1978 Quarter Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1978 quarter value ranges from $0.25 face value to $2,875. That record was a Grade 67 example sold on eBay in March 2021. 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.

 

1978 Quarter Value By Variety

Here’s a quick look at 1978 quarter values by condition and mint mark. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump down to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Modern Quarter Worth Money (1932 – Present)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1978 Quarter Value Worth Money

The king of 1978 quarters is a Philadelphia MS67+ that brought $2,875 on eBay in March 2021. A 1978-D graded MS68 wasn’t far behind at $2,233, sold at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2019. Both coins came from mintages in the hundreds of millions — proof that grade is everything with this date.

What catches most people off guard is that these circulation strikes regularly outperform the San Francisco proofs at auction. The jump from MS65 to MS67 can mean thousands of dollars, which is why getting a coin slabbed by PCGS or NGC matters so much here.

 

History of the 1978 Quarter Value Design

The Washington quarter debuted in 1932 to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Congress originally considered a half-dollar, but the quarter won out and became a permanent series.

John Flanagan’s design wasn’t the competition winner — that was Laura G. Fraser. Treasury Secretary Mellon overrode the jury and picked Flanagan instead, and the decision stuck even after Mellon left office. Flanagan’s obverse portrait traces back to a bust sculpted from life by Jean-Antoine Houdon at Mount Vernon in 1785.

The low-relief design worked well for high-speed production since it struck up cleanly in a single pass. The tradeoff? Central details wore fast, and the Mint had to refresh the master hub multiple times over the decades.

By 1978, the biggest change in the series was already thirteen years old — the switch from 90% silver to copper-nickel clad in 1965. Here’s a fun detail: 1978 was only the second year the standard heraldic eagle reverse appeared after the special 1776–1976 Bicentennial design. The regular design had just come back in 1977, so 1978 quarters still had that “fresh return” feel for collectors at the time.

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

 

Is Your 1978 Quarter Value Rare? Check These Key Factors

Here’s what’s counterintuitive: the Philadelphia coin with 521 million minted is actually harder to find in top grade than the proof with only 3 million struck. PCGS has graded fewer than 100 Philadelphia examples at MS67, and nothing higher exists. That’s a genuine condition rarity from a massive mintage.

For the Denver issue, anything above MS67+ is considered a condition rarity by PCGS. Meanwhile, the 1978-S DCAM proof is easy to find all the way through PR69 Deep Cameo. Only PR70 DCAM represents any real scarcity — everything below that grade is plentiful.

You can easily check the rarity of any coin you find using our Coin Identifier and Value App, which provides instant rarity rankings and value estimates.

 

Key Features of the 1978 Quarter Value Coin

The 1978 quarter falls in the “Type 2 Clad” series (1965–1998), struck after the Coinage Act of 1965 replaced silver with copper-nickel clad. Your 1978 quarter contains zero silver. The last silver quarters made for circulation were 1964.

Most 1978 quarters saw heavy use. Hundreds of millions went through cash registers and vending machines for decades. Only coins pulled from original bank rolls or mint sets in mint-fresh condition draw serious collector attention today.

The Obverse of the 1978 Quarter

Flip your coin to the heads side. You’ll see Washington facing left, based on Houdon’s 1785 bust. Pay attention to the curly hair tied back in a ponytail with a bow — those details wear first and tell you a lot about grade.

LIBERTY arches along the upper rim. IN GOD WE TRUST sits to the left of Washington’s bust, just below his chin. The date runs along the lower rim. Look for the mint mark just behind the lower portion of Washington’s neck, near the bow.

The Reverse of the 1978 Quarter

Flip it over. The heraldic eagle has its wings spread wide — the same design that came back in 1977 after the Bicentennial edition ended. The eagle faces left, gripping arrows in its talons, with two olive branches below.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arches along the top, E PLURIBUS UNUM appears just below, and QUARTER DOLLAR runs along the bottom rim. On higher-grade coins, look above the yoke area for sharp breast feathers on the eagle and crisp detail in the arrow bundle. Those are your quality indicators.

Other Features of the 1978 Quarter Value Coin

The 1978 quarter is a three-layer sandwich: outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded over a pure copper core. Overall composition works out to approximately 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. Look at the edge from the side — you’ll see that telltale copper stripe.

The coin measures 24.26 mm (0.9551 inches) in diameter, weighs 5.67 grams (0.20 oz), and has a thickness of 1.75 mm (0.06889 inches) with a reeded (ridged) edge. That 5.67 gram weight matters for error hunting. Wrong-planchet strikes and missing clad layer errors will weigh noticeably different, so a cheap digital scale is one of the best tools you can own.

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

 

1978 Quarter Value Mintage & Survival Data

Philadelphia cranked out 521,452,000 quarters in 1978. Denver added 287,373,152. That’s over 808 million business strikes combined — enough to give roughly three quarters to every person living in the U.S. at the time. Yet only about 35% survive today. Two out of every three 1978 quarters are gone.

The 1978-S DCAM proof is a completely different story. San Francisco made just 3,127,781, sold only in proof sets direct to collectors. Because buyers tucked these away carefully, the survival rate sits around 81%.

That huge gap in survival is exactly why high-grade business strikes command big money. The original mintage was enormous, but the pool of MS67 and above survivors is tiny.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1978 Quarter Value

Most 1978 quarters in circulated condition are worth face value. The money is in uncirculated survivors. Check for full original mint luster, no scratches or bag marks, and crisp detail in Washington’s hair and the eagle’s breast feathers.

Denver quarters from 1978 tend to show sharper strikes than Philadelphia coins, with better definition on Washington’s hair and the eagle’s feathers. That makes a high-grade 1978-D especially appealing for Washington quarter specialists. Error varieties also pop up regularly from this era — off-center strikes, doubled dies, missing clad layers, and die breaks can all boost value dramatically.

Simply snap a photo with the Coin Identifier and Value App to receive professional-grade assessment and current market pricing in seconds.

 

1978 Quarter Value Guides

Three varieties exist for the 1978 quarter:

• 1978 No Mint Mark Quarter — Philadelphia mint production of 521,452,000 coins
• 1978-D Quarter — Denver mint production of 287,373,152 coins with a sharper average strike
• 1978-S DCAM Quarter — San Francisco proof issue of 3,127,781 coins with Deep Cameo finish

The Philadelphia and Denver issues are common in lower grades. The San Francisco proof stands apart with its Deep Cameo (DCAM) finish — frosted, raised design elements against mirror-like fields that collectors prize.

 

1978 No Mint Mark Quarter Value

Did you know that fewer than 100 examples of this coin have been graded MS67 by PCGS? Nothing grades higher than MS67+. That’s remarkable for a coin with 521,452,000 struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which didn’t use a mint mark until 1980.

Circulated examples are everywhere at face value. The challenge is finding one in truly pristine condition. The auction record sits at $2,875 for an MS67+ example sold on eBay on March 25, 2021. Philadelphia strikes from this year generally show solid detail, though I think Denver coins usually had the edge on sharpness.

Let’s take a look at the auction records to see what collectors have been paying for top-quality examples.

The market activity data also shows some interesting patterns in collector demand for this Philadelphia issue.

Market activity score: 56/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 1 point from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 60 (Nov 2025).

 

1978-D Quarter Value

If you’re cherrypicking 1978 quarters from rolls, start with the D-mints. Denver struck 287,373,152 pieces — roughly half of Philadelphia’s output — but the strike quality is consistently sharper. Look for the small “D” behind Washington’s ponytail bow. Hair details and eagle feathers on Denver coins from the 1970s regularly outclass their Philly counterparts.

PCGS considers anything above MS67+ a condition rarity for the 1978-D. The auction record is $2,233 for a PCGS MS68 example, sold at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2019. Pretty impressive for a coin from a 287-million mintage.

What you want is original mint luster with minimal bag marks. Also keep an eye out for the 1978-D Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) — it’s a known variety that brings solid premiums when slabbed by PCGS or NGC.

Here’s what premium-condition specimens have brought at auction over the years.

Current market activity for the 1978-D across different grades:

Market activity score: 56/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 2 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 63 (Nov 2025).

 

1978-S DCAM Quarter Value

Common misconception: because it’s a proof, it must be worth a lot. Not quite. PR69 DCAM examples are everywhere and trade for modest money. Only perfect PR70 DCAM coins — absolutely flawless under magnification — carry any real scarcity.

San Francisco made 3,127,781 of these, sold exclusively in annual proof sets. They never saw circulation. Each coin was struck multiple times at slower speeds on polished dies, creating that brilliant frosted-over-mirror finish that “DCAM” (Deep Cameo) describes.

The confirmed auction record is $472 for a PR70 example sold at Heritage Auctions on September 23, 2003, with a later Heritage Auctions sale in May 2019 reaching $1,100 for a PR70 DCAM. With an 81% survival rate, the supply of nice examples stays strong — it’s only the absolute top-pop coins that command real premiums.

Here’s how these Deep Cameo proofs have performed across different sales and platforms.

Trading patterns and collector activity for this San Francisco issue:

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

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1978 Quarter Value Error List

Over 808 million 1978 quarters were struck across three mints. With that kind of volume, errors were inevitable — and some of them are worth serious money. Here’s what to look for.

1. Off-Center Strike

This happens when the planchet isn’t centered under the die. Part of the design is missing, and you get a blank crescent on one side. The bigger the shift, the more it’s worth — but the date has to be visible. That’s the deal-breaker.

Typical 1978 off-center quarters with 10–20% missing sell for $30–$50. A 1978-D with a 20% off-center strike graded PCGS MS64 sold for $180 at a collector’s event in October 2022. Dramatic examples at 50% or more with a clear date can top $250.

2. Strike Off-Center with Double Struck

Two mistakes on one coin. The die hit the planchet twice, and the second strike landed off-center. The result looks like a figure-8 instead of a round quarter. One example sold at auction for $293. Multi-error coins like this are always tougher to find than single-error pieces, which explains the premium.

3. Rotated Double Strike

The die strikes twice, but the coin rotated between hits. You get overlapping ghost images shifted at an angle. The second impression partially covers the first, making it tricky to read. These are visually striking coins. Examples have reached over $170 at auction, with more dramatic rotations and higher grades bringing more.

4. Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

This is one of the errors I always tell people to look for first. A DDO happens during die production when the hub impresses the die twice with a slight misalignment. Every coin from that die shows the doubling. On 1978 quarters, check LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST under a loupe.

The key is distinguishing true hub doubling from worthless machine doubling. Hub doubling looks rounded and shelf-like. Machine doubling is flat and adds zero premium. A 1978 DDO quarter graded PCGS MS65 sold for $75 at a major numismatic auction in April 2021.

5. Missing Clad Layer

You’ll spot this one instantly. One face of the coin looks dull reddish-brown instead of silver because the outer copper-nickel layer didn’t bond to the copper core before striking. The two sides of the coin look completely different.

Missing clad layer 1978 quarters generally bring $250–$500 or more. A 1978-D with a missing obverse clad layer, graded ANACS AU58, sold for $425 at a specialized online error coin auction in June 2020. Weigh it: a standard 1978 quarter is 5.67 grams, while a missing-layer example comes in around 4.5–5.0 grams.

6. Wrong Planchet Strike

How does a quarter die strike a dime blank? It shouldn’t, but it happens. The resulting coin has the wrong weight, wrong size, and part of the design gets cut off at the edge. These are among the most dramatic errors you can find.

A 1978 quarter struck on a 10-cent (dime) planchet has sold for over $375 at auction; examples on a 5-cent (nickel) planchet are valued at around $180; and those struck on a 1-cent (cent) planchet have reached approximately $600 due to the extreme visual contrast.

7. Improperly Annealed Planchet

Before striking, planchets get heated (annealed) to soften the metal. When the heating or cooling goes wrong, copper molecules migrate to the surface, creating a reddish-orange discoloration on what should be a silver-colored coin. It’s a vivid reminder that quality control at the mint wasn’t perfect. Values typically run around $100, depending on the variety and condition.

8. Lamination Error

An impurity or void in the clad strip causes a thin layer of surface metal to crack and peel away — like a blister forming on the coin. These range from tiny flakes to dramatic peels that expose the copper underneath.

A 1978 quarter with a significant lamination error on the obverse, graded NGC AU58, sold for $65 at an online dealer auction in March 2021. Bigger, more dramatic peels in higher grades bring more.

9. Filled Mint Mark (“Filled D”)

This one’s specific to 1978-D quarters. Grease or metal debris clogs the “D” punch cavity in the die, so the mint mark strikes as a solid blob instead of a crisp letter. It’s subtle compared to off-center strikes, but it’s a documented collectible. A 1978-D quarter with a prominent filled “D” mint mark, graded PCGS MS64, sold for $85 at a coin show in November 2020.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1978 Quarter Value at Its Best Price

Now that you know what your 1978 quarter could be worth, the next step is finding the right platform to sell it. The difference between the right and wrong venue can mean hundreds of dollars on a high-grade or error piece.

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

 

1978 Quarter Value Market Trend

Market interest: 11,900 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 1978 Quarter Value

1. What makes a 1978 Quarter rare and valuable?

Grade. In circulated condition, it’s a common coin. But PCGS has graded fewer than 100 Philadelphia examples at MS67, and none above MS67+. That makes gem-quality survivors genuinely scarce despite a mintage of over 521 million.

2. Which 1978 Quarters are worth the most money?

Here are the top confirmed auction results:

• 1978 No Mint Mark MS67+ sold for $2,875 at eBay in March 2021
• 1978-D MS68 sold for $2,233 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2019
• 1978-S PR70 DCAM sold for $1,100 at Heritage Auctions in May 2019
• 1978-S PR70 DCAM sold for $472 at Heritage Auctions in September 2003

3. How much is a 1978 No Mint Mark Quarter Value from Philadelphia?

In worn condition, face value — $0.25. Uncirculated MS65 examples run about $1–$2. MS67 specimens can be worth $100 or more, and the top-graded example brought $2,875 in 2021.

4. Is a 1978 Quarter made of silver?

No. Zero silver. The last 90% silver Washington quarters struck for circulation were 1964. Starting in 1965, the Mint switched to copper-nickel clad: outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel over a pure copper core. Check the edge of your coin — you’ll see the copper stripe that confirms it’s clad.

5. What does DCAM mean on a 1978-S Quarter?

DCAM stands for Deep Cameo. It’s the top-tier contrast designation PCGS and NGC give to proof coins with the most dramatic difference between frosted design elements and mirror-like fields. A regular Cameo (CAM) shows some contrast. DCAM shows the strongest contrast possible. We consider the 1978-S DCAM the most collectible variety of the 1978 quarter.

6. How can I spot a 1978 Quarter Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) error?

Grab a 5x to 10x loupe and check LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. True hub doubling looks rounded and shelf-like on the secondary impression. Machine doubling — which is worthless — looks flat with sharp edges. Don’t confuse the two. A certified 1978 DDO in PCGS MS65 sold for $75 at a major numismatic auction in April 2021.

7. What is a missing clad layer error on a 1978 Quarter and how much is it worth?

One side of the coin shows dull reddish-brown copper instead of the normal silver tone because the outer clad layer didn’t bond before striking. Generally worth $250–$500 or more. A 1978-D with a missing obverse clad layer, graded ANACS AU58, sold for $425 at a specialized online error coin auction in June 2020. Quick test: weigh it. Standard is 5.67 grams. Missing-layer examples come in around 4.5–5.0 grams.

8. Does the 1978-D Quarter have a better strike quality than the Philadelphia issue?

Yes. Denver coins from 1978 consistently show sharper detail on Washington’s hair, the ponytail bow, and the eagle’s breast feathers. This is a recognized pattern across Denver’s 1970s production. If you’re building a high-grade registry set, a sharply struck 1978-D in MS66 or MS67 is a great piece to own.

9. Should I get my 1978 Quarter professionally graded by PCGS or NGC?

Only if the coin looks Gem Uncirculated — full original luster, sharp details, minimal bag marks. For circulation strikes, submission makes financial sense at MS67 or above, where the certified population is genuinely thin. Major error coins — wrong planchets, missing clad layers, strong DDOs — should always be submitted regardless of grade.

10. What are the most valuable Washington Quarter coins of all time?

The early key dates dominate. The 1932-D quarter — with a mintage of just 436,800 — sold for $143,750 in MS66 at auction in 2008. That’s the all-time record for the series. The 1932-S in MS66 reached $45,500 in a 2020 auction, while the 1949-D in MS68 sold for $43,475 in 2019, and the 1932 Philadelphia issue in MS67 brought $40,250 in 2012.