Quarter · 1970
1970 Quarter Value
A 1970 quarter is worth $0.25 to $1.51 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1970 quarter
The 1970 quarter is a regular circulation issue, struck in copper-nickel clad copper, weighing 5.67 g, 24.26 mm across, from a design by John Flanagan. It was struck at Denver, Philadelphia — 553,761,364 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
For scale, 1970 mintage was 70% lower than in 1965 (1,819,717,540 that year) — enough to compare, not enough to change how the coin is valued today.
Philadelphia made the fewest at 136,420,000, against 417,341,364 from Denver — a 3-to-1 difference, and the one number on this page most likely to matter if the date is ever collected seriously.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.25 to $1.51, and the grading data that separates ordinary coins from exceptional ones has not built up.
Legends on this design — obverse: “LIBERTY · IN GOD WE TRUST”. Reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E PLURIBUS · UNUM · QUARTER DOLLAR”.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 417,341,364417.3M | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.28 | $0.40 | $0.40 | $0.40 | $1.51 |
| No mint mark | 136,420,000136.4M | $0.25 | $0.25 | $0.27 | $0.29 | $1.15 | $1.15 | $1.27 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1970 quarter
What if it has already been cleaned?
Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.
Where is the mint mark
It sits on the obverse to the right of Washington's ponytail. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →
Proof and collector versions
Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 1 collector version of the 1970 1970 quarter — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets. These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 2,632,810.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 2,632,8102.6M | $1.90 |
What to do with your 1970 quarter
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 553,761,364 and a best circulated value of $1.51, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.
Where to sell
Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.
Specifications
¼ Dollar "Washington Quarter"
- Composition
- Copper-nickel clad copper
- Weight
- 5.67 g
- Diameter
- 24.26 mm
- Thickness
- 1.75 mm
- Edge
- Reeded (119 reeds)
- Designer
- John Flanagan
- Mints
- United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco (collector issues only)
FAQ
How much is a 1970 quarter worth?
A circulated 1970 quarter is worth $0.25 to $1.51 depending on condition and mint mark. It is a recent coin in everyday circulation, so condition is the only thing that moves the price.
How many 1970 quarters were made?
About 553,761,364 in total — Denver 417,341,364, Philadelphia 136,420,000. That is a large mintage, which is why circulated examples stay inexpensive.
Where is the mint mark on a 1970 quarter?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1970 quarter varieties?
No major varieties are catalogued for this date. That does not rule out minting errors on individual coins — off-centre strikes, clipped planchets and doubled dies turn up in any year — but there is no known variety that makes the date itself scarce. With 553,761,364 struck, a variety would need to be genuinely rare to stand out from a run this size.
What is the S quarter from 1970?
An S mint mark on a 1970 quarter means a collector coin from San Francisco — 1 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 2,632,810. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1970 quarter graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $1.51, from a mintage of 553,761,364 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
More on quarters
1966 Quarter1967 Quarter1968 Quarter1969 Quarter1972 Quarter1973 Quarter