1776 to 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

The 1976 Bicentennial quarter stands as one of America’s most ambitious numismatic celebrations. Congress authorized special designs in 1973 to honor the nation’s 200th birthday.

Over 1.6 billion quarters were produced across Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. This massive production made it the most widely circulated commemorative quarter in U.S. history.

Many quarters were pulled from circulation due to their distinctive drummer boy design. This removal created surprising scarcity for high-grade examples despite the enormous original mintage.

Values vary dramatically by type and condition across the different varieties. Regular clad versions range from $0.25 in circulated condition to $24.96 in Mint State. The 40% silver collector versions command higher premiums, spanning $1.94 to $15.88.

Proof versions with special Cameo and Deep Cameo finishes represent the premium offerings. These collector favorites achieve values between $7.22 and $10.78, reflecting their superior striking quality.

 

1976 Quarter Value By Variety

Not all 1976 quarters are created equal—different varieties can mean the difference between 25 cents and thousands of dollars.

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 1976 Quarter Worth Money

The most valuable 1976 quarters reveal a clear pattern: condition and errors drive extreme premiums in this commemorative series.

Leading the pack is a 1976-S MS69 silver quarter that achieved $19,200 at auction—nearly 77,000 times its face value. Error varieties dominate the rest of the top ten, with 1976-D Double Die Obverse coins claiming multiple spots. The FS-101 variety shows particularly strong performance across all grades, from $518 in MS53 to $8,400 in MS66.

What’s striking is how dramatically grade affects value—the same FS-101 error jumps from under $1,000 in lower grades to over $8,000 in premium condition.

High-grade regular strikes also command serious money, with a 1976-D MS68 reaching $6,463. Even circulated error coins like the 1976-D MS63 can bring over $1,300, proving that condition matters but errors create the biggest opportunities for collectors willing to hunt for varieties.

 

History Of The 1976 Quarter

The 1976 Bicentennial quarter emerged from one of the most ambitious commemorative coin programs in American history.

As the nation prepared to celebrate its 200th birthday, Congress passed legislation in 1973 authorizing special designs for the quarter, half dollar, and dollar coin—the first design changes to circulating U.S. coins in decades.

The U.S. Mint launched a nationwide design competition, ultimately selecting Jack L. Ahr’s winning submission featuring a colonial drummer surrounded by 13 stars and a victory torch.

This design replaced John Flanagan’s traditional eagle reverse that had adorned quarters since 1932, while maintaining his iconic Washington obverse.

Production began in 1975, with coins bearing the dual date “1776-1976” to commemorate both the Declaration of Independence and the bicentennial celebration. The Mint struck over 1.6 billion quarters across three facilities: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S).

To prevent hoarding, the Mint produced massive quantities for circulation while also creating special collector versions. San Francisco minted both clad proof coins and 40% silver collector editions, adding another layer of variety for numismatists.

The program officially ended in 1976, but these quarters remained legal tender and continued circulating alongside regular Washington quarters, creating the collecting opportunity we see today.

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

 

Is Your 1976 Quarter Rare?

For collectors serious about understanding true rarity across all Washington quarters, our CoinValueChecker App provides comprehensive rarity rankings and real-time market data to help identify which dates offer the best collecting opportunities.

 

Key Features Of The 1976 Quarter

The Obverse Of The 1976 Quarter

The obverse of the bicentennial quarter carries almost the same design as the quarter of the previous year. It shows the head of the first US president, George Washington, in profile facing left. It was the work of John Flanagan, but it had not been everyone’s first choice.

The Washington quarters were first issued in 1932 to mark the bicentenary of Washington’s birth. Another committee had been set up to oversee the celebrations, and they had recommended that the commemorative coin use a design by Laura Gardin Fraser.

But when it was decided that the Washington quarter would continue to be struck every year, the decision on the design passed to the Treasury. The Treasury Secretary at the time, Andrew W. Mellon, preferred Flanagan’s portrait.

The only difference between the bicentennial obverse and that of other Washington quarters is the date.This appears at the bottom of the coin, but on the bicentennial quarter, two dates are shown. These are 1776, the year in which the Declaration of Independence was signed, and 1976, the year of the bicentenary.

The Reverse of the 1976 Quarter

Ahr’s design for the reverse shows a colonial drummer alongside a torch of victory. The torch is surrounded by a circle of thirteen stars, representing the first states to join the union.

The country name curves along the top edge of the coin face, while the denomination is at the bottom.

The Latin motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, is inscribed between the circle of stars and the drummer’s right arm. It means “From the many, one”, and refers to the country’s creation from the union of states.

Look closely, and you’ll see the designer’s initials, JLR, just above the “A” and “R” of DOLLAR.

Other Features of the 1976 Quarter

Both clad and silver quarters were struck in 1976.The “silver” coins were actually 40% silver overall, with the remainder copper. They measured 24.3 millimeters in diameter and weighed 5.75 grams.

The clad variety of coins combined copper with nickel. Their core was pure copper, while the cladding was a mixture of 75% copper and 25% copper, giving them a silver appearance. They too measured 24.3 millimeters across, but were slightly lighter, at 5.67 grams.

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

 

1976 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

The mintage and survival data reveals why some 1976 quarters are worth more than others.

The massive production numbers tell the story: over 809 million No Mint Mark quarters and 860 million D Clad quarters dominated circulation, with survival rates of 37% and 30% respectively.

The real scarcity lies in the San Francisco varieties. Only 11 million S Silver quarters were produced, with just 1.05 million surviving—a mere 9.5% survival rate that makes them genuinely scarce.

The proof coins show interesting patterns too: S Clad DCAM had over 7 million minted but maintains an 81% survival rate, while S Silver DCAM started with 4 million coins and retains the same 81% survival rate with 3.24 million examples still existing.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1976 quarter Value

Identifying your 1976 Bicentennial quarter’s value is straightforward with the right approach. First, examine the coin’s condition—check for wear on the drummer boy’s details and Washington’s profile. Look for the mint mark (D, S, or none for Philadelphia) on the obverse. Note whether it has a copper-nickel clad or 40% silver composition, as silver versions are more valuable.

Circulated 1976 quarters are typically worth face value, while uncirculated examples can range from $5 to $50+. For a quick and precise evaluation of your coin’s grade and current market value, use our CoinValueChecker App to check the grade directly.

 

1976 Quarter Value Guides

The 1976 Bicentennial quarter comes in seven distinct varieties, each with different mintage numbers and collector appeal.

Circulation Strikes:

• 1976 Clad (No Mint Mark) – 809,784,016 minted
• 1976-D Clad – 860,118,839 minted

San Francisco Silver Issues:

• 1976-S Silver – 11,000,000 minted
• 1976-S Silver CAM – Unknown mintage
• 1976-S Silver DCAM – 4,000,000 minted

San Francisco Clad Proofs:

• 1976-S Clad CAM – Unknown mintage
• 1976-S Clad DCAM – 7,059,099 minted

The Philadelphia and Denver mints produced over 1.6 billion circulation strikes, making them readily available to collectors. San Francisco focused exclusively on collector coins, creating both clad and 40% silver proof versions with varying cameo finishes.

The silver varieties offer both numismatic and precious metal value, while the proof coins showcase superior striking quality with mirror-like surfaces and frosted devices that create stunning visual contrast.

 

1976 Clad Quarter Value

The 1976 Clad quarter represents the most accessible entry point into bicentennial collecting, yet harbors surprising potential for serious collectors.

What makes certain examples special isn’t their rarity—it’s their condition and potential errors. High-grade MS67+ examples are genuinely scarce despite the massive mintage, while error varieties like doubled dies or off-center strikes can transform an ordinary quarter into a four-figure collectible.

The combination of historical significance, widespread availability, and occasional exceptional specimens makes this variety particularly appealing to both novice and advanced numismatists.

Recent auction results reveal the true market value of premium 1976 Clad quarters across different grades and platforms.

Market activity data shows how collector interest in these coins has evolved over the past year.

 

1976-D Clad Quarter Value

Denver Mint quarters are particularly sought after for their generally superior strike quality and fewer bag marks compared to their Philadelphia counterparts. Error varieties are especially prized, including the famous filled “D” mint mark error and double die obverse specimens.

High-grade examples in MS68+ are remarkably scarce given the enormous mintage, making them genuine condition rarities that command premium prices among serious collectors.

Historical auction data demonstrates the wide value range these coins achieve based on grade and specific characteristics.

Current market activity patterns reveal collector sentiment and trading frequency for this popular Denver Mint variety.

 

1976-S Silver Quarter Value

The 1976-S Silver quarter represents the premium collector option in the bicentennial series, containing 40% silver composition instead of the standard copper-nickel clad.

The silver content provides both numismatic and intrinsic metal value, making them recession-resistant investments. These quarters display superior strike quality with sharp details on the drummer boy design and crisp mint marks.

The combination of limited mintage, precious metal content, and collector-only distribution creates a fundamentally different value proposition compared to circulation strikes, explaining their consistently higher market premiums.

Auction records showcase the performance of these silver quarters across different grades and market conditions.

Trading activity demonstrates sustained collector interest in this precious metal variety throughout the year.

 

1976-S Clad CAM Quarter Value   

The 1976-S Clad CAM quarter represents San Francisco’s entry-level proof offering, featuring the distinctive Cameo finish that creates striking visual contrast between frosted devices and mirror-like fields.

Unlike circulation strikes, these coins were struck multiple times with specially polished dies to achieve superior detail and surface quality.

The CAM designation indicates moderate cameo contrast—not as dramatic as Deep Cameo examples, but still significantly more appealing than standard proof finishes. These coins were sold exclusively in collector sets and never entered circulation, ensuring their pristine condition.

The combination of proof striking quality, cameo finish, and San Francisco provenance makes them an affordable way to own a premium bicentennial quarter without the higher costs associated with silver varieties.

Historical auction results demonstrate the steady market performance of these cameo proof quarters across various grading services.

Market activity trends show consistent collector engagement with this accessible proof variety throughout the trading year.

 

1976-S Clad DCAM Quarter Value

The 1976-S Clad DCAM quarters represent the pinnacle of San Francisco Clad DCAM proof coin production, featuring the signature “Deep Cameo” marking for ultimate visual impact. These coins feature a heavy frosting pattern against a deep, mirrored field, creating a striking black-and-white contrast that enhances the image of the drummer boy.

DCAM proof coins require meticulous die preparation and multiple strikes using specially maintained equipment, making them technically superior to standard CAM proofs.

These quarters combine accessible pricing with high-end aesthetics—offering the same visual appeal as expensive silver proofs at a more affordable price.

The “Deep Cameo” contrast has proven popular with collectors, who appreciate the stunning visual effect without the precious metal premium.

Auction data shows that these “Deep Cameo” proofs have performed well across a wide range of market conditions and grades.

Collectors have shown significant enthusiasm for these visually striking proofs in recent market cycles.

 

1976-S Silver CAM Quarter Value

The 1976-S Silver CAM quarter combines the best of both worlds—40% silver composition with attractive cameo contrast that enhances the coin’s visual appeal and investment potential.

These coins represent the entry point into silver bicentennial collecting, offering moderate cameo finish that creates pleasing contrast between frosted devices and reflective fields.

The silver content provides intrinsic metal value that acts as a hedge against inflation, while the cameo designation adds numismatic premium over standard silver proofs. With unknown mintage figures, these coins are scarcer than their clad counterparts and appeal to collectors seeking both precious metal content and superior eye appeal.

The combination makes them particularly attractive to investors who want numismatic upside beyond simple silver bullion value.

Auction records reveal the pricing dynamics for these silver cameo quarters across different market periods and certification services.

Market activity data demonstrates collector interest patterns for this dual-appeal variety combining silver content with cameo aesthetics.

 

1976-S Silver DCAM Quarter Value

The 1976-S DCAM Silver Quarter represents the pinnacle of Bicentennial coin collecting, boasting a 40% silver content and featuring the most striking high-relief engraving currently available. The coins’ heavily frosted design creates a striking visual contrast with the mirrored backing, while the striking black and white tones highlight the Drummer Boy design.

The combination of precious metal content, exceptional minting quality, and exceptional visual appeal creates a coveted trifecta. These quarters offer both the joy of collecting and investment security, making them the ultimate Bicentennial coin enthusiast seeking the finest quality.

Historical auction data demonstrates that these top-quality high-relief silver coins command exceptionally high prices.

The active market reflects strong collector demand for this premium coin, which combines precious metal content with exceptional visual appeal.

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1976 Quarter Error List

Error coins can transform ordinary 1976 quarters into five-figure collectibles.

1. 1976-D DDO (FS-101 And FS-102)

The 1976-D Double Die Obverse varieties represent the most sought-after errors in the bicentennial series. FS-101 shows clear doubling on “LIBERTY” and the date “1776-1976,” while FS-102 displays pronounced doubling on “IN GOD WE TRUST” and Washington’s profile details.

Both varieties originated from improperly prepared dies that were hubbed twice in slightly different positions. High-grade examples have sold for thousands of dollars, with FS-101 being slightly more common than the scarcer FS-102.

These errors are easily visible to the naked eye once you know where to look, making them excellent targets for cherry-picking from circulation or dealer inventory.

2. Overstruck coin (double struck)

This quarter results from an extra pressed die over a struck coin. This personalized error is rare and can cost a few thousand dollars. The most expensive specimen reached an astonishing $12,000 at an auction in 2021.

3. Coveted coin

This error is specific to the 1976 D Washington quarters. Such coins result from the planchet entering the press before ejecting the previous piece. Therefore, they have a sharp impression on this side and come with a die cap imperfection.

You can expect to pay several hundred dollars for this coin type, while the most expensive is a specimen sold at $2,880 at an auction.

4. Struck-through error

This specific 1776 to 1976 bicentennial quarter appears after being struck through a piece of cloth. Such a weird error coin is collectible and can cost hundred dollars. The priciest is a piece with the MS 66 grade offered at an auction. One admirer bought it for $881.25.

In some cases, you can notice an error at Colonial drummer on the reverse when the coin is struck with an old or dirty die filled with grease. The result is an unclear image only visible to professionals.

5. Off-center obverse

An improperly mounted planchet always results in an off-center coin, but the moved design percentage varies significantly from 5% to 95%. The rule of thumb is that coins with 3% to 5% off-center are the less expensive, while those with 10% to 15% are more valuable.

The best collectible specimens are about 50% to 55% off-center with a visible minting date. You can get a few hundred dollars for such a coin, but those combining this error with Filled D are worth approximately $1,500.

6. Die cracks

This common error happens after the damaged die leaves a trace on the coin surface. Such die cracks are characteristic and quickly noticeable for even non-professionals at various parts of the design. Their prices significantly vary, depending on the location on the coin surface.

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

 

Where To Sell Your 1976 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)

 

1976 Quarter Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About The 1976 Quarter

1. How much is a 1976 quarter worth today?

That depends on the condition of the coin, what it’s made from, and whether it has an interesting error.

All the varieties of the 1976 quarter – clad and silver, business strikes and proofs – were made in large numbers. That means coins in circulated condition will usually only be worth their face value.

Uncirculated coins can be worth anything from a couple of dollars to many thousands, depending on their condition.

2. Are there any valuable 1976 quarters?

Yes! The finest examples of any denomination are always desirable to collectors. For example, a 1976 Philadelphia quarter graded MS68 is worth $4,500, while a 1976 Denver quarter at the same grade is worth $4,350.

Error coins can be valuable too. Look out for the 1976 Denver quarter with the double die obverse. That’s worth good money at all grades. But the finest example to have so far come to light, graded MS66, is worth over $8,000.