You know that saying don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, we can modify it a bit to fit our topic and say – don’t judge a coin by its face value and production year! If you are into coin matters I’m sure that you already noticed something surprising about them.
It seems that in the end coins with lower face value somehow end up having the biggest worth. Did you know that the 1943-S penny coin was sold for over a million dollars on auction? No matter how interesting this information is, we are here to talk about a different coin.
Here is a quick summary of the key details on 1942 quarter value:
- For circulated examples, 1942 quarters are worth $5 to $10 regardless of mint mark.
- In uncirculated conditions, value ranges from $16 for MS64 up to around $100 for MS66/MS67 coins.
- The most valuable 1942 quarter is a PR69 proof that sold for $16,800 at auction.
- Scarce varieties like the 1942/1 overdate or rare doubled die errors can be worth thousands in mint state.
- Common date circulated 1942 quarters trade based on their silver melt value, about $3.50 per coin.
So while quite abundant, choice uncirculated and specially designated 1942 quarters can have significant collectible value and are worth seeking out.
In this article, we will share with you all that we have learned about the 1942 quarter value, history, error varieties, and where to trade them. If you are an avid quarter coin collector we are sure that the following rows are just what you need to read now!
Why Is The 1942 Washington Quarter Series Valuable?
Not only does the 1942 quarter series have a historical value, but almost all coins that are produced in the 1940s, during wartime have a special value for coin collectors. But here we talk strictly about the 1942 25C coin.
Since in the December of 1941 the US officially entered WWII after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, there was increased demand for new coins. So in 1942, while they were in the heat of the involvement in World War II, the American economy was thriving, due to the fact that gun production was in high demand. However, they also minted a lot of coins at the same time. All coins minted in 1942 were made from 90% silver, however, this is not what boost their popularity.
The fact that this coin holds historical significance is what motivates collectors to bid a large amount of money just to own them. Furthermore, some varieties, like the 1942-D error quarters are unique due to their flaws. These error coins are very valuable to numismatics.
Price Guide For Common 1942 Quarter Coins Worth Investing
Many people would not bother to look for quarters considering their small face value, thinking these coins could not fetch any significant price. However, this is a mistake. On the other hand, a lot of coin collectors are crazy about these coins! Did you know that Washington Quarters that were minted during wartime are very popular among collectors?
In fact, these coins are selling for big bucks despite their condition. This does not mean that a ruined coin will bring you a lot of money. It means that even in that condition it will be priced more than other regular quarters from other series.
In the table below we enlisted regular, as well as error varieties, and their current prices on the coin market.
Quick price overview
There is a major difference between the prices of uncirculated and circulated coins. For instance, 1942 Washington Quarters in circulated condition are estimated to be worth between $5 and $30, while those in mint state are $8,500.
However, a lot of circulated coins are still in good condition and suitable as collecting examples. Here is the list of the top 3 common coins worth investing in:
1942 no mint mark Quarter value
During 1942, the Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 100 million Washington quarters. You must be wondering why such a high mintage volume all of a sudden compared to previous years. Well, as you know these were war times, and money is a necessity during the war so this was what reflected America’s full entry into World War II.
This brings us to another topic. If you took a better look you probably noticed the difference in design between coins from Philly and the other two mints. The Philly coins had poor striking quality. However, considering their historical background these coins are sold for high prices.
A Philadelphia Washington quarter in good condition is usually worth around $7 to $10. Therefore specimens in the mint state will be worth a bit more, and those prices will go around $16 and rise to $36 for the lowest MS65 mint quality grade. The coins in MS66 and MS67 will be priced from $200 and up to a few hundred dollars. In the end, a coin with grade MS69 was sold for $16,800.
1942-D mint mark Quarter value
This might sound surprising, but in 1942 the Denver Mint produced the lowest volume of quarter coins of all three facilities. To be more exact, approximately 17.5 million coins were minted, so to find a 1942 Washington Quarter with a D mint mark in good condition is not common.
Also what makes coins from this mint rare and valuable is the fact that all pieces had a high striking quality. All quarters feature clear design details and perfect luster.
The 1942 D Washington quarter circulated but in good condition is valued at $7, while those in much better condition, as we call them “about uncirculated” go between $10 and $16. Quarters in mint state MS60 are usually priced from the lowest $18 up to $50.
Coins that are considered gem quality specimens, with the grade quality MS65 have premium prices of $50 and up. The best example of how valuable this coin can be is a 1942-D quarter with grade MS68 sold for $9,600.
1942-S mint mark Quarter value
Finally, in the San Francisco mint facility, over 19 million quarters were struck in 1942. Since we mentioned how almost all coins from the Philadelphia mint are lower in quality due to the weak strike, some very fine coins were minted in San Francisco.
Although we all got used that proof coins are minted here, these 1942 quarters were minted for circulation. For quarters with lower grades, the value is estimated at around $8, while specimens in extremely fine condition will be between $10 and $30.
The biggest surprise is that the 1942-S coin with grade MS67 is priced around $260, which is low compared to P and D mint mark coins which are around $575. The reason is the fact that the San Francisco facility has produced more quarters of higher quality than the other two mints.
However, these coins are still selling for big bucks. A 1942-S quarter with grade MS68 was sold for $7,200 at auction.
1942 Proof Washington Quarter value
Even though San Francisco in most cases was in charge of minting proof coins, in the early years the Philadelphia Mint had this role. In 1942 around 21,000 proof quarters were struck here.
They used specially designed master dies and highly polished blank planchets for minting these proof coins. Unfortunately, despite all that effort, these coins were never as valuable as other proof coin series. Their price goes from $40 to $275.
Current prices of collectible 1942 Quarter coins on the coin market
| Name and year | Mintage and varieties | Metal composition | Diameter and weight | Price |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR69 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$16,800 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$12,925 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS.CAC | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$10,575 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$10,575 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS.Secure | 17,487,200 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$9,600 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$9,000 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter PR68 NGC | 17,487,200 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$8,337 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$8,280 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS.CAC | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$7,500 |
| 1942-S 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS | 19,384,000 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$7,200 |
| 1942-S 25C Washington Quarter PR67+ PCGS.CAC | 19,384,000 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$6,462 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse MS64 PCGS. CAC. FS-101 | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$6,462 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 PCGS.CAC | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$6,168 |
| 1942-S 25C Washington Quarter PR68 NGC | 19,384,000 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$6,000 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Reverse MS66 PCGS. FS-016; Breen-4316 | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$5,750 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse, FS-101, MS65 NGC | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$5,640 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter MS67+ PCGS Secure. CAC | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$5,581 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse MS64 PCGS | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$5,175 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter MS68 PCGS | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$4,887 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse MS63 PCGS | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$4,600 |
| 1942 25C Washington Quarter PR68 NGC. CAC | 102,117,123 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$4,600 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Reverse MS66 PCGS | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$4,312 |
| 1942-S 25C Washington Quarter MS67+ PCGS. CAC | 19,384,000 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$4,259 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter MS67+ PCGS Secure | 17,487,200 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$3,995 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter MS67+ PCGS Secure | 17,487,200 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$3,818 |
| 1942-D 25C Doubled Die Obverse, FS-101, MS65 NGC | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$3,760 |
| 1942-S 25C Washington Quarter MS67+ PCGS | 19,384,000 | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$3,525 |
| 1942-D 25C Washington Quarter Doubled Die Obverse MS63 PCGS | N/A | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
24.3 mm
6.25 grams |
$3,450 |
The Main Features Of The 1942 Washington Quarter Coins
On the obverse side of this coin, you can see a facing left portrait of the first President George Washington. Above his head, the inscription “Liberty” is engraved while the inscription “In God We Trust” is placed below his chin. We already mentioned in previous articles that all quarters minted before 1968 have only the designer’s initials and the minting year on the obverse side.
When you turn the coin, you can see an image of an eagle on the reverse side. He is standing with his wings fully outstretched on a cluster of arrows. You’ll see a wreath of olive branches below the arrows. The mint mark is placed just below the olive branches.
A denomination “Quarter dollar” is inscribed on the bottom of the coin. On the opposite side, above the eagle’s head, the Latin motto “E pluribus unum” and “United States of America” are engraved. The 1942 series of quarter coins were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
As you all know all quarters made pre-1980 that originate from Philly Mint do not bear any mint mark. While we are talking about this, are you interested in learning more about the first quarter series that comes with the P mint mark? If you are, make sure to read our 1980 Quarter value article.
Also, keep in mind that quarters minted before 1965 are made from 90% silver and 10% copper. The weight of these silver quarters is around 6.25 grams and it must have a reeded edge with 119 reeds alongside.
List Of Errors Found On 1942 Washington Quarters
As we mentioned in the previous article (look for 1932 Quarter Value) early minting series did not feature so many different varieties of errors considering that the minting process was less complex. However, the number of coins with errors was higher due to exact same reason – less complex minting technology.
Here we will talk about the only two error varieties found in the 1942 Washington Quarter series – double die errors. Read on and learn their collectible value.
1942-D Washington Quarter Double Die Obverse Error
This type of error occurs during production when a die slightly moves during the minting process. A coin gets struck at least twice and with the same obverse design. As a result, we get a coin that features doubling or overlapping in parts with date, image, and inscriptions.
When you search for them in catalogs or online markets they carry an abbreviation DDO. A DDO in the 1942-D quarter coin series is easily noticed as thickened letters. The value of a coin with this error depends on the condition of the coin.
Even at the lowest grades, these error coins will be worth between $50 and $100. Specimens in extremely fine condition can cost a few hundred dollars, while those in the mint state will cost a few thousand dollars. On the other hand, uncirculated pieces with MS67 grade are sold for $6,462.
1942-D Washington Quarter Double Die Reverse Error
This type of error is exactly the same as the previous one but during the minting process coin gets struck at least twice on the reverse side design. Meaning we get a coin that features doubling or overlapping in lettering and image details.
When you search for them in catalogs or online markets they carry an abbreviation DDR. A DDR in the 1942-D quarter coin series is available in two variations.
In the first variety, the error is visible in doubling on the olive branches below the eagle or on the lettering of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Coin with this error is pretty valuable even at the lowest grades, and it goes around $125, while those in the mint state will reach a price of a few thousand dollars.
On the other hand, the second variety is a bit less valuable. These coins display an error on olive branches and the eagle’s beak. In poorer conditions, their value is around $50, while those in mint state will sell for a few hundred dollars. Uncirculated coins in pristine condition can reach a price of a few thousand dollars.
Where Can You Trade Valuable 1942 Washington Quarters?
Since these coins were minted in 1942 we come to the conclusion that they are made from 90% silver, which makes them very valuable and attractive. This means a lot of replicas will be available on the coin market, and as you all know they look so realistic that you can easily get confused.
To avoid paying a lot of money for a coin that does not even worth the face value, you need to know how to recognize a real from a fake coin. Or you can make things easier and choose to work and trade with reliable dealers. Here is our list of auction houses and coin web pages that are proven and reliable – Heritage Auctions, PCGS, Coins For Sale, Stack’s Bowers, or Littleton Coin Company.
If you have encountered our articles before you know that we are recommending deep and thorough research before forming a final price of a coin you are trying to sell. The best places to get informed about the demand and supply, as well as price ranges are web platforms like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers.
But we must also advise you to avoid buying coins on places like this, if you can, of course, due to the fact that you can come across fake coins on these platforms easily. However, if you are still looking to buy coins on these platforms make sure you buy from the most reliable seller. To be safe make sure you look for feedback, comments, or anything else that can help you find out if the seller is reliable.
FAQ
What should I look for in the 1942 quarter series?
Look for the 1942-D double die error coins, or a regular 1942 quarter coun without mint mark! Even though these no-mint mark coins are the lowest in quality (weak strike) they are somehow the ones that have the most value, and it seems like their value only grows with time.
What is the most common error in quarter coins?
The most common error that occurs on quarter coins is a double-die strike. There are plenty of varieties of this error considering doubling can occur on the obverse or reverse side, on the lettering, on the image, on the denomination, or to place the complete design off-center.
All these errors are different in value, and the final price depends on the quarter series as well as the condition of the coin.
Invest Now In Wartime Coins And They Will Pay Off In The Long Run
Taking the mintage volume of 1942 Washington Quarter coins we can’t say they are rare, however, the high mintage did not affect their value. It seems like nothing can’t beat the significance of historical background.
With that being said, we highly recommend you invest money in all coins that are dated from the wartime period. Think how much they will be valuable in years to come if they already reach high prices.
Hopefully, this article answered some of your burning questions about the 1942 quarter value. We have high hopes that it will help you figure out how to handle your precious coins and where you can trade them risk-free.
For all of you that find Washington Quarters an interesting topic, there are plenty of Washington-Quarter-coins-relatable articles on our blog. We recommend you read the 1941 Washington Quarter value article and see why wartime quarters gained so much popularity among coin collectors.
Also, we would like to hear from you, so in case you know some information that we didn’t mention here, please do not hesitate to share your opinions and advice in the comment section below. Good luck and happy hunting!
