 DCAM Quarter Value
This is the one everyone wants. The 1962 DCAM quarter features intensely heavy frosted devices that create a dramatic black-and-white visual effect—the gold standard of proof coinage. Only about 7.1% of the original 3,218,019 proof mintage earned this designation. That’s roughly 230,000 coins, and the population thins drastically in higher grades.
The single PR-70 DCAM confirmed by PCGS sold at Heritage Auctions on May 8, 2022, for $7,800—the all-time record for any 1962 proof quarter. Below that, the drop is steep: PR-68 DCAM trades for around $150–$200, and the jump from PR-68 to PR-69 already carries a major premium. We consider the 1962 DCAM in PR-69 or higher one of the most desirable pre-1965 silver proof quarter targets out there. Genuine scarcity plus stunning eye appeal.
1962 DCAM Quarter Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
Auction records for 1962 DCAM quarters:
| Date | Platform | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/23 | SB | $384 | 69 |
| 05/22 | HA | $7,800 | 70 |
| 12/21 | HA | $149 | 68 |
| 07/21 | HA | $101 | 68 |
| 05/21 | HA | $180 | 68 |
| 01/21 | HA | $348 | 69 |
| 05/20 | DL | $55 | 68 |
| 04/20 | HA | $312 | 69 |
| 03/20 | DL | $45 | 68 |
| 02/19 | HA | $51 | 68 |
Current market activity for the 1962 DCAM quarter:
Market activity: 1962 DCAM Quarter
Market activity score: 47/100 as of Sep 2026 — up 12 points from Jun 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.
Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money
Rare 1962 Quarter Error List
Error coins from 1962 are some of the most exciting finds you can make. These are genuine minting mistakes—things that happened inside the U.S. Mint during production—not post-mint damage. When properly authenticated by PCGS or NGC, they command serious premiums.
1. 1962 DDO FS-101 Error
DDO stands for Doubled Die Obverse. It happens when the working die gets multiple impressions from the master hub at slightly different angles, permanently baking overlapping images into the die. Every coin struck from that die carries the same doubling. The 1962 DDO FS-101 is the flagship variety, catalogued in the Cherrypickers’ Guide, with clear doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and Washington’s hair and facial features.
Grab a loupe and look for unmistakable separation between the doubled elements. That’s the key. Machine doubling looks flat and shelf-like with no real separation—it adds zero value. A Heritage Auctions sale in 2016 recorded a 1962 MS-66+ DDO at $3,290. Even lower mint state examples with strong doubling attract real collector attention.
1962 DDO FS-101 Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)

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2. 1962-D/D RPM FS-501 Error
RPM stands for Repunched Mint Mark. Back in this era, Denver Mint workers punched mint marks into each working die by hand. If the punch landed more than once at slightly different positions, you get a secondary “D” impression visible beside or beneath the primary mark. The 1962-D/D RPM FS-501 shows this characteristic offset—look under 5x–10x magnification for a shadow or partial outline of a second “D” below the eagle.
Here’s what makes these special: once modern laser technology replaced hand-punching, RPMs became impossible to create. Every hand-punched RPM from this era is a piece of minting history that can never be replicated. An eBay sale in 2021 recorded a 1962-D/D MS-65 RPM for $495. Authenticated examples in MS-65 and above are the most collectible.
1962-D/D RPM FS-501 Price/Grade Chart
Price by 1-70 Grade (Latest Auction Records Included)
3. 1962 Clipped Planchet Error
A clipped planchet happens when the metal strip feeding through the blanking press gets misaligned. The blank gets punched partly over the hole left by a previous blank, leaving a curved or straight bite out of the edge. You can spot these immediately—the coin is missing a section of rim, and the opposite side shows a slight rise called the Blakesley effect.
Both Philadelphia and Denver 1962 quarters with clipped planchets have been authenticated. One notable piece is a 1962-D double clipped planchet that also has an RPM. Clipped planchet quarters from this era typically sell in the $50–$200 range depending on clip size and grade. Dramatic double-clip examples pull higher premiums from error specialists.
Also Read: 20 Rare Washington Quarter Errors Worth Money (Full List with Pictures)
Where To Sell Your 1962 Quarter?
When selling your 1962 quarter, the key is matching your coin’s value and your selling preferences to the right marketplace. Major auction houses like Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers are ideal for high-grade certified pieces—they reach the deep-pocketed specialist collectors who pay top dollar for MS-67+, PR-70 DCAM, or DDO examples. Coin dealers offer quick, hassle-free transactions at slightly below retail. Online platforms like eBay give you maximum reach for mid-range examples, though fees and time investment are real considerations.
Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)
1962 Quarter Market Trend
Market Interest Trend Chart - 1962 Quarter
Market interest: 5,640 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 1962 Quarter
1. What makes a 1962 Quarter rare in high grades?
In circulated condition, they’re common—worth about $17 in silver melt. Rarity kicks in above MS-65 for Philly coins and even sooner for Denver, because the 1962-D typically has rougher surfaces. As of December 2024, PCGS had graded only 5 examples of the 1962-D at MS-67+ and NGC just 9—out of 127 million originally struck.
2. What is the most valuable 1962 Quarter ever sold?
A PCGS MS-67+ sold at Heritage Auctions on March 16, 2019, for $26,400—the all-time business-strike record. For proofs, a PCGS PR-70 DCAM sold at Heritage Auctions on May 8, 2022, for $7,800.
3. How much is a circulated 1962 Quarter worth?
A worn 1962 quarter in Good to Fine condition is worth its silver melt—roughly $6–$9 based on current silver prices near $94 per troy ounce, since the coin contains 0.18084 troy ounces of silver. In better circulated grades (Extremely Fine to AU), values rise to approximately $9–$15 before the mint state premium kicks in.
4. Is the 1962-D Quarter rarer than the 1962 Philadelphia Quarter?
Yes, and it’s completely counterintuitive. Despite 127 million coined versus Philadelphia’s 36 million, the Denver issue is scarcer in Gem (MS-65) and higher grades. PCGS CoinFacts notes the 1962 Philadelphia is about twice as available as the 1962-D in Gem condition. Denver coins from this era just have rougher surfaces that prevent most examples from reaching the Gem threshold.
5. What is the difference between a CAM and DCAM 1962 Quarter?
Both are proof designations from PCGS and NGC. CAM (Cameo) means the raised design elements have visible frosted texture contrasting against the mirror background. DCAM (Deep Cameo) requires a stronger, more dramatic version of that contrast—a bold black-and-white effect. DCAM examples are rarer (~230,000 estimated vs. ~550,000 CAM) and worth more at every grade level.
6. What is the 1962 DDO FS-101 and how do I spot it?
DDO stands for Doubled Die Obverse, listed as FS-101 in the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties. It shows clear doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and Washington’s hair details. Use a loupe at 5x–10x magnification and look for clear separation between the doubled elements. If the doubling looks flat and shelf-like with no separation, that’s machine doubling—worthless. A 1962 MS-66+ DDO sold at Heritage Auctions in 2016 for $3,290.
7. Why did the U.S. Mint stop making silver quarters after 1964?
President Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-81) on July 23, 1965, eliminating silver from dimes and quarters. A nationwide coin shortage had been building since 1959, driven by industrial silver demand and widespread hoarding. By 1962, the Mint was running around-the-clock shifts at Philadelphia and Denver just to keep up. The law also cut half dollar silver content from 90% to 40%, a transition completed entirely in 1970.
8. What is a 1962 Type B Reverse (FS-901) Quarter?
It’s a die variety catalogued as FS-901 in the Cherrypickers’ Guide, featuring a different reverse die with altered eagle feather details and modified wing positioning. Recognized relatively recently, so many examples likely remain unidentified. An MS-66+ sold on eBay for $1,500 in 2019. Great cherrypicking opportunity.
9. How do I tell if my 1962 Quarter is genuine silver?
Every 1962 quarter is 90% silver—no clad quarters existed until 1965. Check the edge. Silver quarters show a uniform silver-white edge with no copper core stripe. Post-1964 clad quarters have a visible copper sandwich layer on the edge. A 1962 quarter weighs exactly 6.25 grams; a precision kitchen scale accurate to 0.1 grams confirms it in seconds.
10. Should I clean my 1962 Quarter before selling it?
Never. Cleaning removes the original surface patina and luster that graders and collectors look for. A cleaned coin gets a “details” or “cleaned” designation from PCGS or NGC, which can cut market value by 50% or more versus an original example in the same grade. If your coin looks dirty or tarnished, just put it in a soft coin flip and let a professional assess it. Original surfaces—even with natural toning—are always preferred.



























































































