1944 Quarter Value Chart (Worth As Much As $16,800) – Valuable U.S Coins

1944 Quarter Value: How Much Are 1944 Silver Quarters Worth?

As a coin collector, one of the most common questions I get is "How much is my 1944 quarter worth?" Washington quarters from 1944 are very popular with collectors as they‘re made of 90% silver and many are still in collectible condition nearly 80 years later.

In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about 1944 quarter values, including:

• A brief history of the 1944 Washington quarter
• Mintage figures for 1944 quarters
• How to determine the value based on condition and mint mark
• A 1944 quarter value chart with up-to-date prices
• Rare and valuable 1944 error varieties to look for
• Tips on getting your coins professionally graded
• Answers to frequently asked questions about these silver quarters

By the end, you‘ll know approximately how much your 1944 quarter is worth and how to get the best price if you decide to sell. Let‘s get started!

History of the 1944 Washington Quarter

The Washington quarter series began in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington‘s birth. It replaced the Standing Liberty quarter design.

1944 was the 13th year of the series and production ramped up significantly compared to prior years as the U.S. Mint worked to produce enough coins for commerce during World War II. Over 104 million quarters were struck across all three mints in 1944.

One important thing to note is that all Washington quarters minted from 1932 to 1964 are composed of 90% silver. This means even the most worn 1944 quarter is worth many times its face value in silver content alone.

Here is a summary of the mintage figures for 1944 quarters:

1944 (Philadelphia): 104,956,000
1944-D (Denver): 14,600,800
1944-S (San Francisco): 12,560,000

As you can see, Philadelphia had by far the highest mintage in 1944, followed by Denver and then San Francisco. This means San Francisco quarters are the scarcest, while Philly quarters are the most common.

Determining 1944 Quarter Value by Grade

One of the biggest factors in determining the value of any coin is grade, or condition. Coins are graded on a 70-point scale with 70 being perfect mint state.

Here are the main grades you‘ll see 1944 quarters in and how to tell the difference:

• Good (G-4): The coin is heavily worn with the date and lettering barely visible. Washington‘s hair is almost completely worn away.

• Very Good (VG-8): More detail is visible but the coin is still well-worn overall. The rim is nearly flat from extensive circulation.

• Fine (F-12): Moderate to heavy even wear. The rim is slightly worn into the lettering in areas. Washington‘s hair has some detail.

• Very Fine (VF-20): Light to moderate even wear. The rim is full and separated from the lettering. Most of Washington‘s hair detail is intact.

• Extremely Fine (EF-40): Only the highest points show light wear. Nearly full details and luster in protected areas like Washington‘s hair.

• About Uncirculated (AU-50): Traces of wear only on the highest points. At least half of the original mint luster remains.

• Mint State (MS-60 to MS-70): No traces of wear from circulation. The difference between mint state grades depends on the number and severity of marks and scratches, as well as luster and toning.

Uncirculated quarters are the most valuable, while coins in G-4 are only worth their silver melt value in most cases. Let‘s take a look at a value chart to see how much 1944 quarters are worth.

1944 Quarter Value Chart

Here are approximate values for 1944 Washington quarters in various grades and mint marks (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco). These are retail prices as of 2023.

Grade1944194419441944G-4$5.60$5.60$5.60VG-8$5.60$5.60$5.60F-12$5.60$5.60$5.60VF-20$5.60$5.60$5.60EF-40$5.85$5.85$5.85AU-50$7.00$9.00$9.00MS-60$10.00$15.00$15.00MS-63$16.00$22.00$22.00MS-65$45.00$60.00$60.00MS-67$375$450$450MS-68$16,500$16,500$16,500

As you can see, there is little difference in price between the common circulated grades. Well-worn 1944 quarters are essentially valued at their melt price of around $3.50.

In uncirculated condition, there is more of a price difference between the mints. Denver and San Francisco mint quarters are worth a bit more than Philadelphia quarters in grades MS-60 to MS-65.

In grades MS-67 and MS-68, the values skyrocket. 1944 quarters graded MS-67 are worth between $375 and $450 depending on mint mark. In MS-68, these coins can sell for an astounding $16,500! This goes to show the massive premium collectors place on superb gem silver coins.

One thing I want to mention – the chance of a random 1944 quarter being MS-67 or higher is astronomically low. Only a literal handful exist. Most uncirculated 1944 quarters you‘ll come across will grade between MS-60 and MS-64.

Also, accurate grading is very important when dealing with valuable coins. That‘s why I recommend you only buy coins graded by NGC or PCGS, the top two grading services. They have consistent standards and their grading is widely accepted in the marketplace.

If you have a raw (ungraded) 1944 quarter and believe it might grade MS-67 or MS-68, definitely consider having it professionally graded by NGC or PCGS. The cost is well worth it if your coin ends up getting one of these incredible grades!

Rare and Valuable 1944 Error Varieties

In addition to high grade regular issue coins, there are a few notable error varieties to look for on your 1944 quarters. Error coins are caused by mishaps during the minting process and can be quite valuable to collectors.

Here are some of the most well-known and desirable errors:

1944 Double Die Obverse: This error features significant doubling in Washington‘s eyelid, the letters "RTY" in LIBERTY, and the date. Only a few are known to exist and they‘re worth north of $200 in XF condition.

1944-S S Over Horizontal S: On some 1944-S quarters, the mint mark was first punched horizontally, then corrected and overpunched vertically. This neat variety is worth $35 and up.

1944 Brockage Reverse: This dramatic error occurs when a coin is struck with a previously stuck coin instead of a die. As a result, a mirror image impression is stuck onto the reverse. These are extremely rare and valuable, often selling for over $1,000.

While rare errors can be very valuable, you‘re unlikely to find them in pocket change. Most have been discovered and are now in collections or museums. But it never hurts to double check your coins just in case!

Silver Value of 1944 Quarters

Since 1944 quarters are made of 90% silver, they will always be worth at least their melt value. Silver melt value is determined by the current market price of silver, which fluctuates daily.

Each Washington quarter contains .18084 troy ounces of pure silver. With silver around $20 per ounce as of 2023, that means each coin has a melt value of about $3.60.

Melt value acts as a floor price for 1944 quarters. In other words, you should never sell your coins for less than melt value, as you could always sell them to a refinery for that price.

Fortunately for collectors, common date silver coins like 1944 quarters are worth more than melt in all but the worst condition. This additional numismatic or collector value is based on relative scarcity, grade, and mint mark.

Tips on Selling Your 1944 Quarters

If you have some 1944 quarters you‘re looking to sell, I recommend following these tips to get the most money:

1. Sort your coins by mint mark and condition. Separate out any high grade or uncirculated examples as these will be worth significantly more.

2. Determine a fair market price for your coins by checking recent eBay sold listings and the latest retail price guide values.

3. Consider selling directly to a coin dealer or posting your quarters on a site like eBay. You‘ll generally get more than melt value this way, especially for better condition examples.

4. Get valuable individual coins authenticated and graded by NGC or PCGS prior to selling. This provides peace of mind for serious buyers and can help boost the value.

5. If you‘re not getting good offers or just want a quick sale, consider selling your 1944 quarters as silver bullion to a local coin shop or precious metals refiner. You‘ll receive melt value this way.

6. No matter how you choose to sell, do your research and never let yourself get pressured into a sale. Take your time and evaluate multiple offers to get the best deal.

With these tips in mind, you should be able to get top dollar for your 1944 silver quarters. Selling coins can take some time and effort, but it‘s worth it to maximize your return.

FAQs About 1944 Quarter Values

To wrap up, let me answer some frequently asked questions I get about 1944 quarter values.

Q: What‘s the most valuable 1944 quarter?
A: The most valuable 1944 quarter is a specimen graded MS-68 by PCGS. It realized $16,800 at a 2015 auction. In terms of regular strike issues, the 1944-D and 1944-S are worth the most in uncirculated condition.

Q: How much silver is in a 1944 Washington quarter?
A: All 1944 Washington quarters contain .18084 troy ounces of pure silver. They are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

Q: How much is a worn 1944 quarter worth?
A: A heavily worn 1944 quarter is worth around $5.60 based on the silver melt value. This is the minimum value for these coins in any condition.

Q: Where is the mint mark located on 1944 quarters?
A: 1944 quarters have the mint mark on the reverse just below the wreath. "D" indicates the Denver mint while "S" is for San Francisco. Philadelphia quarters don‘t have a mint mark.

Q: Are there any rare 1944 quarters to look for?
A: In terms of regular strike coins, uncirculated examples are the rarest, especially in MS-67 and above. Some notable error varieties include the Double Die Obverse and S over Horizontal S mint mark.

In Closing

I hope you‘ve found this guide on 1944 quarter values informative and useful. As you can see, these 90% silver coins are highly collectible in all grades and mint marks.

Uncirculated examples are the most valuable, with superb gems realizing five figures at auction. Even well-worn specimens are worth multiples of face value based on their precious metal content alone.

If you have any 1944 quarters in your possession, follow the tips I‘ve outlined to determine their value. Consider getting coins professionally graded if they have the potential to be in high mint state grades.

Most importantly, collect what you enjoy! Silver Washington quarters like the 1944 are a classic numismatic collectible with a great history. These gems from the past are sure to be prized by collectors for generations to come.