1968 Quarter Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1968 quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $9,400. That record was a Grade 68 example sold through Heritage Auctions in September 2013. 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.

 

1968 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s what your 1968 quarter is actually worth, broken down by type and condition. 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 1968 Quarter Worth Money

The top of this list is dominated by MS-68 examples from both Philadelphia and Denver. Those coins are brutally hard to find. Condition is everything here, but errors can shake up the rankings fast.

The 1968-D DDR (Doubled Die Reverse) FS-801 in MS-65 beats out plenty of higher-grade regular strikes. GreatCollections records show eight sales of this variety, ranging from $1,856 to $2,846 in grades MS-65 to MS-66. That’s a mid-grade error outperforming gem-quality normal coins.

Deep Cameo proofs from San Francisco also punch way above their weight. That ultra-frosted look against mirror fields turns a common date into something collectors fight over. And across the board, the 1968-D consistently outperforms its Philadelphia counterpart at the same grade level thanks to that much lower mintage.

 

History Of The 1968 Quarter

The Washington quarter debuted in 1932 for George Washington’s 200th birthday. Congress set up a Bicentennial Committee to plan the celebrations, and a new coin was part of the deal. Originally, the idea was to temporarily replace the Walking Liberty half dollar, but Congress went a different direction — they permanently replaced the Standing Liberty quarter with Washington’s portrait instead.

Sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser got the design commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts backed her work. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon overruled everyone, held a new competition, and picked John Flanagan’s design. That’s the design still on the coin today. The first Washington quarters hit circulation in August 1932.

From 1932 through 1964, these quarters were 90% silver. Then the Coinage Act of 1965 changed everything. President Johnson signed silver out of dimes and quarters because rising silver prices had people hoarding coins by the roll. The new composition was copper-nickel clad — a copper core sandwiched between layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

That same act also killed mint marks on circulating coins. From 1965 through 1967, you couldn’t tell which facility struck your coin. Congress reversed course in 1967, and mint marks came back on 1968-dated coins.

Here’s the detail that makes 1968 truly unique: when mint marks came back, they were permanently moved from the reverse of the coin to the obverse. Mint Director Eva Adams wanted uniformity across all denominations, and that change stuck. It was also the first year proof coins ever carried a mint mark — before 1968, proofs were always struck at Philadelphia with no mark.

The basic Flanagan design stayed consistent through the decades. The 1975-1976 Bicentennial coins carried a dual “1776-1976” date, and Washington’s bust got slightly smaller in 1999. But the 1968 quarter looks essentially the same as what rolled off the press in 1932.

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

 

Is Your 1968 Quarter Rare?

The chart above might surprise you. The 1968-D, despite being a common pocket coin, is actually the lowest-mintage clad business-strike Washington quarter of the entire 1965-1998 era. Meanwhile, DCAM proofs are scarce within an already limited proof run — only the first strikes off fresh dies got that heavy frost. Use our Coin Identifier and Value App to instantly check the rarity ranking of any quarter in your collection and see how it stacks up.

 

Key Features Of The 1968 Quarter

Knowing what to look for on your 1968 quarter is the first step to spotting the coins worth real money. Here’s a quick walkthrough of both sides.

The Obverse Of The 1968 Quarter

Washington faces left, hair tied in a low ponytail. LIBERTY runs along the top rim. The date 1968 sits at the bottom, and IN GOD WE TRUST appears on the left side.

Now look to the right of Washington’s ponytail. If you see a “D,” that’s Denver. No letter? Philadelphia. This was the first year any Washington quarter carried a mint mark on the front. Every previous mint mark had been on the reverse through 1964.

The Reverse Of The 1968 Quarter

Flip it over. A bald eagle dominates the reverse, wings spread wide, perched on a bundle of arrows. An olive branch sits beneath the eagle.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs along the top inner rim. E PLURIBUS UNUM appears above the eagle’s head. QUARTER DOLLAR runs along the bottom. When you’re checking for the DDR FS-801 error, this is the side to study — focus on the eagle’s breast feathers and tail.

Other Features Of The 1968 Quarter

The 1968 Washington quarter has a copper core clad in an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel (which equals 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel by total coin weight). It measures 24.30 millimeters in diameter, weighs 5.67 grams, and has a reeded edge.

Zero silver content. That trips up a lot of newer collectors. Only quarters dated 1964 and earlier contain silver. Look at the edge of your coin — if you see that copper stripe in the “sandwich,” it’s clad.

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

 

1968 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 220,731,500 quarters with no mint mark. Denver made just 101,534,000 — making the 1968-D the lowest-mintage clad business-strike Washington quarter ever produced across the entire 1965-1998 clad era, according to PCGS CoinFacts. That’s less than half of Philly’s output.

Both circulation strikes show identical 25% survival rates. Three out of every four coins minted are gone — worn out, damaged, or lost. The 1968-S DCAM quarters tell a different story, with much higher survival rates because collectors tucked those proof sets away from day one.

The San Francisco Assay Office sold 1968 proof sets at $5.00 each, including registered mail. Only 3,041,506 sets were struck. Within those proofs, Deep Cameo designation applies only to the very first coins off freshly prepared dies — a tiny fraction of an already small run.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1968 Quarter Value

Check for the mint mark (no mark = Philadelphia, “D” = Denver, “S” = San Francisco proof), look at the overall condition, and hunt for error varieties. Sharp details, full luster, or striking errors can push a quarter well past face value.

Skip the hours of price guide research. Let Coin Identifier and Value App  do the heavy lifting. Snap a photo of your 1968 quarter and the app identifies the variety, grades the condition, and gives you current market values — whether it’s a common circulated piece or a sleeper worth real money.

 

1968 Quarter Value Guides

1968 Quarter Types:

• 1968 No Mint Mark — Philadelphia mint production
• 1968-D — Denver mint production
• 1968-S Proof — San Francisco special collector strikes
• 1968-S CAM — Cameo (CAM) contrast proof finish
• 1968-S DCAM — Deep Cameo (DCAM) ultra-contrast proof finish

Five distinct types, five different markets. Philadelphia and Denver are your regular circulation strikes, with Denver being the scarcer of the two.

The three San Francisco varieties are all proofs — struck twice on polished planchets using specially prepared dies. CAM and DCAM refer to how much contrast you see between the frosted raised design and the mirror fields. Proper identification is your first step before you even think about value.

 

1968 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

Over 220 million struck, and most are worth a quarter. But try finding one in MS-68. That’s where things get wild.

Philadelphia didn’t use a mint mark during this era, so no letter means Philly. PCGS CoinFacts shows only a handful of coins have ever graded MS-68. Hundreds exist at MS-67, but fewer than a dozen at MS-68. That’s a massive rarity cliff, and it drives prices through the roof at the top.

The all-time record for a 1968 No Mint Mark quarter is $9,400, set by a PCGS MS-68 example sold at Heritage Auctions on September 25, 2013. Same coin design worth a quarter in your pocket, nearly five figures in perfect condition.

The auction record chart below shows what collectors have actually paid for top examples.

Recent sales show steady collector interest across the grade spectrum.

Market activity score: 67/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 17 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 72 (Sep 2026).

 

1968-D Quarter Value

Did you know the 1968-D has the lowest mintage of any clad business-strike Washington quarter ever produced across the entire 1965-1998 era? Only 101,534,000 came out of Denver, compared to Philadelphia’s 220+ million. That makes this the key date for serious Washington quarter specialists.

PCGS reports roughly 200-300 examples known in MS-67. Fewer than a dozen have graded MS-68. The auction record is $8,812.50 for a PCGS MS-68 in 2016. Just like the Philly coin, that MS-68 barrier is a true wall.

Here’s a cherrypicking tip: Philadelphia quarters from 1968 often come weakly struck. Denver coins tend to show sharper detail on Washington’s hair curls and the eagle’s feathers. That combination of lower mintage and better strike quality is why the 1968-D consistently outperforms at equivalent grades. I think this is the most underrated clad quarter in the series.

Auction records tell the story of what collectors actually pay for premium examples.

Demand stays solid from both type collectors and date-and-mintmark specialists.

Market activity score: 50/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1968-S Proof Quarter Value

If you’re new to collecting, this is a great coin to start with. The 1968-S proof quarter was among the first proofs struck after a four-year break — proof production was completely shut down from 1965 through 1967 to focus on the coin shortage. When proofs came back in 1968, they moved to San Francisco and carried an “S” mint mark for the first time ever.

Proofs are struck on polished planchets, hit twice at higher pressure so every detail pops. Mirror fields, crisp devices — you can tell a proof the second you see one. Most grades are affordable, and the value curve is gentle and predictable.

Auction history shows stable pricing — no crazy spikes, just steady collector demand.

A solid type coin at a fair price. That’s what keeps collectors coming back.

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1968-S CAM Quarter Value

Think of Cameo as the sweet spot between a regular proof and a Deep Cameo. You get that frosted portrait popping against mirror fields — real eye candy under a lamp — without the DCAM price tag.

San Francisco polished its dies hard in 1968 to get those deep mirrors. But polishing wears down the frost on raised design elements fast. True Cameo coins came from relatively fresh dies, before the frost faded. That’s what makes the CAM designation meaningful — it’s not just pretty, it’s a marker of die state.

We think CAM proofs are some of the best values in the 1968 proof market right now.

Auction data shows consistent appreciation for this variety.

Steady demand from collectors who want proof eye appeal without paying DCAM premiums.

Market activity score: 47/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 50 (Aug 2026).

 

1968-S DCAM Quarter Value

A standard 1968-S proof in PR-69 runs about $14-$17. The same coin with Deep Cameo? Around $2,500. That’s the DCAM premium in a nutshell.

Only the very first strikes from brand-new die pairs got the heavy frost needed for Deep Cameo. Every subsequent strike had less frost — eventually dropping to Cameo, then plain proof. You’re looking at a tiny window of production within an already limited proof run.

The visual effect is stunning. Ultra-frosted devices against deeply mirrored fields create an almost three-dimensional look. Registry set collectors chase these hard.

The all-time auction record for the 1968-S DCAM stands at $2,875, set by a PCGS PR-69 DCAM example sold in 2007.

Auction records show strong demand at every grade level.

Serious collectors recognize DCAM proofs as top-tier coins, and the market reflects it.

Market activity score: 38/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 63 (Nov 2025).

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1968 Quarter Error List Worth Money

Most 1968 quarters are worth face value. But a handful of error varieties can bring hundreds or thousands. Here’s what to look for.

1. 1968-D DDR FS-801 (Doubled Die Reverse)

Grab a loupe and flip your 1968-D to the reverse. Look at the eagle’s breast feathers and tail. If you see a “ghost image” — a second, slightly offset impression of the design — you might be holding the most significant Denver mint error of this era.

A DDR happens when the die gets a misaligned second impression during manufacturing. On well-preserved examples, the doubling is visible to the naked eye. GreatCollections records 8 confirmed sales over 15 years, with prices from $1,856 to $2,846 in grades MS-65 to MS-66. This variety outperforms many regular strikes at higher grades.

2. 1968-S DDR FS-801 (San Francisco Doubled Die Reverse)

Same doubled die reverse as the Denver version, but with a twist — it comes in proof and cameo finishes. Mirror fields make the doubling pop even more. The combination of proof quality, cameo contrast, and dramatic doubling makes this one of the most desirable varieties from the entire 1968 series.

Check the eagle’s breast and tail details. Both regular proof and CAM versions carry strong premiums.

3. 1968-S DDO FS-101 (Doubled Die Obverse)

This one’s on the front. The die got a second, misaligned hub impression, so you’ll see doubling on Washington’s hair, facial features, and the date “1968.” The auction record is $450 for a PR-67 example.

Here’s how to tell it’s real: genuine DDO doubling is raised and well-defined, with visible separation between the primary and secondary images. Machine doubling looks flat and shelf-like — that’s worth almost nothing. Check LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date under 5-10x magnification.

4. 1968-S RPM FS-501 (Repunched Mint Mark)

Back in 1968, mint marks were still punched into working dies by hand. Sometimes the punch landed slightly off on the first try, and the engraver had to hit it again. That’s how you get a Repunched Mint Mark — the “S” shows an overlapping ghost from the first strike.

The cameo proof finish makes the RPM easier to spot against those mirror fields. Not as dramatic as a doubled die, but RPM varieties in cameo proof have a dedicated specialist following.

5. 1968 Missing Clad Layer Error

This is one of the coolest-looking errors you’ll find. If the outer copper-nickel layer didn’t bond properly to the copper core during production, the coin comes out with one reddish-brown copper face and one normal silver-colored face. It happens before the coin is even struck.

Want to check yours at home? Weigh it. A normal 1968 quarter is 5.67 grams, but a missing clad layer example runs about 5.0-5.2 grams. Also look at the edge — the normal copper stripe in the “sandwich” will be absent on the affected side. NGC certified a pair of 1968-D quarters with partial reverse clad layers missing (graded XF-45), sold through GreatCollections. These typically bring $50-$350 depending on how much cladding is missing and the overall grade.

6. 1968 Off-Center Strike

When the blank planchet doesn’t seat properly between the dies, you get a crescent of blank metal on one edge. These show up more often on 1968 Philadelphia quarters. Minor shifts of 10-15% bring $20-$50. A dramatic 50% off-center coin can top $200 — but only if the date is readable.

The date must be visible for maximum value. No date, no way to confirm the year, and the price drops fast. Check that the blank edge is smooth and naturally curved. Rough or filed edges mean post-mint damage, not a mint error.

7. 1968-S Silver Planchet Proof Error (Unique)

The holy grail. A single 1968-S Proof quarter struck on a 90% silver planchet left over from the pre-1965 era. It’s the only known post-1964 proof silver quarter in existence. PCGS certified it PR-64 and authenticated it in September 2017 at the Long Beach Expo. A 1969 spectrograph analysis confirmed the 90% silver / 10% copper composition. Originally owned by California dealer Lyle Clark, this one-of-a-kind transitional error is the ultimate rarity in the entire 1968 quarter series.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 1968 Quarter?

Ready to put your 1968 quarter expertise to work? Researching the most successful selling strategies is key — the right venue for a circulated example differs significantly from where to sell a certified MS-68 or error variety.

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

 

1968 Quarter Market Trend

Market interest: 12,270 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 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 1968 Quarter Value

1. Do all 1968 quarters have mint marks?

Nope. Philadelphia quarters from 1968 have no mint mark — the Philly Mint didn’t use one during this era. Denver coins show a “D” near Washington’s ponytail on the obverse, and San Francisco proofs show an “S” in the same spot. Worth noting: 1968 was the first year mint marks appeared on the front of Washington quarters instead of the back.

2. Is the 1968 quarter made of silver?

No. Zero silver. The Coinage Act of 1965 pulled silver from dimes and quarters entirely, replacing them with a copper core clad in 75% copper and 25% nickel outer layers. Only quarters dated 1964 and earlier contain 90% silver.

If your 1968 quarter weighs noticeably less than 5.67 grams — say around 5.0-5.2 grams — you might have a missing clad layer error worth $50-$350.

3. What is the most valuable 1968 quarter ever sold?

The all-time auction record for a regular-issue 1968 quarter is $9,400, paid for a PCGS MS-68 Philadelphia (no mint mark) example at Heritage Auctions on September 25, 2013. The top 1968-D record is $8,812.50 for a PCGS MS-68 sold in 2016.

The top 1968-S proof record is $2,875 for a PCGS PR-69 DCAM sold in 2007. The unique 1968-S proof on a silver planchet is essentially priceless as a one-of-one coin.

4. Why did mint marks disappear from 1965 to 1967?

The Coinage Act of 1965 banned them. The government believed collectors and speculators were hoarding coins by mint mark, making the coin shortage worse. No mint marks meant no reason to hoard.

Congress repealed the ban in 1967. Mint marks returned on 1968-dated coins — but this time permanently on the obverse instead of the reverse.

5. What makes the 1968-D quarter special compared to Philadelphia?

The 1968-D is the lowest-mintage clad business-strike Washington quarter ever produced across the entire 1965-1998 series. Only 101,534,000 struck versus Philadelphia’s 220+ million. Fewer coins means fewer survivors at every grade level, and Denver consistently commands stronger premiums at MS-67 and above.

PCGS reports roughly 200-300 MS-67 Denver examples known, with fewer than a dozen at MS-68. That’s a genuine condition rarity at the top of the population.

6. How can I tell a genuine doubled die from machine doubling?

This is the single most important skill for error coin cherrypicking. Genuine DDO or DDR doubling is raised, well-defined doubling with clear separation between the primary and secondary images. It looks like the design was stamped twice in slightly different positions.

Machine doubling (sometimes called “shelf doubling”) looks flat, smeared, and adds almost no value. For 1968 DDO coins, check LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date under 5-10x magnification. Raised and rounded with a visible gap? Likely genuine. Flat and shelf-like? Worth face value.

7. What 1968 quarter errors are the most valuable?

In order: (1) the unique 1968-S proof on a 90% silver planchet (PCGS PR-64, one of a kind); (2) the 1968-D DDR FS-801, sold at GreatCollections for up to $2,846 in MS-66; (3) the 1968-S DDR FS-801 in CAM proof finish; (4) the 1968-S DDO FS-101 (auction record $450 for PR-67); and (5) the missing clad layer error ($50-$350 depending on extent and grade). Off-center strikes with visible dates and broadstrikes bring more modest premiums.

8. Why are DCAM proof quarters worth so much more than regular proofs?

It comes down to die state. San Francisco polished its dies aggressively in 1968 to create deep mirrors, but that polishing wore down the frost on raised design elements fast. Only the very first coins off a brand-new die pair got the heavy frost needed for Deep Cameo. Every subsequent strike had less frost — eventually qualifying as Cameo, then plain proof.

That scarcity within an already limited mintage is why a PR-69 DCAM ($2,500) commands more than 140 times the value of a standard PR-69 ($14-$17).

9. Should I clean my 1968 quarter before having it graded?

Never. PCGS and NGC will body-bag or details-grade a cleaned coin. That means no numeric grade and most of the collector premium gone. Even “gentle” cleaning leaves microscopic scratches visible under professional magnification.

Store uncirculated coins in non-PVC Mylar flips or hard plastic holders. If you think you have something valuable, submit it to PCGS or NGC exactly as-is. No polish, no chemicals, no soap and water.

10. Is the 1968 quarter a good investment for collectors in 2026?

In circulated grades, these are extremely common and unlikely to gain much value. The action is at the top — MS-67, MS-68, and certified error varieties. Those are genuinely rare coins with documented upward price trends.

I’d focus on 1968-D coins in MS-66 and above for registry set potential, and Deep Cameo proofs graded PR-68 and higher where PCGS/NGC populations stay low. Error varieties — especially missing clad layers and strong DDR/DDO coins — should see the strongest percentage gains as collector interest in clad-era errors keeps growing.