That Washington quarter from 1970 sitting in your change jar might look ordinary, but certain varieties and errors can transform a 25-cent piece into a coin worth several hundred dollars. While most 1970 quarters remain at face value, understanding the differences between mint marks, grading standards, and error types can help you identify the valuable exceptions hiding in plain sight.

Understanding the 1970 Washington Quarter Basics

The 1970 Washington quarter represents the transition era after the United States Mint stopped producing silver coins for circulation. These quarters contain no silver—they’re composed of a copper-nickel clad composition with a pure copper core sandwiched between outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This change occurred in 1965, making all 1970 quarters base metal coins rather than the 90% silver quarters minted through 1964.

Three facilities produced quarters in 1970: Philadelphia struck 136,420,000 coins with no mint mark, Denver produced 417,341,364 coins marked with a “D”, and San Francisco minted 2,632,810 proof coins bearing an “S” mint mark. The mint mark appears on the obverse (front) of the coin, just to the right of Washington’s ponytail ribbon. Philadelphia coins display no mint mark at all, which becomes important when identifying valuable varieties.

1970 No Mint Mark Quarter Values

Standard circulation strikes from Philadelphia make up the bulk of 1970 quarters you’ll encounter. In circulated condition showing normal wear from everyday use, these coins trade at face value—just 25 cents. The cupronickel composition contains no precious metal content worth extracting, and with over 136 million produced, they’re common enough that worn examples hold no numismatic premium.

The value equation changes dramatically for uncirculated specimens that never entered circulation. Here’s the value breakdown by grade:

A 1970 quarter graded MS-67 by Professional Coin Grading Service sold for $336 at Heritage Auctions in 2022, while an exceptional MS-67+ specimen reached $480 in 2023. These premium prices reflect the difficulty of finding 1970 clad quarters in pristine condition—the soft cupronickel surface scratches easily, and most coins show contact marks from the minting process or subsequent handling.

1970-D Quarter Worth and Availability

Denver’s production dwarfed Philadelphia’s output by more than three times, making 1970-D quarters even more common in circulation. Paradoxically, this actually makes high-grade uncirculated examples slightly scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts. Many Denver Mint coins went directly into circulation in Western states, while some Philadelphia production found its way into mint sets and collector holdings.

Circulated 1970-D quarters remain at face value regardless of wear level. Uncirculated values follow this pattern:

The record price for a 1970-D quarter stands at $690, achieved by an MS-67+ specimen sold through Stack’s Bowers in 2023. At the MS-67 level, survival rates drop significantly—PCGS population reports indicate fewer than 40 examples have received this grade, compared to thousands certified at MS-65 and below.

1970-S Proof Quarter Values

San Francisco exclusively produced proof coins in 1970, striking quarters with specially polished dies on polished planchets for collectors. These 2.6 million proofs came in official U.S. Mint proof sets that originally sold for around $5. The deep mirror-like fields and frosted design elements distinguish proof coins from circulation strikes.

Most 1970-S proofs remain in excellent condition since they were preserved by collectors from day one. Standard proof examples grade PR-65 to PR-67 and sell for $2 to $8 depending on eye appeal. Coins with light haze, spotting, or handling marks fall into the $2 to $4 range, while pristine PR-68 specimens reach $12 to $20.

Deep Cameo proofs command the highest premiums. These coins display maximum contrast between mirror fields and frosted devices, graded as “DCAM” by certification services. A 1970-S PR-69 DCAM quarter sold for $120 at Heritage Auctions in 2023, while PR-70 DCAM examples—the theoretical perfect grade—can exceed $500 when they appear at auction.

Valuable 1970 Quarter Errors to Search For

Error coins offer the greatest profit potential for 1970 quarters, with certain varieties worth $50 to $500 or more regardless of mint mark. Here are the most significant errors to watch for:

Off-Center Strikes: These occur when the planchet isn’t properly centered between the dies during striking. Minor off-center errors showing 5-10% of the design missing sell for $25 to $75. Dramatic errors with 30-50% off-center and full date visible command $150 to $400. A 1970-D quarter struck 50% off-center realized $312 at Heritage Auctions in 2022.

Double Die Obverse (DDO): Examine Washington’s profile, “LIBERTY,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” under magnification. Doubling appears as a second, slightly offset image. Minor doubling adds $15 to $40 to a coin’s value, while strong, easily visible doubling can reach $100 to $200. A 1970 DDO quarter with pronounced doubling on “LIBERTY” sold for $168 in 2023.

Wrong Planchet Errors: These rare mistakes happen when a quarter design strikes a planchet intended for another denomination. A 1970 quarter struck on a dime planchet weighs 2.3 grams instead of the correct 5.67 grams and measures 17.9mm rather than 24.3mm. These cross-denomination errors sell for $500 to $1,500 depending on strike quality and eye appeal.

Clipped Planchets: When the cutting mechanism at the mint creates overlapping blanks, resulting planchets show curved or straight clips. Small clips affect 5-10% of the coin and add $10 to $30 in value. Major clips removing 20-30% of the planchet can bring $75 to $150. The complete date and mint mark must remain visible for maximum value.

Broadstrike Errors: These occur when the collar that normally contains the metal during striking is missing or misaligned. The coin spreads beyond normal diameter, creating an oversized, thin quarter measuring 26-28mm instead of 24.3mm. Broadstrikes typically sell for $40 to $120 depending on how dramatic the error appears.

Die Cracks and Cuds: As dies age and develop cracks, raised lines appear on finished coins following the crack’s path. Small die cracks add minimal value, but “cuds”—major die breaks at the rim creating a raised blob—can add $25 to $100. A 1970-D quarter with a major cud covering much of Washington’s face sold for $95 in 2023.

How to Identify Valuable 1970 Quarters

Start your search by checking the mint mark location on the obverse, right of the ponytail. No mint mark indicates Philadelphia, “D” means Denver, and “S” identifies proof coins from San Francisco. Use a jeweler’s loupe or magnifying glass with at least 10x magnification to examine the coin thoroughly.

For uncirculated coins, inspect both sides under good lighting. Look for the original mint luster—a cartwheel effect that rotates as you tilt the coin. Check for contact marks, which appear as small nicks or scratches that reduce grade and value. The fewer marks present, especially on Washington’s cheek and the open field areas, the higher the potential grade.

When searching for errors, examine these key areas systematically: the rim for clips or irregular shape, the design elements for doubling, the overall centering, and any unusual features like die cracks. Weight and diameter measurements help identify wrong planchet errors—a precision scale reading significantly under 5.67 grams indicates a possible error worth investigating.

Compare your coin against normal examples. Error identification requires understanding what a correctly struck 1970 quarter should look like. Online resources like PCGS CoinFacts provide high-resolution reference images of proper strikes and documented error varieties.

Getting Your 1970 Quarter Professionally Graded

For any 1970 quarter you believe grades MS-66 or higher, or any error coin potentially worth over $50, professional grading provides authentication and increases resale value. The two primary services are Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). Both use the 70-point Sheldon scale and encapsulate coins in tamper-evident holders.

Basic grading services cost $20 to $40 per coin with turnaround times of 4-6 weeks. Express services for $50 to $75 return coins in 10-15 business days. Factor grading costs into your value equation—only submit coins where the certified value significantly exceeds the raw value plus grading fees.

For a 1970 quarter, grading makes economic sense for uncirculated coins showing exceptional eye appeal with minimal marks, and for any legitimate error variety. A raw MS-67 quarter might sell for $150 to $200 based on trust, while the same coin in a PCGS MS-67 holder commands $300 to $375 because buyers pay premium prices for third-party authentication and guaranteed grades.

Where to Sell Your Valuable 1970 Quarters

Online auction platforms offer the widest audience for scarce high-grade examples and errors. Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers specialize in certified coins and regularly achieve strong prices for premium modern quarters. Their consignment fees typically range from 10-20% of the hammer price, but professional photography, detailed descriptions, and established collector bases often result in higher final prices that offset the fees.

For coins worth $50 to $300, eBay provides a direct-to-collector marketplace. List certified coins with clear photographs of both the coin and holder. Completed listings show actual selling prices—search “1970 quarter MS-67” or “1970 quarter error” to gauge current market rates. Build in eBay’s 13-14% final value fees when setting your minimum price.

Local coin shops offer immediate payment but typically pay 60-75% of retail value. This option works well for quick sales or coins worth $25 to $100 where auction fees would consume much of the profit. Visit multiple shops to compare offers—prices vary significantly based on each dealer’s current inventory and customer demand.

Coin shows connect you directly with dealers and collectors without platform fees. Shows in larger cities feature dozens of dealers buying all day. Bring your coins in certified holders when possible, and research current market prices beforehand so you can evaluate offers effectively.

Building a Collection Strategy for 1970 Quarters

Rather than accumulating common circulated examples, focus on specific collecting goals that build value. One approach targets a complete mint set of 1970 quarters—one each from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco in the highest affordable grades. An MS-65 P, MS-65 D, and PR-67 S set costs $40 to $55 combined and represents a solid foundation.

Error collectors might pursue one example of each major error type from 1970. A basic error set including an off-center strike, die crack, clipped planchet, and doubled die can be assembled for $100 to $200 total when purchased raw from dealers or online sellers. This strategy creates a visually diverse collection that tells the story of how mint errors occur.

The registry set approach, where collectors compete for the finest-known examples of each date and mint mark combination, drives values at the top end. PCGS and NGC both maintain online registry competitions where participants display their certified sets and rankings. Pursuing MS-67 or finer examples of all three 1970 quarters requires patience and budget—$600 to $1,200 secures top-tier specimens across all three mints.

Maximizing Returns From Your 1970 Quarter Discoveries

Check rolls of quarters from banks before they enter circulation—this direct-from-mint source occasionally yields uncirculated coins and errors. A single box contains $500 face value (2,000 quarters), and while 1970 dates are increasingly scarce in bank supplies, patient searching still produces finds. Track your time investment against discoveries to determine if roll searching fits your goals.

Learn to grade accurately by studying certified examples and comparing your assessments against professional grades. This skill helps you identify undervalued coins at shops and shows where dealers may not specialize in modern quarters. A dealer’s MS-64 might actually grade MS-66 at PCGS, creating immediate profit opportunity if you can recognize the difference.

Stay informed about market trends through auction price databases and coin publications. Heritage Auctions’ archived results show actual hammer prices for thousands of certified 1970 quarters, revealing which grades and varieties are trending up. When MS-67 examples consistently sell above price guide listings, that signals increasing collector demand worth monitoring.

Document your collection with spreadsheets tracking purchase prices, grades, and current market values. This data reveals which acquisitions appreciate fastest and helps you make informed decisions about adding, upgrading, or selling pieces. Photography creates a visual inventory and provides insurance documentation for valuable specimens.

Your Next Steps With 1970 Quarters

Start examining every 1970 quarter that passes through your hands with new attention to mint marks, condition, and potential errors. Set aside any uncirculated examples showing strong luster and minimal contact marks for closer evaluation—these candidates for professional grading might surprise you with premium grades. Keep a jeweler’s loupe in your desk or car to conduct quick examinations when opportunities arise. The difference between a 25-cent piece and a $300 treasure often comes down to simply knowing what to look for and taking sixty seconds to check.