Each coin has its corresponding worth which is very important to collectors. This value is formed on various factors such as condition, rarity, material, and minting volume. If you’re curious about the current 1998 quarter value, you’re just at the right place.
As you all know, Washington Quarter is one of the longest-runing US coin series in history. However, the time has come for some changes, so in 1998 the US Mint produced the last series of Washington Quarter that we all loved and know. However, this fact did not significantly impact the value of the coin as we would assume.
One of the reasons why these coins lost value is their abundance. On the other hand, there is a bright side to this story – they produced a proof variety made with 90% silver. In most cases, the average price for circulated coins does not go above the face value, but let’s see the value estimations of an official coin grading company.
In you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick answer:
While common 1998 quarters have a face value of 25 cents, rare uncirculated, proof, and mint error examples certified by PCGS or NGC can have significant collectible premiums due to their scarcity, condition, and demand from collectors.
For example, an MS68 1998-P quarter recently sold for $1,380 and a 1998-S silver proof quarter in PR70 condition sold for $402. Carefully examining 1998 quarters for any signs of special attributes is recommended, as certain varieties in top grades can be worth over 2,000 times face value.
Even more common uncirculated coins in MS65 can sell for $50+, while circulated examples with minor errors may trade for a few dollars over face value. With proper authentication and grading, rare 1998 quarters can have tremendous upside compared to their base 25 cent denomination.
Why Is The 1998 Washington Quarter Series Special?
With the introduction of a new 50-State Quarter design in upcoming 1999 the US retired a widely popular Heraldic Eagle reverse design.
Significant changes were in for the Washington Quarter coin with the 50 new reverse designs as well as the modified obverse design. Knowing these facts, it is easy to assume why the 1998 Washington Quarter series is special to collectors.
However, this is not the only reason why this coin became very sought-after among collectors. This series was minted in four different varieties. Two regular strikes, and two proof coin varieties – one on a clad planchet, and the other on a 90% silver planchet.
Price Guide For Common 1998 Quarter Coins Worth Investing
Nothing much changed about the good old Washington Quarter by the end. The last series of Washington Quarter was released in 1998, although they only changed their original composition and the location of the mint mark, they kept their appearance the same since the first minted pieces in 1932.
Since the US Mint decided to produce a new quarter set in 1999 you would expect that the value of the last minting series significantly rises, however, that did not happen. Still, these coins hold a historical value as the last specimen of one of the most minted US coin designs ever.
In the table below we enlisted regular, as well as error varieties, and their current prices on the coin market so you can conveniently find the information you need without wasting time on your own research.
1998-P mint mark Quarter value
As usual, the largest minting volume had the Philadelphia Mint. Around 896,268,000 Washington quarters were minted here in 1998. You’ll recognize them by the mint mark “P” located on the obverse side of the coin. Coins minted in this facility are made for circulation.
Due to the high mintage volume and availability on the coin market, their value isn’t high. Meaning you can buy a circulated specimen in a price range of $0.25 to $1.5 for those in better condition. Coins that are in well-preserved condition will sell for $5, while those in mint state from MS63 and up have slightly higher prices, and they can cost you approximately $11.
However, these coins reach much higer price ranges on auctions. The best example is 1998-P Washington Quarter graded MS 68 sold for $1,380.
1998-D mint mark Quarter value
In 1998 the Denver Mint released a slightly smaller amount of Washington Quarters than the Philadelphia Mint. Approximately 821,000,000 coins were released in circulation. Each coin is labeled with the D mint mark so you won’t have a hard time distinguishing them from other coins.
Logically when some collectible is available in abundance their value is relatively low. Unfortunately, due to the huge mintage volume, the average price of these coins on the coin market is similar to its face value.
However, not all is lost, a well-preserved coin in mint condition is estimated to be worth at least $8, but it sells for more on auctions. For instance, a 1998-D quarter with grade MS67+ was sold for $1,527 at an auction.
1998-S mint mark Clad Quarter value
Like in most cases, all coins minted in San Francisco Mint are proof coins. In 1998 Washington Quarters were minted as proof coins but in two varieties – clad and silver. To be more precise, exactly 2,086,507 clad coins were minted for the purpose of collecting. They are recognizable after the S mint mark.
Even though these coins have a low mintage volume, due to the material they aren’t spectacularly valuable. The average value of the 1998-S clad quarter-proof coin is around $5 to $10 and $12 for DCAM specimens.
In fact, the highest price tag for this variety was for DCAM 1998-S PR 70 quarter which was sold for $218.
1998-S mint mark Silver Quarter value
The second variety was a silver-proof coin made of 90% silver. In 1998 the San Francisco Mint produced 878,792 silver-proof quarters coins. With a low mintage like that these coins achieve a bit higher prices than regular and clad-proof coins. However, don’t expect to sell them for astronomical prices.
Most of these coins cost from $8 to $32. An average price is between $10 and $20, while those with perfect grades are estimated to be worth around $75. The highest selling price tag for a silver-proof DCAM 1998-S quarter with PR70 was $402.
Difference between CAM and DCAM proof coins
Since we are talking about proof coins it is a must to know that there are two different varieties in contrast – a cameo and deep cameo contrast. The difference between regular strike-proof coins and these is in clarity. You will easily recognize CAM and DCAM coins by their deeply polished and highly reflective surface.
Remember that CAM coins feature a contrast that has a mirror-like luster. If you take a good look you’ll notice that all the details, like letters and bust appear milky white. These areas are not reflective.
However, DCAM quarters look completely different, it seems like they are black and white. The reason for this is due to the high contrast between the reflective field and design. All the details and letters on DCAM coins appear frosty white and creamy.
Most Valuable 1998 Quarter Coins Worth Money
The Main Features Of The 1998 Washington Quarter Coins
Just like all other Washington Quarters the 1998 25C coin as well features a portrait of the first President George Washington on the obverse side. The most loved word in the US “Liberty”, is engraved just above his head close to the upper rim.
On the opposite side, you will find a date of minting and. The left side is reserved for “In God We Trust” saying, while behind his neck, right close to his hair is the mint mark.
When you turn the coin on the reverse side, you‘ll find an eagle with his wings fully outstretched while clutching a cluster of arrows in his talons. He is standing above a wreath made of two olive branches. Bellow the wreath a denomination inscription “Quarter dollar” is engraved. The Latin motto “E pluribus unum” is placed between the eagle’s wings while the “United States of America” is inscribed above Eagle’s head.
All quarters minted after 1968, bear the mint mark on the obverse side. The 1998 Washington Quarters are minted in Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). Also, all coins minted for circulation after 1965, are made from copper-nickel clad composition. However, the 1998 proof coins were minted on both clad planchet and silver planchet.
List Of Errors Found On 1998 Washington Quarters
Despite all the efforts, minting errors are still present in each coin series, even though their frequency is lower. That makes error coins even more attractive and valuable to coin collectors. The great news is that the 1998 series of quarter coins is rich with many error varieties.
Here is the list of the most common minting errors found in the 1998 Washington Quarter series. Read on and learn how to recognize them.
- 1998-P Washington Quarter wide AM reverse error – You’ll easily notice this error by a wider gap between the letters “A” and “M” in the word “America” engraved on the reverse side of the coin. This error occurred as a result of a design change that was made on the die that was used to strike the coins. Only around 20,000 coins were minted with this error variety, which is classified as rare and highly prized. Circulated examples of the coin with this error are worth a few hundred dollars, while coins in mint state are worth thousands or more.
- 1998 Washington Quarter off-center error – The off-center error is a common type of error in this series. It occurred during production as a result of a misalignment of the coin in the minting press which led to an off-center strike. This error can be seen in both the P and D mint-mark coins. Some coins show only a slight shift in the design, while others are significantly off-center and much more valuable. A great example was this 1998-P MS65 coin sold for $2,040.
- 1998 Washington Quarter die crack error – Naturally, all the dies suffer enormous pressure during the minting process so eventually they crack. Those tiny cracks affect the design of the surfaces of the coin. The damaged die will leave small or large bumps on the coin surface. You should know that coins with more pronounced bumps are more valuable.
- 1998 Washington Quarter doubled die error – A doubled die error is one of the most common errors among all. It occurs when the die hits the same coin two, three, or even more times. As a result, we get a coin with duplicated design on various coin parts like mint marks, numbers, and letters. These coins are estimated to be worth around a few hundred dollars.
- 1998 Washington Quarter lamination error – Characteristic of this error is that the surface of the coin is peeling or cracking because of contaminants present in the alloy. In most cases, metal separates before or after the strike leaving visible traces. Prices for these quarters are usually from $100 to $250.
- 1998 Washington Quarter struck on a five-cent planchet error – A few 1998 quarters that originate from Denver and San Francisco mints are struck by mistake on a five-cent planchet. These unusual coins are rare but unfortunately not very valuable. Their estimated price range is from ranges between $150 and $200.
- 1998 Washington Quarter broad strike error – When the collar that forms the edge and rim gets damaged the metal expands. These coins are always wider than regular ones, with unreadable inscriptions and a smooth edge.
- 1998 Washington Quarter capped die error – If a metal is stuck to a die while it is hitting new coins, the planchet attached to the die will take the shape of a bottle cap. This is how this error got the name – Capped die. Also, some collectors call them Mushrooms so you might find them listed under that name.
- 1998-S Matte Proof Washington Quarter error – This 1998-S Matte Proof error is a rare variety that was struck on the specially prepared matte surface instead of traditional mirror-like proof coins. The error was a result of mistakenly striking coins on the die meant for the 1998-S Matte Proof dime. Quarter coins with this error are easily recognized by their granular texture and lack of luster, particularly noticeable on the obverse side. Here the matte finish clashes with the raised details in the design so the coin appears blurred. A coin with this error is highly sought after by collectors. The estimated worth of this error variety is from a few hundred dollars up to a few thousand dollars.
Where Can You Trade Valuable 1998 Washington Quarters?
Trading valuable coins seems easy when you first think of it. However, this action comes with great risk. Collectible items such as coins are very often replicated due to their popularity among collectors. So if you are a new player in this game, you can easily get scammed, since replicas are very credible.
This is one of the main reasons why we advise you to establish a network of reliable dealers that you’ll work with. 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.
Even though the Internet is a place where you can easily get scammed, there is a good side to it as well. If you are trying to sell your coin but you are not sure how to form a price, you should visit web platforms like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers. These are great sources of information where you’ll find valuable information like price range, demand, and supply.
If you are thinking about buying coins from these platforms make sure you think it through. Fake coins are very commonly listed on platforms like these. Make a habit of looking for feedback, comments, or anything else that can help you find out if the seller is reliable.
FAQ
What Quarter coin comes after the Washington Quarter coin?
Even though the US Mint decided to change the quarter design it did not change it completely. This means that the quarter coin kept the Washington obverse design and only changed the reverse side to honor different US states and territories.
From 1999 until 2009 US Mint produced the 50 States quarters as a part of the commemorative program.
Goodbye To A Heraldic Eagle Desing
In the end, the 1998 Washington Quarter is more than just a coin. It represents the end of an era and symbolizes patriotism and innovation. These coins have become cherished collectible items for numismatics and history enthusiasts around the world thanks to the fact it carries a lot of historical background.
Hopefully, this article answered some of your burning questions about the 1998 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.
You can find plenty of Washington-Quarter-coins-relatable articles on our web so we invite you to explore and read on. We would like to suggest you read the 1776-1796 Washington Quarter value article and see the difference between these two historically important minting series.
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!
