We can freely say that the Washington Quarter coin is one of the most popular US coins among collectors. This isn’t surprising at all considering this is one of the longest-running series ever. The first Washington Quarter coin was struck in 1932, and the last one was struck in 1998.
If you are an avid coin collector then we are sure you understand how exciting this is. You are challenged to search for 66 different coin series just to make a full collection. These coins are all so similar yet so different at the same time. But there are some things that make the 1965 Washington Quarter special.
If this intrigued you, you’ll be glad to know that in this article we will look back into the history of quarters, reveal the exact 1965 Quarter value, teach you why are they special, and which coins you should look for.
Why Is The 1965 Washington Quarter Coin So Valuable?
The shortest answer is the 1960s silver crisis. Near the end of 1964, the US sailed into the biggest coin shortage in its history. This unpleasant situation caused chaos in commerce throughout the country, and the main reason behind it was the rising price of silver that occurred in the early 1960s.
All the circulating coins that were made from 90% silver including dimes, quarters, and half dollars were targeted for hoarding. In fact, people hoarded millions of these coins, causing unimaginable damage. It was so bad that if the government didn’t take precautionary measures, the US would run out of silver by 1968.
In 1965, the US Mint officially stated that all coins that were made from 90% pure silver will transition to copper-nickel clad composition. These new coins were struck on a planchet made of 75% copper and 25% nickel cladding over a pure copper core.
However, until the Mint gathered enough metal they continued minting silver coins. This is why they froze the date on silver quarter coins from 1965 until 1966, to prevent hoarding by collectors. The first clad composition quarter was struck in August 1965 and released into circulation in November.
An interesting fact is that quarters that are labeled with the mint date 1966 were struck only after August 1966.
The main features of the 1965 quarter coins
If you never collected Washington Quarters before this article, how would you know what are you looking for if we first don’t describe it a bit for you? We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to know the main features as well as small details to be able to differentiate a real from a fake coin. So, let’s begin.
All 1965 Washington Quarter coins feature a facing left portrait of G. Washington on the obverse side. Take a good look, and you’ll notice that right above his head, an inscription “Liberty” is engraved. A date of minting is placed near the lower edge of the coin. Like with all previous Washington Quarters the engraving “In God We Trust” is located on the left side of his bust, just below his chin.
The reverse side didn’t change at all when compared to the previous series. On the reverse side, you’ll find an eagle with outstretched wings standing on a bundle of arrows. Bellow the arrows are two olive branches that are curved upwards and the inscribed denomination “Quarter dollar”.
The “United States of America” is engraved above the eagle’s head and just below that is the Latin motto “E pluribus unum”.
There are some other key features that will help you distinguish the 1965 quarter from others. First of all, there are no mintmarks. The second feature is composition. As we said a lot of the 1965 quarter was made from a rich blend of copper and nickel layers. Coins made from this clad combination are giving a hue that is a lot different from the hue of coins made from silver.
What Makes This Quarter Valuable?
If we look at the larger picture, most of the 1965 quarters are not all that rare or valuable at all. The majority of these quarters are made from clad composition and if they are in bad condition they will be worth only a face value while those in uncirculated condition can earn you a bit more. But these aren’t the coins we are looking for.
What we are looking for is the transitional error coins. A lot of quarter from 1965 was struck on the wrong planchet, meaning that you should open your eyes wide and look for that elusive silver 1965 quarter.
It is well known that a nice portion of 1965 quarters was struck on a silver planchet until the US Mint didn’t gather enough copper and nickel for a new composition. However, even when the new clad composition was in use, come quarters were accidentally struck using the planchets from 1964.
Therefore, how will you know which quarter is silver and which is made from clad composition, you ask?
You can start with the simplest method – weighing it. As you know silver Washington Quarters weigh 6.25 grams, while quarters made from copper-nickel composition weigh 5.67 grams. That small difference in 0.25 grams isn’t that obvious, so make sure you calibrate your scale well and weigh the coin properly a few times.
Of course, there’s another way to determine whether your quarter is silver or clad. Take a magnifying glass and check the edge of the coin. If your quarter has a reddish-orange reeded edge that means your coin is clad. Silver coins do not have any trace of copper on the edge. Also, silver coins have more shine than copper-nickel coins and this is very easy to notice when coins are in mint state.
Besides the transitional error coins, some other variations of the 1965 quarter have collecting potential. These include Quarters from 1965 in mint condition and those that are struck with some kind of error. Mint condition 1965 quarters are estimated to be worth from $1 up to $50.
You must be wondering why it will cost so much. Well, since these coins were made from copper-nickel-clad composition, people didn’t take care of them and most are severely damaged. Nowadays, finding a 1965 quarter in mint condition is pretty uncommon.
List of errors found on 1965 Washington Quarter coins
Errors is very frequent occurrences when it comes to printing stamps, banknotes, or minting coins. In fact, the majority of the rarest and most valuable coins, that were sold for a small fortune, owe their high prices to minting errors.
The 1965 series is no different, and there are several types of 1965 quarter errors that occurred during the minting process. However, there is always a possibility that not all types of errors were found so pay attention to your coin.
Here is the list of errors that we currently know of:
- Broad-struck minting error – Sometimes, the ring or also called the collar, that holds the coin and gives it a shape, is damaged or does not work properly. As a result, we get the expanded coin that looks longer and flatter than regular coins. You’ll recognize it by the letters and digits that are flat and spread. Usually, these quarters sell for at least $50 and up.
- Double die obverse minting error – If you notice that the letters on the obverse side are doubled keep the coin! This doubling most commonly occurs in the phrases “Liberty” and “In God, We Trust”. Quarters with this error are worth $450 to $1,100 and more.
- Double die reverse minting error – When the coin is struck twice on the reverse side, and there are doubles in the letters of the phrase “Quarter Dollar” you run across the DDR error. These error quarters could be worth around $175.
- Double-struck minting error – If the quarter is struck twice or even more times before it is ejected in most cases the design is rotated or struck on the other side of the coin. Coins that feature this error can sell for over $400.
- Struck through minting error – This error occurs when a foreign object comes between the die and coin right before the strike. The foreign object will naturally leave a mark on the coin. Depending on the grade coins with this error will sell from $140 and above.
- Rotated die minting error – When one of the dies spins around the axis, the obverse and reverse sides rotate relatively close to each other. The end result is that one side isn’t in the right direction when you turn a coin. This error can sell for around $300.
- Off-center minting error – It is not unusual that coins design ends up imprinted sideways when the planchet isn’t centered well. What is interesting about this error is that the higher the percentage of off-center design the more valuable it is. When the date is still visible and the quarter is in good condition, a coin like this will be worth at least a few hundred dollars.
- Double tail quarter – A double tail quarter error is when a coin has both sides of the coin as the reverse. It is believed that there are only three quarters discovered with this incredibly rare error. They come from the 1965 and 1967 series. Their estimated value is $10,000+.
Price Guide For Common 1965 Quarter Coins Worth Investing
Did you know there’s a 1965 Washington Quarter worth more than $7,000? Looking for rare and unique quarters is a hard task but in the end, it’s worth looking for them. In fact, if you are an amateur collector then we recommend you start this journey by looking for valuable 1965 Quarter coins.
In the table below we will fail all the varieties and their prices you can currently find on the coin market.
Quick price overview
There is a major difference between the prices of uncirculated and circulated coins. For instance, 1965 Washington Quarters in circulated condition are estimated to be worth between $0,30 and $7,50, while those in mint state are $5,250.
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:
Most Valuable 1965 Quarter Worth Money: How Much Is it Worth Today
How To Determine The Value Of 1965 Quarter Coin?
Many people think that determining the grade and value is as easy as it can be. As long as you are following the guidelines, you can’t go wrong, right? Well, it can go wrong in so many ways. However, that does not mean you shouldn’t try it on your own. In the end, if you aren’t satisfied with the results, you can always send it for professional grading, which we always recommend.
To be able to determine the real value of your coin you should know that there are a few main factors that you need to take into consideration:
- Rarity – Rare is valuable, no matter which type of collectible we are talking about. However, a rarity for coins is in most cases presented by the date of minting, mintmark, material composition, etc. When it comes to the 1965 Washington Quarter the thing that makes it valuable is the historical fact that this is the first series of Quarters that isn’t made from 90% silver.
- Mintmark – The mint mark is crucial for determining the value in terms to tell you the exact mintage. The lower the mintage the higher the value. However, the 1965 Quarters are only minted in Philadelphia Mint so, therefore, they do not bare any mint mark.
- Material – As already said, this series of Quarter coins is the first one made from the copper-nickel-clad composition. There are transitional errors in 1965 Quarter coins that were instead minted on silver planchets, these are pretty valuable, keep them.
- Condition and grade – All the coins are valued according to the grade they carry. There are four primary grades that are popular among collectors – Uncirculated, Extremely Fine, Fine, and Good.
Where Can You Sell And Buy 1965 Washington Quarters?
You must be very lucky to find a rare and valuable Quarter coin among 66 different series. However, the good news is that not only error coins and rare coins are sought-after collectors.
A lot of common Quarter coins are as well popular collectible items, and you can find them all over the Internet, and in most antique and coin shops as well. In case you are looking for a valuable error Quarter coin or some rare variety then you need to know where to look for them. You won’t find these at your local numismatic shop.
When it comes to buying and selling rare and valuable coins you must find a reliable dealer on the market. We recommend that your first choice should be an auction house or reputable coin web pages such as Heritage Auctions, PCGS, Coins For Sale, or Littleton Coin Company.
Of course, exploring places like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers will help you get all the information about the particular coin. That includes price, demand, and supply. If you decide to buy a coin from any of these platforms we must warn you to be extra careful. Before you make any purchase check for the feedback on the seller profile, and always consult with your mentor or specialist.
Also Read:
The 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar: History, Value, and More (Rarest Sold For $9,000)
1965 Roosevelt Dime Value: Uncovering the Surprising Worth of Your Coin Collection
5 Most Valuable Quarters After 1965 (Between $5000 And $10,000)
FAQ
Are there other examples of transitional errors on coins?
Throughout the history of the US Mint, a lot of different types of coins went through changes in material composition. Transitional error coins are not so common, yet they can happen. They occur when a coin is struck on planchets that were meant for the previous series and different years.
Valuable transitional error coins can also be found on the following coins:
- 1943 bronze penny
- 1982-D bronze small date penny
- 1983-D bronze penny
- 1944 steel penny
- 1964 penny minted on copper-nickel clad dime planchet
- 1965 penny minted on silver dime planchet
- 1964 dime on clad planchet
- 1965 silver dime
- 1964 quarter minted on clad planchet
- 1964 Kennedy half-dollar on clad planchet
- 1964 Kennedy half-dollar on clad dime planchet
- 1965 Kennedy half-dollar on a silver planchet
- 1965 Kennedy half-dollar on a silver dime planchet
How much silver is in a transitional error silver 1965 quarter?
Most 1965 Quarters were made from a newly clad composition, however, some were accidentally made of precious silver planchets. These coins are rare and they can be worth over $5,000 if they are in mint state. Each silver quarter is 6.25 grams and contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver.
Let’s Bring This To An End
As you may see 1965 Washington Quarter coin does not only have a collectible value, but it also has historical and cultural impact considering it represents the end of one and the beginning of another era.
Even though collectors prefer pre-1965 coins since they were made from silver, as you can see these Quarters ain’t bad as well. I mean, a face value of a quarter coin is just 25 cents, so if you think it through anything that goes above that is literally free money so take it.
Hopefully, this article answered some of the questions and helped you figure out how to handle your precious coins. 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.
