1991 Quarter Coin Value (Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth)

Found a 1991 quarter in your pocket change and wondering if it’s worth more than 25 cents?

But before you get too excited about that worn quarter from your change jar, let’s be clear: most 1991 quarters are worth exactly 25 cents. Even uncirculated examples typically carry estimated values around $17.50 for Denver mint specimens based on market data.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything that makes a 1991 quarter valuable—from mint marks and minting errors to the grading factors that separate a face-value coin from a four-figure find.

 

1991 Quarter Value By Variety

This chart shows what your 1991 quarter is worth based on mint mark (P, D, or S) 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 1991 Quarter Worth Money

The standout performer is the 1991-D MS-67, commanding an impressive $1,680 – a testament to how difficult it is to find gem-quality survivors from a 630+ million coin mintage.

The Denver mint issues dominate the high-value positions, with the 1991-D MS-67 leading by a massive margin over the 1991-P MS-67, which is worth $216. This dramatic price differential suggests that Denver quarters may be condition-scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts, despite similar mintage figures.

1991-S DCAM Proof coins have more moderate values. A DCAM-70 Proof coin sells for $558, while a DCAM-69 Proof coin sells for just $87.

 

History of the 1991 Quarter

The Washington quarter is one of the longest-running currencies in U.S. coinage history. The United States Mint struck the Silver Quarter in 1932, replacing the Standing Liberty Quarter.

Preparations for George Washington’s bicentennial celebrations began as early as 1924 when Congress established the Bicentennial Committee to oversee the fete. However, this group didn’t do much in the preceding years and was replaced by the George Washington Bicentennial Commission in 1930.

As part of the celebrations, the Committee proposed that a Washington half-dollar replace the Walking Liberty half-dollar for one year only.

However, Congress permanently replaced the Standing Liberty Quarter, instructing the Treasury Department and the United States Mint to begin designing the new coin. The new quarter would feature President George Washington’s portrait on the obverse.

The Committee had earlier commissioned sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser to design a George Washington Commemorative medal and anticipated that she would use the same design for the new Washington Quarter.

The Commission of Fine Arts supported the Committee’s recommendation, but the Treasury Department, led by Treasury Secretary Andrew Melon, rejected the proposal by the Committee.

Instead, the Treasury went ahead and held its own competition, ultimately choosing a design by a different sculptor by the name of John Flanagan.

The new Washington quarter went into circulation in 1932 and was struck in silver until 1965, when the Mint changed the composition to copper-nickel due to the soaring silver prices. The coin’s design has remained the same, with a few tweaks done every other year.

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

 

Is your 1991 Quarter rare?

To discover these overlooked opportunities and assess the true rarity of specific dates and mint marks, check our CoinValueChecker App for comprehensive rarity rankings.

 

Key Features of the 1991 Quarter

In this section, we will explore the unique characteristics of the 1991 quarter. Knowing the features will help you know what to look for in a Washington quarter worth money.

The Obverse of the 1991 Quarter

The obverse of the 1991 quarter shows the left-facing portrait of George Washington’s bust, crafted by the renowned sculptor Jean Antoine-Houdon in 1785. In the portrait, Washington’s hair is held in a low ponytail.

At the very top of the coin, you see the word LIBERTY while the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST appears on the left just adjacent to Washington’s neck.

The year date, 1991, is shown at the bottom of the inner rim, while the mint mark is adjacent to Washington’s ponytail.

The Reverse of the 1991 Quarter

The reverse is a bit more detailed. It portrays a left-facing bald eagle with wings spread out. The bird is perched on a bunch of arrows, while an olive branch appears underneath.

The arrows represent liberty and freedom, while the olive branch symbolizes peace.

The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear boldly at the top along the rim, followed by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which translates to ‘Out of one, many.”

The coin’s denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, appears at the base, along the inner rim.

Other Features of the 1991 Quarter

The 1991 Washington quarter is made of a 75% pure copper center and covered by a 25% nickel layer.With a reeded edge, the coin measures 24.30 millimetres in diameter and weighs 5.67 grams.

Only the coins minted in Denver and San Francisco have a mint mark D and S. The mint mark appears on the obverse adjacent to Lincoln’s ponytail. The Philadelphia coins have no mint mark either on the obverse or reverse.

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

 

1991 Quarter Mintage & Survival Data

While the Philadelphia and Denver mints produced massive quantities – over 570 million and 630 million coins, respectively both experienced dramatic attrition with only 50% survival rates. This means that despite their enormous original mintages, hundreds of millions of these quarters have been lost to circulation, wear, and disposal over the decades.

The truly compelling narrative belongs to the 1991-S DCAM proof, which demonstrates how preservation dynamics can completely reshape rarity equations. Beginning with a relatively limited production of 2.8 million pieces, this proof variant maintained a remarkable 95% survival rate that fundamentally alters its scarcity profile.

This survival data demonstrates why understanding preservation patterns is crucial for identifying long-term value potential. The interplay between original mintage and survival rates creates opportunities that surface-level analysis might miss.

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

 

1991 Quarter Grading

When evaluating 1991 quarters, understanding proper grading becomes essential for distinguishing between common circulation finds and genuinely valuable specimens.

The vast majority of surviving business strikes from Philadelphia and Denver mints will grade in the lower circulated ranges – typically Good through Very Fine – due to decades of handling and wear.

However, uncirculated examples still surface occasionally, and these can command significant premiums over their worn counterparts. The key lies in recognizing the subtle differences between AU-58 and MS-60, or identifying the pristine surfaces that separate MS-65 from MS-67 specimens.

For the 1991-S DCAM proofs, grading focuses on different criteria entirely. These pieces require evaluation of cameo contrast, surface preservation, and freedom from handling marks or storage issues. A PF-69 DCAM versus a PF-70 DCAM can mean substantial value differences.

Accurate grading directly impacts market value, making it crucial to understand the specific standards and criteria. Use our CoinValueChecker App to instantly verify grade-specific values and compare your coins against current market standards.

 

1991 Quarter Value Guides

While the Philadelphia and Denver business strikes dominated circulation with their massive mintages exceeding 570 million pieces each, they now exist primarily as common pocket change with modest collector interest.

The San Francisco Deep Cameo proof stands apart as the premium variety, featuring mirror-like fields contrasted against frosted devices that create the distinctive cameo effect. This proof-only issue was exclusively sold to collectors in mint sets, ensuring superior preservation.

Understanding these three distinct categories is fundamental to recognizing value opportunities within what appears to be a common modern date.

1991 Quarter Varieties:

• 1991-P (Philadelphia)
• 1991-D (Denver Mint)
• 1991-S DCAM (San Francisco Mint)

 

1991-P Quarter Value 

The 1991-P Quarter represents the Philadelphia Mint’s contribution to one of the highest-mintage years in Washington Quarter history, with over 570 million pieces struck for circulation.

Most examples remain in circulated grades. Pristine uncirculated specimens command surprising premiums due to the challenges of finding unmarked examples from such heavy production runs.

The 1991-P also serves as an entry point for collectors beginning Washington Quarter date sets, making it both accessible and fundamentally important to series completion.

Recent auction results reveal the performance trajectory and market positioning of high-grade 1991-P quarters across different collecting segments.

Current market activity demonstrates fluctuating collector interest and bidding patterns that reflect broader trends in modern coin collecting.

 

1991-D Quarter Value 

The 1991-D Quarter holds the distinction of being the highest-mintage Washington Quarter of 1991, with the Denver Mint producing over 630 million pieces for circulation.

This massive production run makes it one of the most abundant modern quarters ever struck, yet paradoxically creates its own collecting challenge – finding gem-quality examples becomes increasingly difficult as most were subjected to heavy circulation use.

Although high-grade survivals are relatively common, collectors still prize them because of their scarcity in such large numbers.

Auction records for premium-grade 1991-D quarters illustrate how condition rarity can create value even within ultra-high mintage modern issues.

Market activity data shows the collecting community’s response to quality examples and reveals pricing trends for this abundant but conditionally challenging date.

 

1991-S DCAM Quarter Value 

The 1991-S DCAM Quarter stands as the premium variety of the 1991 series, exclusively produced at the San Francisco Mint as a Deep Cameo proof with distinctive mirror-like fields contrasting against frosted devices.

Limited to just 2.8 million pieces and sold only in collector sets, this coin represents superior craftsmanship and intentional scarcity compared to its business strike counterparts.

The Deep Cameo designation requires exceptional contrast between the reflective background and raised design elements, a quality that deteriorates easily with handling, making pristine examples genuinely scarce.

This proof-only issue exemplifies how modern minting techniques can create collectible varieties even within recent dates, offering collectors a bridge between contemporary accessibility and traditional numismatic appeal through its sophisticated production methods.

Auction performance records demonstrate how Deep Cameo contrast quality and preservation grades directly impact market values for this proof-only variety.

Market activity reveals sustained collector interest in premium modern proofs and the competitive bidding environment for top-graded specimens.

Also Read: What Quarters Are Worth Money

 

Rare 1991 Quarter Error List

Generally, 1991 quarters are only worth their face value.But, if you discover an odd-looking coin with a minting error, it might be worth many times more than the face value—some are even worth hundreds of dollars.

Let’s look at some 1991 quarter errors worth money that you should pay attention to:

1. 1991 Doubled Die Quarter Errors

Doubled-die are some of the most common minting errors, and you will find quite a few in the 1991 Washington quarter series.

Look for doubling on the wordings, particularly the words UNITED and DOLLAR on the reverse. Only the obverse doubling is sometimes visible on the word LIBERTY. A 1991 doubled die quarter error can fetch between $50 and $100 depending on the coin’s condition.

2. 1991 Misaligned Die Quarter Errors

Misaligned die errors occur when one of the dies, usually the hammer die, is not aligned with the anvil die. This results in a subtle offset on the obverse (or reverse in case of a misaligned anvil hammer).

This type of error is common during the minting process, so check for it on any 1991 quarters you come across. A 1991 quarter with a misaligned die error may sell for as much as $10 to $25. You might make good money selling several of these coins. On the other hand, such an error coin is quite affordable, so you can obtain it easily and sell it or add it to your collection.

3. 1991 Struck Through Grease Quarter Errors

A strike-through error happens when a foreign object gets between the planchet and the striking die.

The foreign object can be a dust speckle, grease, or debris, preventing the die from fully transferring all the design elements to the planchet. A 1991 quarter with a struck-through error is worth about $20 and $50, with uncirculated coins costing more.

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

 

Where to Sell Your 1991 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) 

 

1991 Quarter Market Trend

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

 

FAQ about the 1991 Quarter

1. Is a 1991 D Mint Mark US Washington Quarter dollar rare?

A 1991-D Washington quarter is common. You can still find these coins in circulation today, easily and affordably, given that more than 500 million were minted. That said, 1991-D quarters in mint state are rare and can take a year or more to find, making them noticeably pricey.

2. How do I know if I have a rare 1991 quarter?

The truth is, 1991 quarters are generally not rare; these coins are abundant on the rarity scale, and you will easily find them in circulation. If a 1991 quarter seems uncirculated and still in mint or gem-state, you might be looking at a rare quarter. Most quarters produced that year, either at the Philadelphia or Denver mint, were put into circulation, so uncirculated coins are very rare. Check for signs of wear and tear; an uncirculated coin should have little to no flaws.

3. Is a 1991 quarter worth collecting?

If you want to make a large profit immediately, there may be better coins than the 1991 quarter. Currently, this coin is only worth its value. But, the chances are that the value will increase with time, as with old coins; the older the coin, the more valuable it might be. So, the 1991 quarter might be worth collecting if you have a long-term strategy to sell later when the coin has ‘’matured.’’