7 Rare Bicentennial Quarters Valued Over $5,000 – Could One Be in Your Pocket?

The 1976 Bicentennial Quarter holds a unique spot in American coin history. Minted to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States, this coin stands out thanks to its patriotic design featuring a colonial drummer on the reverse. While most are worth just 25 cents, some rare editions can fetch thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars.

In this article, we’ll look into seven rare Bicentennial Quarters worth more than $5,000, what makes them valuable, and how to find out if you have one in your change jar.

History

To understand the value behind these quarters, you’ve got to go back to 1975. That’s when the U.S. Mint began producing special coins for the bicentennial celebration. Even though the 200th anniversary was in 1976, these quarters all bear the dual date 1776–1976.

Instead of the usual eagle on the back, they feature a colonial drummer. They came in different compositions, including copper-nickel clad and 40% silver, and were minted in San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia.

Millions were made—but only a few have the unique traits that make them truly valuable today.

Value

Most Bicentennial Quarters are worth face value. But a rare few, thanks to mint errors, composition, or condition, are worth serious cash. Here’s a quick glance:

Key Takeaway	Details
Highest Auction Price	$19,200 (1976-S Silver Quarter) in 2019
Rare Error Types	Doubled-die obverse, off-center, wrong planchet
Mint Marks to Watch	S (San Francisco), D (Denver), no mark (Philadelphia)
Grading Impact	MS-67 or higher dramatically increases value
Official Coin Info Source	U.S. Mint website

Mints

Where the coin was made plays a big role in its potential value:

San Francisco (S): These include silver and proof versions. They’re usually higher quality and more collectible.

Denver (D): Most were clad, but some had errors or exceptional quality strikes.

Philadelphia (No Mint Mark): These are more common, but rare versions still exist.

Errors

This is where things get exciting. Minting errors often make coins highly collectible:

Doubled-Die Obverse: The date or letters look slightly doubled. Very rare and valuable.

Off-Center Strikes: The design is printed off-center, leaving parts missing.

Struck on a Dime Planchet: These are rare accidents where a quarter is minted on the wrong-sized metal disk. Huge collector demand.

Condition

Coin condition is everything. Coins are graded from 1 to 70, and MS-67 or above is what you want if you’re looking to sell high. A near-perfect quarter can jump in value significantly.

Proof coins and silver editions are usually in better shape since they weren’t meant for general circulation.

Rarity

Even if millions were minted, very few remain in top condition today. Most circulated ones have scratches, wear, or other damage. High-quality survivors are few and far between, making them more valuable over time.

List

Here are seven Bicentennial Quarters that have sold for $5,000 or more:

1. 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter – A 40% silver coin from San Francisco sold for $19,200 in 2019.
2. 1976-D Doubled-Die Obverse – Rare error featuring doubled text. One sold for $8,400 in 2023.
3. 1976-S Deep Cameo Proof – High-quality mirror finish, sold for $2,760 in 2007.
4. 1976-D Exceptional Strike Clad Quarter – High-quality strike sold for $6,463 in 2017.
5. 1976-D Quarter on Dime Planchet – A striking mistake that sold for $9,200 in 2020.
6. 1976-S Clad Proof Deep Cameo – Another mirror-finish beauty that sold for $920 in 2010.
7. 1976-S Clad Proof Quarter – Even a standard proof version sold for $6,038 in 2010.

Grading

If you think you’ve got a rare one, your next step is grading. Two trusted grading services are:

PCGS – Professional Coin Grading Service. Their database, CoinFacts, is super helpful.

NGC – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. They also offer authentication and grading.

A certified grade can bump up your coin’s value and make it more appealing to serious buyers.

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