1959 Washington Silver Quarter Value: What It’s Worth Today

The 1959 Washington Silver Quarter value starts at its silver melt – roughly $14.83 per coin at today’s spot price of $82 per troy ounce – and climbs from there based on condition, mint mark, and collector demand. For anyone sorting through old change, inherited coin collections, or junk silver bags, the 1959 quarter is one of the most recognizable 90% silver pieces in American numismatics. It is common enough to find, valuable enough to keep, and interesting enough to study.

This guide covers everything you need to know: specifications, mintage figures, variety identification, current pricing across all grades, and practical advice for buying, selling, or holding these coins.

Key Specifications of the 1959 Washington Silver Quarter

The 1959 Washington Quarter is a standard 90% silver issue. Every example – whether struck in Philadelphia or Denver – shares nearly identical physical characteristics.

The obverse shows George Washington’s portrait, designed by John Flanagan and largely unchanged since the series debuted in 1932. The reverse carries a heraldic eagle. The mint mark – if present – appears on the reverse, to the right of the eagle’s tail feathers, below the wreath. Philadelphia-struck coins carry no mint mark at all.

At $82/oz silver, the melt value works out to approximately $14.83 per coin (0.18084 x $82). That figure acts as a hard floor for any 1959 quarter in any condition. Even a heavily worn, barely legible example has that much silver in it.

Mintage and Varieties: Philadelphia, Denver, and Proof

Three distinct versions of the 1959 Washington Quarter exist. Identifying them is straightforward once you know where to look.

The 1959-D is the most common by a wide margin – over 62 million struck. You will find it in most junk silver lots and coin dealer bins. The Philadelphia issue had a lower mintage but is still abundant. Neither is scarce in circulated grades.

The 1959 Proof is a different story. Struck at Philadelphia specifically for collectors, proofs have deeply mirrored fields and sharp, frosted devices. With just over 1.1 million produced, they are the rarest of the three and typically sold in annual proof sets. A proof in PR65 grades around $14 at current prices, though higher-grade examples – PR67 and above – command meaningful premiums.

Brief History: Why the 1959 Quarter Still Matters

The Washington Quarter series launched in 1932 to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. It was intended as a one-year commemorative. Congress kept it going, and it ran as a 90% silver coin through 1964.

By 1959, these quarters were everyday money. Americans spent them on groceries, bus fare, and payphones. The post-war economic boom meant heavy circulation, which is why most surviving examples show significant wear.

The end came quickly. Rising silver prices in the early 1960s made the metal in each coin worth more than its face value. People started hoarding and melting coins for bullion profit. The U.S. Mint responded with the Coinage Act of 1965, replacing silver with a copper-nickel clad composition. The 1964 quarter was the last 90% silver issue. Coins like the 1959 quarter are now firmly in the “pre-1965 silver” category that collectors and stackers prize.

For context on how other silver quarters from this era are valued, the 1954 Washington Quarter value guide and the 1952 Washington Quarter value guide cover similar coins from the same series.

1959 Washington Silver Quarter Value by Grade

Condition drives the numismatic premium on top of melt. A coin graded MS67 can be worth 40 times more than an MS60 example from the same mint. Here is how pricing breaks down across the grade spectrum.

Circulated Examples

Circulated coins show wear from actual use. At current silver prices, even heavily worn examples trade at or slightly above melt.

Most circulated 1959 quarters land in the $15-$20 range when silver is at $82/oz. Dealers buying junk silver typically pay slightly below melt; retail prices sit slightly above.

Uncirculated (Mint State) Examples

Uncirculated coins never entered circulation. They retain original luster and show no wear – only contact marks from the mint bag, if any.

The jump from MS65 to MS67 is dramatic. A 1959-D graded MS67 sold for $605 at auction – that premium reflects genuine population scarcity. Very few examples survived in that condition after decades of handling and storage.

Proof Values

Proof 1959 quarters were struck for collectors and sold in annual sets. They were never intended for circulation.

• PR65: approximately $14
• PR66: $25-$40
• PR67: $50-$100+
• PR68 and above: varies by population – can exceed $100

A damaged or cleaned proof trades near melt regardless of its original quality. Only problem-free examples carry numismatic premiums.

Errors and Key Varieties Worth Knowing

No dramatic doubled-die varieties exist for 1959 like some other dates in the Washington series. But a few error types do surface and can multiply a coin’s value significantly.

Repunched Mint Mark (RPM): The most documented variety. On certain 1959-D examples, the “D” mint mark shows doubling – a ghost of a second impression visible under magnification. A 1959-D RPM sold for $139 at auction. These are cherrypickable from raw coin lots if you have a 10x loupe.

Off-Center Strikes: When the planchet shifts during striking, part of the design is missing. Depending on the degree of misalignment, off-center strikes can be worth 2-10 times a normal example.

Live Silver Spot Price – Accurate Precious Metals Refineries

Planchet Flaws: Lamination errors, clips, and other pre-strike defects occasionally appear. Significant flaws on otherwise high-grade coins attract specialist collectors.

The practical takeaway: always examine 1959-D quarters under magnification before selling them as junk silver. An RPM hiding in a bulk lot is easy money left on the table.

How to Identify a Genuine 1959 Silver Quarter

Distinguishing a genuine 90% silver quarter from a post-1965 clad coin is simple with a few basic checks.

If you want a deeper look at identifying silver quarters across the full series, identifying silver Washington quarters by year is a useful reference.

Buying 1959 Washington Silver Quarters: Practical Advice

The 1959 quarter is an entry-level silver coin – affordable, widely available, and easy to understand. Here is how to approach buying.

Raw vs. Slabbed: Raw (ungraded) coins from dealer bins or auction lots are fine for circulated examples. You are essentially buying silver by weight, and melt value protects you. For MS65 and above, pay the premium for a PCGS or NGC-slabbed coin. The grading assurance matters when you are paying $50-$600+ for a single example.

Junk Silver Bags and Rolls: Many dealers sell pre-1965 silver quarters in bulk. You pay a small premium over melt and get a mix of dates and grades. The 90% silver Washington quarters product format is a practical way to accumulate silver content efficiently.

Cherrypicking: If you enjoy the hunt, buy raw lots and examine every 1959-D carefully for RPM varieties. Most sellers do not check, and the price difference between a common example and an RPM is substantial.

Auction Archives: PCGS and NGC maintain auction price records. Before paying retail, check what similar coins actually sold for in recent auctions. Retail markups on numismatic coins can be significant – sometimes 30-50% above auction realized prices.

For a broader look at the silver coin market, understanding spot-price relationships helps you evaluate any deal quickly.

Selling Your 1959 Washington Silver Quarters

If you have 1959 quarters to sell, your approach should match what you have. Junk silver and high-grade numismatic coins go through different channels.

Junk Silver (Circulated, No Premium): Sell to a dealer who pays close to melt. The sell silver coins page at Accurate Precious Metals outlines current buying rates. For circulated 90% silver quarters, you want a buyer who prices against live spot – not a fixed rate set weeks ago.

Higher-Grade or Error Coins: MS65+ examples and RPM varieties belong in auction or with a specialist numismatic buyer. Getting a second opinion on anything that might grade above MS64 is worth the effort.

Mail-In Option: If you are not local to Salem, Oregon, Accurate Precious Metals offers a mail-in service with free insured shipping. You send your coins, the team assesses them against live spot prices, and payment follows quickly. It is a straightforward process for anyone sitting on a collection they want to liquidate without driving to a coin shop.

Local customers in the Salem area are welcome to bring coins in person – the team can evaluate your 1959 quarters on the spot and make an offer the same day.

Common Misconceptions About the 1959 Quarter

“It must be rare – it’s old.” The 1959-D alone had over 62 million struck. Age does not equal rarity. Value comes from condition and silver content, not the date.

“Worn coins are worthless.” A heavily circulated 1959 quarter still contains 0.18084 oz of silver. At $82/oz, that is nearly $15 in metal alone. Dealers will buy even “cull” examples.

“The mint mark is on the front.” It is always on the reverse. Anyone who tells you otherwise is thinking of a different series.

“Old price guides are still accurate.” Prices from guides written when silver was $25-$30/oz are outdated by a factor of nearly three. At $82/oz, melt value alone has changed dramatically. Always calculate from current spot.

“Proofs are always worth more.” A cleaned or damaged proof trades near melt. Condition matters as much for proofs as for business strikes.

Why Accurate Precious Metals Is the Right Partner for Silver Coins

Accurate Precious Metals has been buying and selling precious metals for over 12 years from its Salem, Oregon location. With more than 1,000 five-star customer reviews and competitive pricing tied to live spot rates, it is built for collectors and stackers who want a straight deal – not a pawn shop experience.

As an NGC Authorized Dealer, Accurate Precious Metals can facilitate professional coin grading – relevant if you have a 1959 quarter that might grade MS65 or above and you want an independent assessment before selling or holding. The inventory spans gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in coin, bar, and bullion form, alongside diamonds and jewelry.

For collectors building a Washington Quarter type set or stackers accumulating 90% silver quarters, the selection and pricing reflect live market conditions. Nationwide insured shipping means location is not a barrier – buyers and sellers across the U.S. can transact with confidence.

If you are ready to sell, visit in person at the Salem location or use the mail-in service from anywhere in the country. The process is transparent, pricing is tied to current spot, and payment is fast. Call (503) 400-5608 or visit AccuratePMR.com to get started.

For additional context on related silver coins from the same era, the 1942 Washington Quarter value guide and the 1946 Washington Quarter value guide cover comparable 90% silver pieces with similar collector appeal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Silver Recyclers – 1959 Quarter Specifications and Value Data
2. Mystic Stamp – 1959 Washington Quarter History and Context
3. APMEX Learn – Washington Quarter Grade and Pricing Reference
4. YouTube – Do Not Spend This 1959 Quarter (Error Varieties Walkthrough)
5. NGC Coin Explorer – 1959 Washington Quarter MS and Proof Values