1987 Quarter Value Checker: Errors List, “D”, “S” & “P” Mint Mark Worth

Most 1987 quarters you find in a drawer or coin jar are worth exactly their face value — $0.25. But certain examples in top mint-state grades or with rare errors have sold for hundreds of dollars at major auction houses.

Understanding the 1987 Quarter Value comes down to three things: condition (grade), mint mark, and whether your coin has any errors. This guide breaks down everything a beginner needs to know, with real auction prices to back it up.

 

1987 Quarter Value By Variety

The table below shows current market values for 1987 quarters based on their mint mark and condition grade. 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 1987 Quarter Value Worth Money

The most valuable 1987 quarters are pure condition rarities — coins that survived decades without a single significant scratch or bag mark. High-grade circulation strikes from Philadelphia and Denver in MS67 dominate the top of the chart.

The 1987-P in MS67 reached $689.98 at auction through eBay in 2018, according to PCGS CoinFacts records. The 1987-D in MS67 fetched $675.63 at Heritage Auctions in 2015, making both coins surprisingly competitive at the top tier.

Even the 1987-S DCAM proof, with its much lower mintage of just 4.2 million, is outpaced at the very top by the perfectly preserved circulation strikes. The best recorded sale for a PR70 Deep Cameo proof is $236 — high for a proof, but well below the circulation-strike records.

The data makes one thing clear: grade is the single greatest driver of 1987 Quarter Value. A coin that grades MS66 or higher is a completely different animal from a circulated example.

 

History of the 1987 Quarter Value

The 1987 quarter is part of the long-running Washington quarter series, which began in 1932. The design features a portrait of President George Washington on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse — both created by sculptor John Flanagan.

Washington quarters were originally struck in 90% silver and 10% copper. That composition continued until 1964, when rising silver prices and widespread coin hoarding prompted the U.S. Congress to pass the Coinage Act of 1965, which officially eliminated silver from dimes and quarters.

The new copper-nickel clad composition uses a pure copper core sandwiched between outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This creates the familiar silver appearance without using any precious metal — the melt value of a 1987 quarter today is just $0.0497.

One notable historical fact: the “P” mint mark was not added to Philadelphia quarters until 1980. Before that, Philadelphia coins carried no mint mark at all. The 1987-P is only the eighth year that Philadelphia quarters bore this mark, making it a modest historical landmark within the series.

The 1987 quarters were struck right before the State Quarters program began in 1999, which transformed the series completely. In 1987, the same Flanagan reverse design that had graced quarters since 1932 was still in use — unchanged for 55 years.

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

 

Is Your 1987 Quarter Value Rare?

You can easily check the rarity ranking of any coin using our Coin Value Checker App for instant assessments.

 

Key Features of the 1987 Quarter Value: Design, Composition & Specifications

John Flanagan, an American sculptor, designed both sides of the Washington quarter. His design was selected over a competing portrait by Laura Gardin Fraser — whose work now graces the modern “American Women” quarter series launched in 2022.

The 1987 quarters were minted at three facilities: Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). San Francisco produced only proof coins with the distinctive DCAM (Deep Cameo) finish — a special high-contrast look created using specially prepared dies and planchets.

The Obverse of the 1987 Quarter

The obverse — or “heads” side — shows a left-facing portrait of President George Washington. This same portrait appeared on quarters from 1932 all the way through 2022, a span of 90 years.

Above the portrait is the word “LIBERTY,” arching to follow the upper coin edge. The date appears at the bottom, and to Washington’s left is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

The mint mark sits just to the right of Washington’s hair ribbon — directly behind the bow of his ponytail. On 1987 quarters, you’ll find a “P,” “D,” or “S” there.

The story of how Flanagan’s design was chosen is interesting. Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon personally preferred Flanagan’s portrait over Fraser’s, even though a special Bicentenary Committee had already recommended Fraser’s design. When Mellon left office, the committee appealed to his successor Ogden Mills — but Mills refused to reopen the matter, and Flanagan’s design remained.

The Reverse of the 1987 Quarter

The reverse shows a bald eagle with outstretched wings, perched on a bundle of arrows with an olive branch below. When the design launched in 1932, it generated public debate — the New York Times even consulted an ornithologist to confirm that the bird depicted was indeed a bald eagle.

The country name “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs parallel to the outer edge. Below it, the Latin motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” — meaning “From the many, one” — sits just above the eagle’s head.

At the bottom of the reverse is the denomination written in full: “QUARTER DOLLAR.” The reverse remained unchanged on 1987 coins — it was the same design that had been used for over five decades.

Other Features of the 1987 Quarter

The 1987 quarter has a pure copper core clad in an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Despite the silver color, there is no silver in these coins whatsoever — a common point of confusion for new collectors.

The coins measure 24.3 millimeters in diameter and weigh 5.67 grams, with a standard thickness of 1.75 millimeters. The official weight tolerance is ±0.227 grams, meaning a legitimate uncirculated 1987 quarter can weigh anywhere from 5.44g to 5.90g and still fall within Mint specifications.

The edge is “reeded” — featuring a series of small grooves running perpendicular to the coin faces. These were originally designed as an anti-counterfeiting measure to prevent the old practice of “coin clipping,” where dishonest merchants would shave precious metal off coin edges.

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

 

1987 Quarter Value Mintage & Survival Data

The combined mintage of all three 1987 quarter varieties totals approximately 1.24 billion coins — one of the highest single-year totals in the series. Denver led with 655,594,696 pieces, followed by Philadelphia with 582,499,481 coins, and San Francisco with just 4,227,728 proof coins.

Both the Philadelphia and Denver circulation strikes show a 35% survival rate in collectible condition — meaning roughly two-thirds of those coins have been lost to wear, damage, or simply been removed from the collecting market forever. The San Francisco DCAM proofs, by contrast, have an 85.5% survival rate, reflecting the careful storage habits of proof set collectors.

This survival gap is important for understanding 1987 Quarter Value. Even though far more P and D coins were produced, top-grade examples are genuinely hard to find because so many circulated heavily. Finding a 1987-P or 1987-D in MS67 grade requires exceptional luck — or very careful searching through original mint rolls.

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

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1987 Quarter Value

Grade determines everything for 1987 quarters, as most worn examples hold only face value while gem uncirculated pieces command notable premiums. Scrutinize the coin for contact marks, color consistency, and strike sharpness — especially on Washington’s hair curls and the eagle’s breast feathers, which are the first areas to show wear.

Proof versions from San Francisco display mirror-like fields and deserve special attention. Die varieties and striking errors exist but require careful examination to authenticate. Collector demand centers on coins maintaining full original luster without environmental damage or handling wear.

Let the Coin Value Checker App analyze your quarter’s attributes and provide an accurate grade with real-time market valuation instantly.

 

1987 Quarter Value Guides

The 1987 quarter was produced in three distinct varieties, each with different characteristics and values:

• 1987-P Quarter – Philadelphia mint production
• 1987-D Quarter – Denver mint production
• 1987-S DCAM Quarter – San Francisco proof with Deep Cameo finish

While the Philadelphia and Denver mints focused on circulation strikes with massive production numbers, San Francisco specialized in creating high-quality proof coins featuring the coveted Deep Cameo contrast. DCAM — which stands for Deep Cameo — means the design elements (devices) appear frosty white against deeply mirrored, mirror-like fields, creating a dramatic black-and-white contrast.

 

1987-P Quarter Value

The 1987-P Quarter Value is significant from a historical standpoint because it represents only the eighth year that Philadelphia quarters carried the “P” mint mark. Before 1980, Philadelphia coins had no mint mark at all — a tradition dating back to the very first Washington quarters in 1932.

With 582,499,481 coins produced, the 1987-P is common in circulated grades, where it trades at or near face value. However, finding a pristine example becomes a real challenge at the MS66 level and above.

The auction record for this variety is $689.98, paid for a PCGS-graded MS67 example at eBay in 2018. This is currently the finest known grade for the 1987-P — no example has been certified higher.

The auction performance data below shows how this variety has performed in the marketplace over time.

Current market activity levels demonstrate ongoing collector interest in premium examples of this Philadelphia-minted quarter.

 

1987-D Quarter Value

The 1987-D Quarter Value follows a similar pattern to the Philadelphia issue — common in circulated condition but genuinely scarce in superb gem grades. The Denver Mint produced 655,594,696 quarters in 1987, making it the highest-mintage variety of the year.

The “D” mint mark appears just to the right of Washington’s hair ribbon on the obverse. In top grade, Denver examples rival Philadelphia coins in value, with the record sale being $675.63 at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for an MS67-graded coin.

One extremely rare example exists at the MS67+ level — a single coin certified at that grade, valued at $850. These superb survivors are condition rarities in the truest sense: produced by the billions, but almost never kept in perfect condition.

The auction performance data below tracks how this Denver-minted variety has fared in competitive bidding environments.

Current market activity reflects the collecting community’s engagement with premium examples of this prolific issue.

 

1987-S DCAM Quarter Value

The 1987-S DCAM Quarter Value reflects its status as a specially made collector coin. With only 4,227,728 produced exclusively for proof sets sold directly to collectors, this is the lowest-mintage 1987 quarter by a wide margin.

DCAM stands for Deep Cameo — a designation used by grading services like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) to describe proof coins with the most dramatic frosted contrast. The frosted devices against mirror-bright fields create exceptional visual appeal that standard coins cannot match.

Because these coins were never released into circulation and were carefully preserved from the start, they carry an impressive 85.5% survival rate. The top recorded sale for a PR70 Deep Cameo example reached $236 at auction.

The auction performance data below illustrates how this proof variety has performed in numismatic sales venues.

Current market activity demonstrates the collecting community’s appreciation for this distinctive San Francisco-minted specimen.

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1987 Quarter Value: Complete Error List

Error coins are produced when something goes wrong during the minting process. These mistakes can dramatically increase a coin’s value — sometimes turning a face-value quarter into a coin worth tens or even hundreds of dollars. Below are the most important errors known for 1987 quarters.

1. 1987-P Quarter, Broadstruck

When a coin is struck, a metal collar holds the planchet (blank coin disc) in place so it forms properly. If that collar fails to engage, the metal spreads beyond its normal boundary — creating what collectors call a “broadstruck” error.

One 1987-P quarter with this error was graded MS63 by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation). Without the error it would be worth a couple of dollars; with it, the coin sold for $20 at auction.

2. 1987-D Quarter, Struck Off-Center

An off-center strike occurs when the die and planchet are not properly aligned during striking. The result is a coin where part of the design runs off the edge, leaving a blank crescent-shaped area on the other side.

The value of off-center errors depends heavily on how dramatic the shift is and whether the date is still visible. Coins that are 5%–10% off-center typically sell for $20–$30. A 1987-D quarter struck about 25% off-center, certified MS65 by ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service), sold at auction for $45. Coins that are approximately 50% off-center with a full date still showing can command $150 or more.

3. 1987 Quarter, Doubled Die Reverse (DDR)

A Doubled Die Reverse — or DDR — occurs when the working die receives the hub impression more than once at slightly different angles. Every coin struck by that die will show the same doubling, making it a “variety” rather than a one-off mistake.

On 1987 quarters, DDR errors show doubling on reverse lettering including elements of “AMERICA” and the rim. Variety expert John Wexler catalogs doubled die varieties across U.S. coin series. Confirmed DDR examples on this date can sell for a premium over standard examples, with values depending on the severity of the doubling and the coin’s grade.

4. 1987 Quarter, Mated Pair Error

A mated pair is one of the rarest and most dramatic errors in U.S. coinage. It occurs when two planchets enter the coining chamber at the same time and are struck together — creating two coins that are “mates,” each bearing the impression of the other.

A mated pair of 1987 quarters graded AU58 (About Uncirculated 58 — a coin with just the slightest trace of wear) sold at auction for over $400. This makes mated pairs among the most valuable 1987 quarter errors discovered to date.

5. 1987 Quarter, Wrong Planchet Error

Occasionally, a blank intended for a different denomination gets fed into the quarter press by mistake. The result is a quarter design struck on the wrong metal blank — producing a coin that weighs differently, looks unusual, and is genuinely rare.

Wrong planchet errors on Washington quarters from this era typically sell for $200–$500 or more, depending on the planchet type and the coin’s condition. Professional authentication by PCGS or NGC is essential before buying or selling any suspected wrong-planchet example.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1987 Quarter Value for Top Dollar

Now that you know the value of your 1987 quarters, do you know the best places to sell them for top dollar? Don’t worry, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide covering the most reliable platforms, along with their features, advantages, and potential drawbacks.

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

 

1987 Quarter Value Market Trend

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

 

FAQ About the 1987 Quarter Value

1. How much is a 1987 quarter worth?

Most 1987 quarters in circulated condition are worth exactly their face value — $0.25. However, uncirculated examples grade MS60 and above can be worth $1 to $30 or more, and top-grade MS67 coins have sold for nearly $690 at auction.

2. How much is an uncirculated 1987 quarter worth?

At lower mint state grades like MS60, a Denver or Philadelphia quarter is worth around $1. At MS65, a 1987-D is worth around $7, a 1987-P around $20, and a 1987-S proof around $5. At the very top — MS67 for circulation strikes — values range from $670 to $690 based on recent auction results.

3. Is there a 1987 silver quarter?

No — all 1987 quarters are copper-nickel clad with zero silver content. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from quarters, and the 1987 coins were struck using the same copper-nickel composition that has been used ever since. The silver-colored appearance comes from the nickel in the outer cladding, not from any precious metal.

4. What is the 1987-P quarter’s “P” mint mark significance?

The “P” mint mark was first added to Philadelphia quarters in 1980. Before that, Philadelphia coins had no mint mark at all — a tradition dating back to 1932. The 1987-P quarter is therefore only the eighth year of this new marking practice, making it historically interesting to collectors who follow the Washington quarter series closely.

5. What is the most valuable 1987 quarter error?

The mated pair error — two 1987 quarters struck together simultaneously — is among the most dramatic known errors. A mated pair graded AU58 sold for over $400 at auction. Wrong planchet errors can also be highly valuable, potentially fetching $200–$500+ depending on condition and the planchet type.

6. What does DCAM mean on the 1987-S proof quarter?

DCAM stands for Deep Cameo. It is a designation assigned by grading services like PCGS and NGC to proof coins that show the most dramatic contrast — heavily frosted design elements (devices) against deeply mirrored, mirror-bright fields. The 1987-S DCAM is the premium variety from San Francisco and commands higher prices than standard proof or CAM (Cameo) versions.

7. How can I tell if my 1987 quarter has a doubled die reverse (DDR) error?

Look at the reverse lettering under 5x–10x magnification, particularly the letters in “AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” A true doubled die will show consistent, rounded doubling on multiple design elements — not the flat, shelf-like appearance of machine doubling, which has no extra value. When in doubt, consult a professional grading service or a knowledgeable dealer.

8. What is the melt value of a 1987 quarter?

The base metal (melt) value of a 1987 quarter is approximately $0.0497 — essentially five cents. Since these coins contain no silver, their metal content offers no bullion premium. All value above face value for 1987 quarters comes from condition, errors, or collector demand — not the underlying metals.

9. Does the mint mark affect the 1987 Quarter Value?

At circulated grades, the mint mark makes almost no difference — all three varieties trade at face value. In mint state grades, the “P” and “D” coins are relatively close in value, with Philadelphia examples holding a slight premium at the very top grades. The “S” proof coin follows a different value curve entirely, prized specifically for its Deep Cameo proof finish rather than its grade relative to circulation strikes.

10. Should I get my 1987 quarter professionally graded?

Professional grading by PCGS or NGC costs $30–$100+ per coin including submission fees, and only makes financial sense if your coin appears to be in genuinely superb condition — MS65 or higher — or has a confirmed error. For typical circulated or lightly uncirculated examples, the grading cost will far exceed the coin’s numismatic value. Use a free coin-checking tool like the Coin Value Checker App to screen your coin first before committing to professional submission.