1978 No Mint Mark Quarter: Value, Silver and Errors
Quick answer
A 1978 no mint mark quarter is a normal Philadelphia coin (521,452,000 made) with no silver, worth 25 cents worn and $18 in MS65. Errors and prices.
Updated 2026-09-25 · Sources: coinvaluechecker.com, Wikipedia
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- Mint: Philadelphia (no mark); West Point also struck unmarked quarters in 1977–1979
- Mintage, no mint mark: 521,452,000
- Mintage, D (Denver): 287,373,152
- Proofs, S (San Francisco): 3,127,781
- Composition: Copper-nickel clad (75% copper, 25% nickel) on a pure copper core; no silver
- Weight and size: 5.67 g, 24.26 mm
- Value, no mint mark: $0.25 circulated; $1 MS63, $4 MS64, $18 MS65, $25 MS66, $160 MS67
- Value, 1978-D: $0.25 circulated; $6 MS65, $20 MS66, $250 MS67
- Price source: CoinValueChecker, page updated September 23, 2026
What a 1978 quarter with no mint mark is worth
A 1978 quarter with no mint mark is a normal Philadelphia coin worth 25 cents in circulated condition. It has value above face only when it has no wear: CoinValueChecker (page updated September 23, 2026) lists $1 in MS60 to MS63, $4 in MS64, $18 in MS65, $25 in MS66 and $160 in MS67. The top reported sale it lists is $2,875 for an MS67 on eBay in March 2021, an exceptional coin.
The 1978-D is priced the same in worn grades and lower in MS65 ($6), but higher in MS67 ($250); CoinValueChecker lists a 1978-D MS68 sold for $2,233 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in May 2019. Collector proofs with an S are worth $1 to $36 depending on grade, with a PR70 DCAM record of $1,100 at Heritage in May 2019.
Why a 1978 quarter has no mint mark
Philadelphia did not put a mint mark on quarters until 1980, when the P first appeared (Wikipedia, Washington quarter). A 1978 quarter with no letter therefore came from Philadelphia, or from West Point, which struck quarters from 1977 to 1979 without a mark; the two cannot be told apart. A 1978 quarter that has a mark shows it on the front, to the right of Washington's neck near the ribbon of his hair: D for Denver, or S on proofs only. The same rules apply to the 1977 no mint mark quarter.
Does a 1978 quarter have any silver in it?
No. Quarters have been made of copper-nickel layers bonded to a copper core since 1965, and CoinValueChecker states the 1978 quarter contains zero silver, including the 1978-S proofs. A silver quarter (1964 or earlier) weighs 6.25 g and is 90% silver; a 1978 quarter weighs 5.67 g and shows a copper stripe on its edge (Wikipedia). If your 1978 quarter looks silver all through, weigh it; a correct 5.67 g means it is a normal clad coin.
Known 1978 quarter errors, including the 1978-D
Values reported by CoinValueChecker (page updated September 23, 2026), for authenticated coins:
- Off-center strike: $30 to $50 typical, up to $250 for dramatic examples.
- Off-center and double struck: one sold for $293.
- Rotated double strike: examples over $170.
- Doubled die obverse: check LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST with a loupe; a certified MS65 sold for $75 in April 2021.
- Missing clad layer: one face looks dull reddish-brown; $250 to $500 or more; a 1978-D in AU58 sold for $425 in June 2020.
- Struck on the wrong planchet: $180 to $600.
- Improperly annealed planchet: about $100.
- Lamination error: an AU58 sold for $65 in March 2021.
- Filled mint mark (1978-D only): an MS64 sold for $85 in November 2020.
The 1978-D has no famous die variety of its own; the errors above are the ones reported. Coins that are plated, bleached or scraped can imitate a missing layer or odd color, so weigh any suspect coin (5.67 g normal) and have it authenticated before paying a premium.
How this page was made
Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Prices are copied from the named price guide or auction report with its date; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.
FAQ
What is a 1978 quarter worth with no mint mark?
25 cents in circulated condition. Unworn coins are $1 in MS63, $18 in MS65 and $160 in MS67 (CoinValueChecker, September 2026).
What is the value of a 1978 American quarter?
Face value for worn coins from either mint. Uncirculated 1978 and 1978-D coins run from about $1 to $250 depending on grade, and proofs $1 to $36.
Does a 1978 quarter have any silver in it?
No. It is copper-nickel clad on a copper core and weighs 5.67 g; silver quarters end with 1964.
What is the error on the 1978-D Washington quarter?
There is no single famous one. Reported 1978-D errors include a missing clad layer ($425 in AU58, June 2020) and a filled D mint mark ($85 in MS64, November 2020), per CoinValueChecker.
More in Washington Quarter Value: Years, Mint Marks and Errors
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Sources
- coinvaluechecker.comwww.coinvaluechecker.com/how-much-is-a-1978-quarter-worth/
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_quarter
Compiled by the CoinLens editorial team
Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above; numbers and prices are copied from the source, and prices name the guide or auction and its date. Research and drafting were assisted by AI, and each claim was then checked against the cited sources. Checked 2026-09-25. We do not buy, sell or grade items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.