Rare Bicentennial Quarter Valued at Almost $20K – Plus 7 Other High-Worth Coins

For those of a certain age, the year-long bicentennial celebration of 1976 rings a bell-the United States celebrated its 200th birthday and the country was fairly drowning in bicentennial trinkets, collectibles, souvenirs and various other things to spend money on.

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The U.S. Mint also made a series of bicentennial quarters to mark the occasion — and many of those now bring great sums of money as the country approaches its 250th birthday.

The Mint made the bicentennial coins between 1975 and 1976 as a special edition. They were notable for being the first U.S. quarters in more than 50 years to feature a special reverse design

Big Bicentennial Bucks

The most precious of those coins — a 1976-S Bicentennial Silver Quarter that came in with a very high grade — sold for $19,200 at auction several years ago, according to the Chronicle Collectibles website. That’s but one example, though. Plenty of others have sold for a lot of money, too.

Most of those coins were “clad,” meaning they contained multiple metals — nickel, copper and zinc stacked together like a sandwich — said the U.S. Mint. But as Chronicle Collectibles observed, some bicentennial quarters contained 40% silver – an important difference because the silver coins are relatively rarer, and therefore worth much more money.

The condition of the coin also determines its value, with those in pristine condition commanding the highest prices.

The bicentennial quarters were minted at three different locations in different mintages: Philadelphia (809,784,016 coins), Denver (860,118,839 coins), and San Francisco (11,000,000 uncirculated 40% silver coins, 7,059,099 proof clad coins, and 4 million proof 40% silver coins).

Here’s a look at seven other bicentennial quarters that have sold for more than $1,000, according to the Coin Value Checker website:

• 1976-S Silver Proof Bicentennial Quarter: sold for $13,500 in 2019.
• Double Denomination 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Struck on a Dime: sold for $9,200 in 2020.
• 1976-D Clad DDO Bicentennial Quarter Business Strike: sold for $8,400 in 2023.
• 1976-D Clad Bicentennial Quarter Regular Strike: sold for $6,463 in 2017.
• 1976-S Clad Proof Bicentennial Quarter, sold for $6,038 in 2010.
• 1976-S Silver Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Quarter, sold for $2,760 in 2007.
• 1976 Clad Bicentennial Quarter Regular Strike, sold for $1,821 in 2023.

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