1973 Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

The Washington quarter design had firmly established itself by 1973, representing four decades of consistent American coinage artistry.

This period showcased the maturity of clad composition quarters introduced in 1965. Regular 1973 quarters average $0.67 in AU condition, while Denver mint specimens command significantly higher premiums at $34.57 in top grades.

Proof versions from San Francisco offer additional collecting opportunities, with standard proofs averaging $5.75 in PR condition and deep cameo examples reaching $11.80. The year represents typical modern quarter production with notable mint variations.

 

1973 Quarter Value By Variety

The table below breaks down current market values for each 1973 Washington quarter variety across different 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 1973 Quarter Worth Money

The hierarchy of 1973 quarter values reveals fascinating patterns in collector preferences and rarity. The undisputed champion is the 1973-S DCAM 70, commanding an extraordinary $5,875—nearly six times more than any other 1973 variety. This massive premium reflects the perfect grade combined with maximum proof contrast, creating the ultimate condition rarity.

Interestingly, high-grade Philadelphia quarters (1973 67) outperform many Denver examples, despite Denver’s lower survival rates.

The 1973-D varieties dominate the middle tier, with grades ranging from MS 55 to MS 67 consistently achieving three-figure values. Even lower-grade Denver quarters like MS 63-66 maintain respectable premiums of $84-168, demonstrating sustained collector demand across condition levels.

The data shows how grade sensitivity varies dramatically—DCAM proofs jump from $171 in PR 69 to nearly $6,000 in perfect PR 70 condition.

 

History of the 1973 Quarter

The Quarter – aka 25 cents – is the most commonly used coin in the US today. It’s also a good source of seignorage, which is the difference between a coin’s production cost and its face value or denomination. Those extra cents count as a sort of tax that provides revenue for the US Mint. As an example, it takes 2.72 cents to make a penny and 10.41 cents for a nickel.

That means these two coins cost more than double their face value – and close to triple for the 1c coin. So the mint is making a massive loss on them. In comparison, it takes 5.03 cents to make a dime, 11.11 cents to make a quarter, and 17.15 cents to make a half dollar, so these coins are still quite profitable. Beyond its financial significance, the quarter is a cultural icon.

Over the years, it has been used to showcase social causes and markers like national parks, American monuments, legendary American women, US states, and US territories. Back in 1973, the coin hadn’t secured its position as an SJW – Social Justice Warrior. But it was still a star both in daily transactions and in the collector’s space. And it first appeared in 1932.

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

 

Is your 1973 Quarter rare?

Understanding these nuanced rarity rankings becomes crucial for serious collectors—you can quickly check any coin’s rarity status using our CoinValueChecker App for instant grading assistance.

 

Key Features of the 1973 Quarter

Jargon is a key part of fitting in with numismatists – people who study, collect, and trade in coins, medals, and tokens. So here’s a primer. The heads side of a coin is its obverse, the tails is its reverse, the thin side is its edge, and the raised border is a rim or collar. The images are called devices, the words are legends or mottos, and the coin’s background is called its field.

The Obverse of the 1973 Quarter

It shows George Washington facing left. The legend Liberty is above his head while the motto In God We Trust is on the left, in front of his neck. The mint mark is behind the ribbon that ties his ponytail and the date is at the bottom of the coin. Toward the right of the neckline cut-off, the letters JF are engraved. These initials refer to the coin’s designer, John Flanagan.

The Reverse of the 1973 Quarter

It shows a closely cropped bald eagle with its wings spread out. The bird holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its talons, representing the original 13 states that formed the union. The top of the coin bears the legend United States of America, with the motto E Pluribus Unum below it, snug between the eagle’s wings, above its head. The bottom of the coin says Quarter Dollar.

Other Features of the 1973 Quarter

This mixture of 1973 quarter was segmented into layers, with an interior of pure copper coated with a mix of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The combination gave the coin its trademark silvery shine. The coin is 24.3mm in diameter and 1.75mm thick, weighing 5.67g. It has 119 reeds along its edge where the cladding often fades.

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

 

1973 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia dominated production with nearly 347 million pieces, yet only 30% remain in collectible condition today—that’s still over 104 million survivors. Denver’s 233 million mintage shows dramatically lower preservation at just 17.12%, leaving fewer than 40 million examples intact.

The real surprise comes from San Francisco’s DCAM proofs: despite the smallest original mintage of 2.76 million, these coins boast an exceptional 81% survival rate. This reflects their careful handling by collectors from day one, contrasting sharply with circulation coins that faced decades of wear and loss.

These survival patterns highlight why condition matters more than original rarity for 1973 quarters. The pie chart visualization clearly shows how Philadelphia survivors still dominate the landscape, while Denver and San Francisco represent smaller but significant portions of available examples.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1973 Quarter Value

Assessing 1973 quarter’s worth requires careful attention to specific wear patterns that develop over five decades of potential circulation. The key diagnostic areas include Washington’s hair details above the ear, cheekbone definition, and the eagle’s breast feathers on the reverse.

Surface quality, luster retention, and strike sharpness all factor into final value determination. Proof coins add another layer of complexity, with Deep Cameo (DCAM) designation requiring strong contrast between mirrored fields and frosted devices.

For instant verification, simply snap a photo with our CoinValueChecker App to get a professional-level assessment in seconds.

 

1973 Quarter Value Guides

The 1973 Washington quarter series encompasses five distinct varieties that collectors actively pursue.

Regular circulation strikes came from Philadelphia (no mint mark) and Denver (“D”), representing the bulk of production at nearly 580 million coins combined. San Francisco focused exclusively on collector-quality proofs, creating three specialized versions based on surface contrast quality.

The standard 1973-S Proof features polished fields with modest device frosting, while CAM (Cameo) examples show enhanced contrast between mirrored backgrounds and frosted lettering. The premium DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation represents the finest contrast achievable, with deeply frosted devices creating dramatic visual appeal against brilliant mirror-like fields.

These proof variations, though sharing identical designs, command vastly different market premiums based on their surface characteristics and relative scarcity within the 2.76 million proof mintage.

• 1973 No Mint Mark (Philadelphia)
• 1973-D (Denver Mint)
• 1973-S Proof (San Francisco Mint)
• 1973-S CAM (San Francisco Mint)
• 1973-S DCAM (San Francisco Mint)

 

1973 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

The 1973 Philadelphia quarter stands out as the most abundant Washington quarter of its era, with over 346 million pieces struck without mint marks. Despite its common status, this coin represents a transitional period in U.S. coinage history—one of the final years before the bicentennial redesign transformed quarter aesthetics. Its massive production run makes it easily accessible to collectors, yet pristine examples in MS67+ grades remain surprisingly scarce due to typical handling wear over five decades.

Recent auction records reveal how condition dramatically impacts value for this high-mintage issue.

Current market activity demonstrates sustained collector interest despite the coin’s common classification.

 

1973-D Quarter Value

The 1973-D quarter from Denver represents a fascinating study in regional minting differences, with 232.9 million pieces bearing the distinctive “D” mint mark.

This coin showcases Denver’s characteristic strike quality of the early 1970s, often displaying sharper details than its Philadelphia counterpart due to less die wear from smaller production runs.

What makes this quarter particularly noteworthy is its lower survival rate—only 17% compared to Philadelphia’s 30%—making higher-grade examples genuinely scarce despite the substantial original mintage.

Recent auction records demonstrate the premium collectors pay for superior condition examples of this Denver issue.

Market activity reflects consistent interest from both Washington quarter specialists and registry set builders.

 

1973-S Proof Quarter Value

The 1973-S Proof quarter represents San Francisco’s dedication to collector-quality coinage, struck exclusively for numismatic purposes with specially prepared dies and polished planchets.

Unlike circulation strikes, these proofs feature mirror-like fields contrasting with frosted devices, creating the distinctive appearance that collectors prize.

Historical auction records showcase the consistent premium these proofs command over regular strikes.

Current market activity reveals strong collector appetite for well-preserved examples across all proof designations.

 

1973-S CAM Quarter Value

The 1973-S CAM (Cameo) quarter represents an enhanced level of proof quality, featuring moderate contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields.

 These coins result from early strikes using fresh proof dies, before the frosting effect begins to diminish through repeated use. CAM designation requires noticeable but not dramatic contrast—a middle ground between standard proofs and the premium DCAM examples. This subtle enhancement in visual appeal makes CAM quarters particularly attractive to collectors seeking proof quality with distinctive character, yet they remain more accessible than their Deep Cameo counterparts.

Auction records reveal the consistent premium the CAM.

Market activity shows growing appreciation for these moderately contrasted specimens among discerning collectors.

 

1973-S DCAM Quarter Value

The 1973-S DCAM (Deep Cameo) quarter represents the pinnacle of proof coin artistry, featuring dramatic contrast between heavily frosted devices and brilliant mirror-like fields. These exceptional pieces result from the very first strikes using fresh proof dies, when the sandblasting treatment creates maximum frosting effect before any wear occurs.

DCAM quarters exhibit needle-sharp detail with devices that appear almost three-dimensional against their reflective backgrounds, creating a stunning visual impact that separates them from all other proof designations. Only a small percentage of the 2.76 million proof mintage achieved this premium contrast level.

Auction records consistently demonstrate the significant premiums collectors willingly pay for this elite designation.

Market activity demonstrates strong collector competition for top-tier DCAM examples across major numismatic platforms.

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1973 Quarter Error List

Mint errors can make coins a lot more valuable. And the earliest recorded errors get FS or First Strike numbers. These are officially spotted and verified within 30 days of the coin’s release date. But other mint mistakes can raise the price too. These include missing clad layers, cud breaks, misalignment, and die caps. Let’s catch a few of the 1973 Quarter Errors.

1. 1973 Quarter Struck on a Penny

Another mechanical mint mistake is when a coin is struck on a blank that was intended for another denomination. Here, it was a penny, which is 19.05mm across instead of 24.3mm, meaning some design details got sliced off. It’s also lighter at 3.1g. A business strike 1973 (P) Quarter graded MS 64 sold for $1,495 while a 1973-S proof graded PF 67 RD sold for $3,100.

2. 1973-S Proof Quarter Double-Struck on a Penny

This next error is similar because it used a planchet meant for a 1c coin. But this planchet shifted between strikes, so it’s double-struck as well and has slightly overlapping images. It’s a rare error on a proof coin since they’re so carefully minted. Also, you can spot the flaw by weighing the coin. It’s 3.13g instead of 5.67g. Graded PF 68 RB, this quarter sold for $4,600.

3. 1973-D Quarter Struck on a Dime Planchet

Here’s another example of the same error. But this time, the blank was intended for a 10c coin. That’s even smaller than a penny at 17.91mm across, so a lot of detail got sliced off the quarter. It was also significantly lighter at 2.2g instead of the expected 5.67g. Liberty and the top of Washington’s head are gone, as is the denomination on the back. In MS 64, it’s $1,900.

4. 1973-D Quarter Struck on a Nickel Planchet

Still on that train, here’s a quarter struck on a 5c planchet. As usual, some of the wording is chopped off the top of the coin. And if you were to weigh it, you’d probably get 5g instead of 5.67g. But the coin is a lower grade – AU 58. That means About Uncirculated, though in the UK and other European countries, they just say Uncirculated for 50 to 58. It sold for $145.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 1973 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)

 

1973 Quarter Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1973 Quarter

1.Are Coins From 1973 Worth Anything?

1973 Quarters aren’t especially expensive, but they’re worth a lot more than 25 cents. In August 2023, the highest-graded 1973 (P) Quarter is an MS 67+ worth $1,300. A 1973-D Quarter in MS 68 is worth $2,750 while a 1973-S Quarter in PR 70 DCAM is worth $4,100.