1962-D Washington Quarter : A Collector’s Guide

Demand for circulating coins never eased through fiscal years 1962 and 1963, forcing the Denver Mint to operate three eight-hour shifts to produce coins around the clock. While more than 70% of the total coins struck were Lincoln Cents, Denver struck a then-record 127,554,756 Washington Quarters in 1962. The last time any branch struck more than 100 million quarters was in 1944.

Things to Know Before You Buy or Sell a 1962-D Washington Quarter

The 1962-D Washington Quarter is a 90% silver quarter that was produced in large quantities and issued into circulation, as unremarkable as any other silver coin found in change. After the United States Mint abandoned silver coinage in favor of copper-nickel clad sandwich metal coins, the Treasury Department began to remove silver coins from circulation. The public also began to remove the coin; some accumulated hundreds, others thousands of dollars in face value.

A 90% silver quarter contains approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of silver and its basal value will always be connected to the prevailing price of silver and not the stated value of 25 cents. In typical circulated condition, these coins trade frequently on sites like eBay, but a local place to buy or sell silver Washington Quarters might be a local jewelry store, bullion seller, or pawn shop.

Mint State examples of the 1962-D Washington Quarter are no longer found in circulation, but they are common. One way to acquire the 1962-D Quarter, along with every other coin issued for circulation in 1962, is to purchase a 1962 Uncirculated Coin Set. These sets were sold at an issue price of $2.40 ($25.24 in 2024 dollars). A total of 385,285 sets were sold and while many were broken up over the years, sealed sets or sets in good condition can still be found for about $50 each.

Uncirculated 1962-D Washington Quarters were also saved in roll quantity by speculators hoping that the growing coin market of the 1960s would yield high profits for their face value coin investment. Today, these rolls sell for about $375, and Choice Uncirculated 1962-D Washington Quarter singles sell for about $10 each.

The value of the 1962-D Washington Quarter opens up once the coin has been certified by a leading grading service. It is important to understand that the process of certification costs money. In order for a submitter to profit from the certification of a 1962-D Washington Quarter, the coin’s sale price must exceed its value as a raw coin plus the grading fees. Because of this, it is only worth submitting a 1962-D Washington Quarter for grading if the coin is a strong MS66 or shot MS67 coin. In MS66, the 1962-D sells for about $60. In MS67 or finer, the price is considerably higher.

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1962-D Washington Quarter Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

The certified 1962-D Washington Quarter market is a cautionary tale for those looking at modern coins in ultra-high grades as investments. The following information provides historical context and examines the top populations of certified coins. We also trace the appearances and prices of several high-grade certified specimens in public auctions and other sales in the 21st century.

On April 19, 2012, Heritage sold the George’s Army Collection, which included a top pop, pop two 1962-D Washington Quarter Dollar graded MS67 by PCGS. That coin brought a record price of $18,400.

Less than a year later, Dr. David Poole sold his collection, which included the other PCGS MS67 1962-D quarter dollar. That coin was fully brilliant and brought $16,450.

Fast forward seven years later, and the Poole coin sold again, this time for $2,640. At this point, the PCGS MS67 population had risen from two to 16 with three finer. This 80% decrease in value was somewhat predictable since uncertified uncirculated 1962-D quarters are not scarce. In fact, there are far more ungraded Mint State 1962-D quarters than there are examples in NGC and PCGS holders.

Top Population: PCGS MS67+ (5, 12/2024), NGC MS67+ (9, 12/2024), and CAC MS67 (9:2 stickered:graded, 12/2024).

• PCGS MS67+ CAC #36625409: “The Washington Rainbows Collection”, Stack’s Bowers, March 25, 2021, Lot 2352 – $5,280. Washington Rainbows on insert. Pronounced rust-colored peripheral toning with a thin band of blue and green. Brilliant reverse.
• NGC MS67+ CAC #6069231-004: GreatCollections, July 25, 2021, Lot 1005952 – View. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67+ CAC #30975648: As NGC MS67 CAC #3571456-002. Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2014, Lot 3547 – $3,718.75. As PCGS MS67+ CAC #30975648. Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2015, Lot 4796 – $7,637.50. Crossed over to PCGS. Upgraded one-half point. Top pop, pop one when sold.; David Lawrence Rare Coins, March 22, 2020, Lot 4296 – $5,250; GreatCollections, June 20, 2021, Lot 990971 – View. PQ green, gold, orange, and russet toning on the obverse. Hint of these colors in the fields of the reverse.
• NGC MS67+ #5862962-003: GreatCollections, March 7, 2021, Lot 951202 – View.
• NGC MS67+ #5716170-004: GreatCollections, December 13, 2020, Lot 801520 – View. Purple and gold toning.
• PCGS MS67+ #38669659: As PCGS MS67 #36065627: “Sunset Collection, Part 62”, GreatCollections, January 27, 2019, Lot 665433 – View; As PCGS MS67+ #38172924. GreatCollections, November 17, 2019, Lot 674172 – View. Regraded. Upgraded one-half point. As PCGS MS67+ #38669659. GreatCollections, August 16, 2020, Lot 862454 – View. Regraded. Gold and brown rim toning on the left side of the obverse and reverse.
• NGC MS67 #251445-019: Heritage Auctions, June 4, 2015, Lot 3723 – $1,292.50; Stack’s Bowers, June 16, 2022, Lot 4744 – $660. Tarnish along the inside of the rim.
• PCGS MS67 #29620117: Heritage Auctions, July 10, 2014, Lot 3745 – $9,400; “Charlie O’s Collection”, Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2019, Lot 3734 – $3,600 ; Heritage Auctions, May 4, 2022, Lot 3487 – $1,920. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67 #42213773: Heritage Auctions, August 20, 2021, Lot 3769 – $3,120. Dark rainbow toning on both sides.
• PCGS MS67 #40189656: Stack’s Bowers, December 18, 2020, Lot 2198 – $1,680; Heritage Auctions, February 25, 2021, Lot 7051 – $2,520. Tarnished.
• NGC MS67 #5748573-005: Heritage Auctions, December 1, 2020, Lot 21318 – $780. Goldenrod toning mixed with apricot on the obverse. Wispy toning in similar colors on the reverse.
• PCGS MS67 CAC #24952459: “The Dr. David Poole Collection of Silver Washington Quarters”, Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2013, Lot 5621 – $16,450. At the time of the sale, top pop, pop two; Heritage Auctions, August 3, 2020, Lot 3173 – $2,640. Brilliant. At the time of the sale, pop risen to 15 with three finer.
• NGC MS67 #5716103-007: Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2020, Lot 7166 – $871.20. Mottled toning.
• NGC MS67 #1887128-002: Heritage Auctions, June 5, 2020, Lot 3476 – $1,020. Scattered brown toning.
• NGC MS67 CAC #4914951-007: David Lawrence Rare Coins, May 24, 2020, Lot 7125 – $1,151. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67 #28605544: Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2014, Lot 5131 – $15,275; Stack’s Bowers, August 2015, Lot 400 – Passed; Stack’s Bowers, April 1, 2016, Lot  16306 – $4,000 Reserve Not Met; “The Centurion Collection”, GreatCollections, February 18, 2018, Lot 533890 – View; Heritage Auctions, June 14, 2018, Lot 3755 – $2,880; Heritage Auctions, November 9, 2018, Lot 3649 – $2,880; GreatCollections, August 4, 2019, Lot 724414 – View; GreatCollections, May 31, 2020, Lot 843189 – View. Brilliant.
• NGC MS67 #4659500-001: Stack’s Bowers, October 24, 2018, Lot 483 – $1,110. Mottled toning.
• PCGS MS67 #35761518: Stack’s Bowers, August 17, 2018, Lot 3258 – $2,160. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67 #83774118: Heritage Auctions, July 6, 2017, Lot 3083 – $3,760; Heritage Auctions, November 2, 2017, Lot 16533 – $3,840; “The Five Generations of Eby Collection”, Heritage Auctions, January 11, 2019, Lot 5054 – $2,400. Brilliant. Tick on cheek. Thin curved scratch to right of Washington’s hair.
• PCGS MS67 #30861334: Heritage Auctions, January 29, 2015 – $5,170; “The jwb1040 Collection”, Heritage Auctions, February 22, 2018, Lot 3661 – $5,040. Rust, gold, and green rim toning.
• PCGS MS67 #30154213: Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2015, Lot 4795 – $4,758.75. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67 #25262019: Heritage Auctions, December 4, 2014, Lot 3575 – $5,875. Brown, green and red toning on the obverse.
• NGC MS67 #4005777-018: Heritage Auctions, February 3, 2014, lot 3776 – $2,585; “The Michael C. Hollen Collection”, Heritage Auctions, July 7, 2017, Lot 3710 – $1,057.50. Tarnished.
• NGC MS67 #3664108-006: Heritage Auctions, July 12, 2013, Lot 4090 – $7,343.75. Brilliant.
• NGC MS67 #251118-005: Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2012, Lot 3955 – $1,410. Brilliant.
• PCGS MS67 #18500660: “The George’s Army Collection’, Heritage Auctions, April 19, 2012, Lot 5107 – $18,400. George’s Army Collection on insert. At the time of the sale, top pop, pop two. Crescent dark rainbow toned obverse and reverse.
• NGC MS67 W #145467-025: Heritage Auctions, July 16, 2002, Lot 15307 – $718.75; Heritage Auctions, May 2, 2003, Lot 6367 – $1,995; Heritage Auctions, October 24, 2019, Lot 7321 – $960. W denotes brilliant.
• NGC MS67 #249817-016: Heritage Auctions, March 6, 2007, Lot 13342 – $833.75.
• NGC MS67 #251445-018: Heritage Auctions, November 5, 2004, Lot 6833 – $747.50. Tarnished.
• NGC MS67 #251118-006: “The Col. Carmine Penta Collection”, Heritage Auctions, February 27, 2003, Lot 6896 – $4,312.50.