Most Valuable 1971 Quarter Worth Money: No Silver, No Value?

We know that many people doubt that coins minted after 1964 hold any collectible value, but we are here to prove them wrong. In fact, a lot of post-1964 coins are hard to find and when found they are selling for premium prices. The fact is that coin value is not always dictated by a material that is used for crafting.

There are a lot of silver quarter coins that are less valuable than their clad counterparts. Things like errors, historical background, and mintage volume will significantly affect the price. In this article, we decided to talk about the 1971 Quarter value. Read on if you are interested in finding out more about its design, varieties, error types, and current market prices.

Why Is The 1971 Washington Quarter Series Valuable?

Did you know that the 1971 Quarter gained popularity thanks to Eddie Van Halen a guitarist and songwriter of the band Van Halen? He used a 1971 Quarter coin on the bridge of his favorite guitar named Frankenstrat to make it more stable when playing.

Also, this coin is precious and valuable due to amount of error varieties that occurred in both Denver and Philadelphia Mint facilities. As you know error coins are very popular among collectors and often reach premium prices. A lot of 1971 error coins are estimated to be worth at least a few hundred dollars so they are a profitable investment.

Price Guide For Common 1971 Quarter Coins Worth Investing

Did you come across an old 1971 Quarter coin in your piggy bank and now you ain’t sure what to do with it? Are these coins valuable, and if they are how much money can a 25-cent coin earn me? In the following paragraph, we will answer all these questions, you just have to read on.

Also, if you are trying to find a 1971 Washington Quarters to complete your collection then you’ll find a lot of valuable sources here! 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, 1971 Washington Quarters in circulated condition are estimated to be worth between $0.30 and $10, while those in mint state are $1,250.

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:

• 1971 Washington Quarter Dollar MS64 – $13

• 1971 Washington Quarter Dollar MS66 – $57

• 1971 Washington Quarter Dollar MS66 – $123

1971 no mint mark Quarter value

The Philadelphia Mints produced 109,284,000 Washington Quarter in 1971. This is the second-largest mintage volume out of the three facilities. A no-mint mark 1971 quarter is evidently not rare considering the mintage so you’ll often come across a specimen in circulated condition.

However, keep in mind that the 1971 quarters are struck in poor quality due to the fact that this mint was overusing its die. That only means that you’ll need to try harder to find a coin that is in an uncirculated condition. You will easily acquire a circulated 1971 quarter for a modest price range that goes from $0.30 to $6.

On the other hand, uncirculated 1971 coins with no mint mark in a mint state MS 63 will sell for $8, while an MS65 will cost $10. Those coins that are in pristine condition will sell for higher prices of a few hundred dollars and more. The best example is a 1971 quarter with grade MS67 sold for $3,840.

1971-D mint mark Quarter value 

In 1971 a Denver Mint struck the highest mintage volume out of all three facilities. It is estimated that around 258,634,428 coins were released into circulation. The great news is that the quality of these coins was a lot better than those that came from Philadelphia. However, that doesn’t make Denver coins more expensive than the Philly ones.

The fact is that high mintage affected the price. You can easily find a good quality 1971-D quarter coin right in circulation. These are coins with grades MS63 and lower and they can e sold for prices between $0.30 and $8.

If you are going a little higher, coins with garde MS66+ are rare and they will sell for a premium price. For instance, a 1971-D quarter with grade MS68 was sold for $4,560.

1971-S mint mark Proof Quarter value

During 1971 San Francisco Mint produced 3,200,000 proof coins. These are coins that come with a cameo and deep cameo contrast, that are always uncirculated and minted for collecting purposes. Coins from San Francisco have better strikes than the Denver and Philadelphia ones.

Even though proof coins are higher in quality than regular strike coins, the 1971 proof coin series is quite affordable for that standard. These coins are available in Proof, CAM, and DCAM varieties. The main reason for lower prices is the high mintage. An average proof coin with grade MS60 will cost you from $2 to $10.

Moreover, the finest example of a 1971-proof quarter with a garde PR69 and sold for $7,475 in auction. 

Let us explain the difference between proof and CAM and DCAM varieties. The difference between regular strike-proof coins and these is in clarity. You can easily recognize CAM and DCAM coins for their deeply polished and highly reflective surface, while regular strike-proof coins are less reflective and shiny.

Remember that the CAM contrast has a mirror-like luster. You will notice that all the details including letters appear milky white. Those white areas are not reflective.

On the other hand, DCAM quarters will look like they are black and white at first glance. This is due to the high contrast between the reflective field and design. On a DCAM coin, all the details appear frosty white and creamy.

Rarest & Most valuable 1971 Quarter coins on the coin market

The Main Features Of The 1971 Washington Quarter Coins

There were minor changes in design after 1968, however, they are not easily noticed. The 1971 quarter also features an image of George Washington facing left on the obverse side. Above his head, you can find the inscription “Liberty”, while below his chin the saying “In God We Trust” is engraved.

Now here is the minor change in design. All quarter coins minted after 1968, besides the designer’s initials and the minting year, have a mint mark on the obverse side! A mint mark is placed right behind his head. Naturally, if they were minted in Denver or San Francisco.

On the reverse side, you can see an image of an American eagle standing with its wings outstretched. He is gripping a bundle of arrows in his talons. Just below the arrows, a wreath made of two olive branches is placed.

A denomination inscription “Quarter dollar” is placed just below the olive branches wreath on the bottom of the coin. Above the eagle’s head a Latin motto “E pluribus unum” and “United States of America” are engraved.  As mentioned the 1971 quarter coins were minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver.

The weight of these coins is around 5.67 grams and they are made from copper-nickel-clad composition, with a reeded edge.

List Of Errors Found On 1971 Washington Quarters

Did you know that some of the rarest and most expensive 1971 Quarter coins aren’t regular strike coins in perfect condition? On the contrary, it’s the error coins with major or minor flaws that occurred during the minting process. 

Here is the list of some of the most valuable errors that occur in the 1971 quarter series:

• 1971 Washington Quarter doubled die reverse error – As you all know a doubled die error occurs when a blank slips from its place. However, there are a few different varieties of this error depending on misalignment. You can encounter a doubling error, a distended, distorted, offset, or pivoted error. In general, most coins end up with a doubling of one or more design elements on the coin. The more extreme the doubling is the higher the value. In 1971 quarters doubling can be noticed on the date and the word “Liberty. A coin with this error goes from $100 and up.
• 1971 Washington Quarter broad struck error – Broad strikes error is a common error among quarter coins, especially in a 1971 variety that comes from Philadelphia. This error will occur when the coin is struck outside the retaining collar which is used holding to define the diameter. A coin will qualify as a broad strike only when the obverse and reverse designs are completely present. A 1971 quarter with a broad strike error on both obverse and reverse design is worth around $400.
• 1971 Washington Quarter clipped planchet error – A clipped planchet error is very popular among collectors. This error occurs when a die overlaps a punched hole in the rim. This mishap results in a missing part of a planchet. The size of the missing part can be minor or major. A 1971 quarter coin with clipped planchet error can cost between $10 and $100+.
• 1971 Washington Quarter off-center error – A 1971 quarter with an off-center error where at least 3% to 5% of the design is missing will bring you a nice amount of money. The price depends on how much of the design is missing and which element is or isn’t visible. Coins that miss around 10% to 20% of their design cost around $50, while those that are missing half of their design can be worth more than $200.

Where Can You Trade Valuable 1971 Washington Quarters?

Considering these coins are still in circulation, you can obtain them from your pocket change, however, these coins are in pretty bad shape. If you are a serious collector you will need to look for a coin in a mint state. These coins can be only bought on a coin market.

Even though it sounds easy, it isn’t. There is always a risk of buying a coin that is fake. To avoid an unpleasant situation like this the best thing you can do is to find a reliable dealer or a web platform where you can trade free of worries. Here is the list of sources we firmly recommend since they are proven and reliable – Heritage Auctions, PCGS, Coins For Sale, Stack’s Bowers, and Littleton Coin Company.

For all of you that are considering selling your 1971 quarter coins, we have a few tips to share. Before you decide on a final price, make sure you research the market. Visit web platforms like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers to learn valuable information like demand and supply, as well as price ranges. 

If you are thinking about buying a coin on these platforms we recommend you first do a thorough research. Unfortunately, fake coins are common here. This is why you need to check for feedback, comments, or anything else that can help you find out if the seller is proven and trustworthy.

FAQ

Are there silver 1971 Quarter coins?

No, officially all 1971 quarter coins were made from clad composition. However, errors can happen, so if you run across a 1971 quarter coin that was mistakenly struck on a silver planchet make sure you take it for a professional grading since this would be an extremely rare specimen.

Where is the mint mark located on the 1971 Quarter coin?

As we mentioned above, all quarters minted after 1968 have a mint mark on the obverse side behind Washington’s neck. On the other side, all quarters minted before 1968 carry a mint mark on the reverse side below the olive branches.

Are Clad Quarters Valuable Collectibles?

Logically, the majority of coin collectors prefer to invest in silver quarters, however, there is also a lot of clad quarter series that are oddly valuable and make a great investment. One of them is a 1971 Quarter coin, so don’t miss out on it.

Hopefully, this article helped you learn more about the 1971 quarter value. We also have high hopes that it helped you realize that trading precious coins can be risk-free only when you are working with reliable dealers.

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 our 1970 Washington Quarter value article and see how this series ranks among 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!

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