Anna May Wong Quarter is worth a lot because she is the first Asian American famous film star whose face has been immortalized on a U.S. coin. So, both coin collectors and movie fans are interested in having Anna May Wong Quarter in their possession.
Anna May Wong Quarter was launched (officially released for purchase) on October 25, 2022, as part of the American Women Quarters Program. This was a groundbreaking program with a noble goal to portray important women in U.S. history (pioneers in science, technology, and arts), and Anna May Wong was the first Asian American and the fifth woman that appeared on the reverse side of the U.S. Quarter. Anna May Wong’s Quarter face image was designed by U.S. Mint designers and artists Emily Damstra and John McGraw.
Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth according to the USA Coin Book is $16 or more. This price estimation is for the silver proof variety or to be more precise for the 2022-S Anna May Wong Quarter. The coin’s minimum worth is $4.9506 (6/16/2023) the current silver melt value. Unlike its silver counterpart, the estimated worth of the 2022-P Anna May Wong Quarter in uncirculated MS+ condition is between $0.57 and $1.16 or more, while the melt value is $0.0532.
However, if you check auction record prices you will see that the Anna May Wong Quarter was sold for $3,000 in February 2023. There is a big difference price-wise because many factors affect the value of the Anna May Wong Quarter starting with the coin’s composition (clad or silver) and continuing with the coin’s mintage, errors, and auction prices. This article is here to help you reveal the Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth. Read on to see whether you have a rare coin gem in your collection!
History of Anna May Wong Quarter
The Anna May Wong Quarter is part of recent history. Nevertheless, it has a great historical value for commemorating Anna May Wong’s life achievements in arts and her brilliant performance in over 60 films. The historical meaning of Anna May Wong Quarter is not connected to the time of launch but to the life and legacy of the first Chinese American Hollywood movie star and the value of the American Women Quarters program.
To understand how much Anna May Wong Quarter is worth, first, we have to go back in time and realize her immense contribution to the field of theater, television, and motion pictures, and her struggle against discrimination in and outside Hollywood. Here is what you should know about her to appreciate the quarter’s worth:
- At the age of 14, Anna May Wong landed her first movie role as an extra in the film “The Red Lantern”;
- She acted in London and New York stages, and over 60 films (silent films including) in Europe and America;
- Anna May Wong was the first Asian American with a lead role in a U.S. television show;
- She is known as one of the greatest international film stars, fashion icons, and TV stars, and an inspiration for both directors and actors worldwide.
It was only natural to award Anna May Wong with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while she was still alive in 1960 and to honor her posthumously by choosing her to be one of the women in the U.S. Quarters initiative.
From its beginnings in 1946, the Quarter Dollar underwent many transformations like the silver Washington quarter (1932 – 1964), its copper-nickel version, the 50 State Quarters series (1999- 2008), the 6 coin series in 2009, America the Beautiful Quarters program (2010-2021), Washington commemorative quarter, and the amazing American Women Quarters program (2022- 2025).
Five remarkable women were honored and portrayed on the reverse side of the U.S. quarter, and Anna May Wong was one of them. Now, that you know Anna May Wong’s contribution as an artist, the Quarter Dollar’s varieties over the years, and the importance of the American Women Quarters program you can understand the historical worth of the Anna May Wong Quarter.
Mintage of Anna May Wong Quarter
Other important data concerning the Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth is the mintage and the types of quarters produced during the mintage process. Issued in 2002, Anna May Wong Quarter was produced in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mint in the following quantities:
- 240.0 million Anna May Wong Quarters, carrying the “D” mintmark (on the obverse side below the date), were minted in Denver Mint;
- 226.8 million Anna May Wong Quarters, carrying the “P” mintmark, were minted in Philadelphia Mint;
- An unknown number of Anna May Wong Quarters, carrying the “S” mintmark, were minted in San Francisco Mint.
As you can see these quarters were struck in large quantities available in circulation. However, for the collectors out there, there are also Anna May Wong Proof Quarters and uncirculated varieties. The combination of uncirculated and proof specimens is considered to be of premium quality and is worth a lot more.
Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mint produced these series of the Anna May Wong Quarter: the 2022-D, 2022-P, 2022-S Proof, and 2022-S Silver Proof Anna May Wong Quarter. As per usual the proof samples take longer production time, have more details, and are struck on special planchets. Anna May Wong Proof Quarters are specifically produced for collectors, so it is unlikely to find them in your pocket change, but they likely sell more.
Anna May Wong Quarter Main Features
- Category: American Women Quarters Program
- Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco
- Obverse designer: Laura Gardin Fraser
- Reverse designer and sculptor: Emily Damstra and John McGraw
- Composition: silver (99.9% fine silver) and copper-nickel clad (91.67% copper – 8.33% nickel)
- Weight: silver (6.34 grams) and copper-nickel clad (5.67 grams)
- Diameter: 24.3 mm
- Thickness: 1.75 mm
- Face Value: 25 cents (0.25 USD)
- Edge: Reeded (No. of reeds 119)
Anna May Wong Quarter has the following distinctive features:
- The obverse (front) side of the coin was designed by the artist Laura Gardin Fraser and portrays the first U.S. president George Washington facing right. This design was initially created to commemorate Washington’s 200th birthday back in 1932. If you take a closer look you will notice Laura Gardin Fraser’s initials LGF on the left side on the bottom of the neck. You can find these writing on the obverse: “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, the year of issue “2022”, and a small mintmark below the year.
- The reverse (back) side of the coin portrays a close-up look of Anna May Wong (designed by Emily Damstra) and sculpted by the medallic artist John P. McGraw with her head leaning on her hand, encircled by the bright lights of a marquee (the coin’s rim) sign. If you take a closer look or use a magnifying glass you will notice Emily’s initials below left, and John’s initials below right. You can read these writings on the coin’s reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” (around above), “QUARTER DOLLAR” (horizontally below), “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (under), “ANNA MAY WONG” (on the left).
Once you know the main features of Anna May Wong Quarter you can notice any discrepancies and errors on the coin you are trying to buy or the one in your possession. Don’t forget errors affect Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth!
Anna May Wong Quarter Worth and Known Errors
Now it is time to determine the initial value of Anna May Wong Quarter varieties (circulated, uncirculated, with and without mintmark). Then we can examine the coin and look for errors affecting the coin’s worth. And last but not least compare prices between the quarters with and without errors. According to Silver Recyclers data, the basic factors affecting the Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth are the coin’s series and condition. Here is what you should know about the initial value of Anna May Quarter varieties:
- 2022 Anna May Wong Clad Quarters
These coins’ worth in circulated condition is $0.25 (their face value). Add $0.50 to this price and you will get the value of the 2022-P Anna May Wong Quarter (minted in Philadelphia) and 2022-D Anna May Wong Quarter in uncirculated MS63 condition. One dollar is the value of the uncirculated Anna May Wong Clad Quarters in MS65 condition. The uncirculated coins minted in San Francisco are worth double, two dollars. These 2022-S Anna May Wong Quarters in uncirculated MS65 condition are worth three dollars. The S-proof version of the same coin in PR 66DC condition is worth around $4.50, and in PR 69DC condition around $15.
- 2022 Anna May Wong Silver Proof Quarter
Normally, the silver-proof quarter is more valuable than its clad version because it is made out of precious metal (silver). So, silver-proof quarters’ minimum value is their weight in silver, and the current silver melt value ($4.95 on 6/16/2023) from the recent silver spot price of $24.30 per ounce. However, the 2022-S Silver Proof Anna May Wong Quarter in PR 66DC condition is worth around $12, while the one in PR 69DC condition is worth around $20.
Now let’s see whether Anna May Wong Quarters have errors and varieties. Errors have occurred on Anna May Wong Quarters in the form of finger doubling on her hand, die breaks on her finger and her face, and die chips on her fingernails. Also, there have been die chips on Washington’s neck.
So far, there are no double-die variety listings on Anna May Wong Quarters, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be on the lookout. Therefore, keep your eyes open, stay informed, and check error discoveries. Nevertheless, Anna May Wong’s Quarters with or without errors are quite valuable. For example, an early find of the 2022-P Anna May Wong Quarter in MS68 condition was sold for $132, and the 2022-D 25C Anna May Wong Quarter in MS69 condition was sold for $362.
Anna May Wong Quarter Valuable Error Varieties
Errors affect the value of every coin including Anna May Wong Quarter. Here is a list of Anna May Wong Quarters that are worth more than their face ($0.25) value or melt value (silver or copper-nickel):
- 2022-D Anna May Wong Quarter (NGC MS69 PL MAC Finest MPL Grade and Spotless Rare): $750;
- 2022-P Anna May Wong Quarter Reverse error (Super Rare): $600;
Check eBay’s selection of Anna May Wong Quarters if you want to find other valuable unique and rare error samples.
Most Valuable Anna May Wong Quarter Auction Record Worth
The best way to see how much Anna May Wong Quarter is worth on the market is to check the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) auction record prices on American Women Quarters (2022-2025):
| Type | Title | Auction record |
| American Women Quarters, 2022 Anna May Wong Quarter, MS
|
2022-P Anna May Wong MS | $132.5 |
| 2022-D Anna May Wong MS | $899.95 | |
| 2022-S Anna May Wong MS | $3,000 |
According to PCGS information, the 2022 Anna May Wong Quarter minted in the San Francisco Mint (carrying the S mintmark) is worth the most. This valuable quarter from the American Women Quarters collection with an MS68 grade was sold for $3,000 on February 2, 2023 (on eBay).
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Anna May Wong Quarter Rolls and Bags
Besides the single Anna May Wong Quarters, the U.S. Mint offered a new numismatic product from the American Women Quarters four-year series in the form of rolls and bags of uncirculated 2022 Anna May Wong Quarters. Created for collectible purposes these uncirculated coins included bag products with 100 uncirculated quarters struck at the Philadelphia or Denver Mint, and pair of 40-coin roll options from the Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco Mints.
The U.S. Mint started shipping Anna May Wong Quarters for circulation on October 24, 2022, while the uncirculated version was available a day later, on October 25. Just like their circulated counterparts, the uncirculated Anna May Wong Quarters were minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mint. These uncirculated coins were hand-loaded during the mintage process and struck on specially burnished blanks, hence the brilliant finish. They were sold in a two and three-roll set, and 100-coin bags at a price range between $36 and $54.
Conclusion
Anna May Wong Quarter’s worth depends on multiple factors. Before determining the value of the quarter in your possession, consider every factor including the coin’s historical worth, mintage, composition and series varieties, errors, and auction record prices. Only then you will know the true worth of your Anna May Wong Quarter!
However, one thing is for sure Anna May Wong’s Quarter, as part of the exceptional American Women Quarters collection, is a treasure on its own. The mere fact that you have a coin portraying the first Asian American Hollywood movie star who achieved international success despite racism and discrimination attracts collectors and movie fans worldwide. When you add rare Anna May Wong Quarters in perfect condition to this fact, the coin’s worth only goes up. Use the information in this article to your benefit and put a price on the quarter you own, or start bidding on the next valuable Anna May Wong Quarter!
