1887 Canadian 25-Cent (Quarter) Value Guide

The 1887 Canadian 25-cent piece is one of the defining Key Dates of the Victorian quarter series. Struck exclusively at the Royal Mint in London during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year, it carries a mintage of just 100,000 pieces — the lowest official London output in the 25-cent series — and features the classical Laureate Head (Obverse 2) design that Canada retained while Britain introduced the new "Jubilee Head" portrait. This colonial divergence gives the 1887 Canadian quarter a unique historical character distinct from British, Australian, and other imperial issues of the same year. With an estimated 1,000–2,000 survivors in any collectible grade today, it demands serious attention from set builders and condition specialists alike. For an overview of all Victorian and modern Canadian quarter values, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.

1887 Canadian Quarter Composition & Silver Content

Sterling Silver Composition

The 1887 25-cent coin is struck in Sterling Silver: 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This alloy — identical to British hallmarked sterling — differs from the 90% silver standard used by the United States in the same era, giving Canadian Victorian quarters a slightly whiter, more lustrous appearance when newly struck. The copper component is responsible for the characteristic gunmetal-grey or steely blue toning that develops on naturally aged examples over time. This original patina is highly desirable to specialists and is one of the primary indicators that a coin has not been chemically dipped or polished.

The Actual Silver Weight (ASW) is 0.1728 troy oz (5.37 grams). The intrinsic metal value of an 1887 quarter therefore fluctuates directly with the current silver spot price. You can track live Canadian dollar silver prices via resources such as JM Bullion's CAD silver price chart. However, the numismatic collector premium for this Key Date vastly exceeds melt value at every grade level — even a G-4 example commands a substantial premium above spot.

Mint Facility and Coin Alignment

In 1887, Canada did not yet possess its own mint; the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa would not open until 1908. All Canadian coinage was struck in England. The 1887 quarter was produced exclusively at the Royal Mint in London. A coin bearing no reverse mint mark is a London issue. Issues struck at the private Heaton Mint in Birmingham carry a small "H" mint mark on the reverse — no Heaton-struck examples are documented for the 1887 date.

Canadian coins of this era were struck in Coin Alignment (↑↓): when you hold the coin by its edges and flip it vertically (top-over-bottom), the reverse image appears upside down relative to the obverse — the same alignment used by United States coinage. Canada would switch to Medal Alignment (↑↑) only after the Ottawa Mint opened in 1908. Verifying correct Coin Alignment is a quick preliminary authentication step; a Medal Alignment 1887 quarter is an immediate red flag for a modern counterfeit.

Magnetic Properties

Sterling silver is non-magnetic. Applying a magnet to a genuine 1887 quarter should produce no attraction whatsoever. Any magnetic response immediately disqualifies the coin as genuine sterling silver and suggests a steel-core imitation or a fundamentally different composition. This one-second test can precede all other examination steps.

1887 Canadian Quarter Value Chart by Grade

The 1887 25-cent is a Key Date with an exponential price curve — a five-point grade difference can translate into thousands of dollars. The vast majority of the estimated 1,000–2,000 surviving examples are in grades of VG-8 or lower. Values below are synthesized from 2024–2026 auction realizations and dealer market data. All prices in CAD. Surface preservation (original toning vs. cleaned) is a critical value multiplier at every grade level.

Side-by-side grade comparison of 1887 Canadian quarters from heavily circulated (G-4) to lightly circulated (VF-20). Note how dramatically detail and surface quality improve across grades — and why the price curve is so steep for this Key Date. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1887 Canadian 25-Cent — Business Strike (All Grades)

Key grading wear points on the 1887 Canadian quarter obverse: (1) the eyebrow — first to lose luster, dropping a coin from MS to AU; (2) the hair braid above the ear — primary grade determinant from VF down to G; (3) the laurel wreath — leaf veins disappear below Fine. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1887 Canadian 25-Cent — Specimen (SP) Strike

The numismatic record confirms the existence of Specimen-quality strikes for the 1887 date, produced with specially prepared polished dies intended for dignitaries, museums, or early private collectors. No commercial Specimen set was issued in 1887; surviving SP examples entered the market informally. These coins are virtually non-existent in the open market and typically reside in institutional or the finest private collections.

All values in CAD represent typical market prices based on 2024–2026 auction and dealer data. Surface preservation (original toning vs. cleaned) can move a specific coin significantly above or below the ranges shown. For the complete denomination price history, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1887 Canadian Quarter Varieties

The 1887 quarter's standard business strike is already a major rarity. Two principal designations exist that distinguish specific examples beyond the baseline issue: a known die variety and the extraordinary Specimen finish. Neither constitutes an error; both are products of the intended die-production and minting process.

1. Re-Punched Date — 1887 7/7 (RPD)

Close-up diagnostic view of the date area on an 1887 Canadian quarter showing the Re-Punched Date (7/7) variety: look for a secondary "ghost" tail or top bar on the final digit under 10x–20x magnification. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

A known die variety for the 1887 quarter involves the final digit of the date. When the working die was prepared, the '7' punch was struck twice — either with a misaligned first blow or with an initially insufficient force — leaving a secondary "ghost" impression partially overlapping the primary digit.

• Diagnostics: Examine the final '7' in the date under 10x–20x magnification. Look for a faint secondary tail or top bar — a doubled image of the numeral's strokes partially underlying or offset from the primary impression.
• Premium: This is a minor variety. Because the standard 1887 quarter is itself so expensive, the RPD commands approximately 10–20% above the standard coin value for the same grade, dependent on the sharpness of the doubling and specialist demand.
• Accessibility: The RPD is a die variety — it appears on all coins struck from that particular working die. Identification requires magnification and cannot be confirmed by the naked eye.

2. Specimen (SP) Strike — The Holy Grail of the Issue

Comparison of Specimen (SP) strike versus Business Strike for a Victorian Canadian quarter. The SP shows a distinctive square wire rim — where the field meets the reeded edge at a sharp 90° angle — and mirror-smooth or satin fields, contrasted with the flowing cartwheel luster of a business strike. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Specimen strikes for the 1887 date represent the pinnacle of the issue. These coins were struck with specially prepared (polished) dies, often double-struck to ensure a razor-sharp impression, and were produced for dignitaries, institutional recipients, or early private collectors. They are virtually non-existent in the open market and are typically found only in institutional collections or the finest private cabinets.

• Diagnostic 1 — Square Wire Rims: The edge milling meets the face of the coin at a sharp 90-degree angle. On a business strike, this transition is rounded and gradual. The "wire" or squared rim is the single most reliable Specimen diagnostic.
• Diagnostic 2 — Field Quality: Fields are either mirror-like or satin-smooth, with no flow lines from die wear — a level of surface refinement that business-strike dies cannot consistently achieve.
• Diagnostic 3 — Strike Sharpness: Full, crisp definition on even the highest relief points — individual hair strands, the cross pattée on the crown, and maple leaf veins — that exceed typical business-strike sharpness.
• Estimated Value:$25,000–$35,000+ CAD for an example graded SP-63 to SP-65. A confirmed Specimen 1887 would likely set a record for the issue.
• Caution: Any coin presented as a Specimen 1887 requires mandatory third-party certification from ICCS, PCGS, or NGC before purchase. No transaction at this value level should proceed with a raw (uncertified) coin.

3. Die Clashes (Noted; Not Formally Cataloged)

Die clashes — where obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet in between, transferring a ghost image of the reverse wreath onto the obverse portrait field or vice versa — are possible for any issue. For the 1887 quarter, the low mintage means fewer die pairings were used, making clashed-die examples uncommon. A clashed-die 1887 is a noted conversation piece and marker for a specific die state, but no formal premium is established for this attribute in the current market.

1887 Canadian Quarter Identification Guide

Use this checklist to confirm you have a genuine, unaltered 1887 Canadian quarter before assessing grade and value. The authentication steps below are derived from the specific design, alignment, and diagnostic features of this issue.

1887 Canadian quarter: obverse (left) showing Queen Victoria's Laureate Head (Obverse 2) with long, sharply defined denticles around the rim — a critical authentication marker — and reverse (right) showing the maple leaf wreath with St. Edward's Crown surmounting "25 CENTS / 1887."

The 30-Second Authentication Checklist

Step 1 — Monarch Check

The obverse must show Queen Victoria facing left with her hair tied in a bun and a laurel wreath, ribbons trailing behind her neck. The portrait is the Laureate Head, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon. This design is distinct from the small-crowned "Jubilee Head" introduced on British domestic coinage from 1887 onward — a portrait Canada did not adopt for its circulating coinage.

Step 2 — Obverse 2 Verification (Critical Authentication Test)

Obverse 1 (left, used 1870–1886): shorter, rounded border elements and a softer nose profile. Obverse 2 (right, required for a genuine 1887 quarter): noticeably longer, sharper denticles around the rim and a slightly more aquiline nose profile. A coin dated "1887" showing Obverse 1 characteristics is almost certainly an altered date and must be rejected. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

This is the single most important authentication step for the 1887 quarter:

• Obverse 2 (correct for 1887):Long, sharply defined denticles (tooth-like projections) around the rim; a slightly more aquiline nose; a stronger, firmer chin line.
• Obverse 1 (wrong for 1887): Softer, rounder border elements; a softer nose and chin profile. Used on Canadian quarters from 1870 through 1886.
• Why this matters critically: Forgeries of the 1887 quarter typically originate from date-altered 1880–1886 coins, many of which use Obverse 1. If a coin labeled "1887" displays Obverse 1 rim and portrait characteristics, reject it immediately as a likely altered date or counterfeit.

Step 3 — Reverse Check

The reverse must display "25 CENTS" and "1887" arranged in three lines, encircled by a maple leaf wreath tied at the bottom with a ribbon bow, and surmounted by the St. Edward's Crown. The cross pattée at the crown's apex is a primary wear indicator — it should be distinct and sharp on coins graded VF-20 or higher.

Step 4 — Mint Mark Check

The 1887 quarter was struck exclusively at the Royal Mint in London. A genuine 1887 quarter carries no mint mark. A Heaton Mint (Birmingham) issue would display a small "H" on the reverse — no Heaton-struck 1887 quarters are documented. The absence of any mint mark is the correct and expected state for this date.

Step 5 — Coin Alignment Test

Hold the coin by its top and bottom edges. Flip it vertically (top-over-bottom). The reverse should appear upside down relative to the obverse — this is Coin Alignment (↑↓), standard for all Canadian Victorian coinage. If the reverse appears right-side up after a vertical flip (Medal Alignment, ↑↑), this is an immediate red flag for a modern counterfeit. No confirmed Medal Alignment 1887 quarters are documented in major population reports.

Step 6 — Magnet Test

Apply a magnet to the coin. A genuine 1887 quarter struck in 92.5% sterling silver is completely non-magnetic. Any magnetic attraction instantly disqualifies the coin as genuine sterling silver and warrants immediate further investigation.

Step 7 — Surface Examination: Original Toning vs. Cleaning

Left: desirable original toning — gunmetal grey, charcoal blue, or iridescent hues indicating undisturbed silver sulfide development. Right: a cleaned (dipped or polished) coin showing an unnatural bright white sheen; hairline scratches are visible across the fields under raking light. The cleaned example suffers a severe market penalty regardless of underlying detail. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Surface preservation is a massive value multiplier for this Key Date:

• Original toning (desirable): Gunmetal grey, charcoal blue, or iridescent rainbow hues across the surfaces indicate undisturbed development of natural silver sulfide patina. Original toning cannot be reliably reproduced artificially and is the primary signal of an authentically preserved coin.
• Cleaned or dipped (severe market penalty): Under a raking (angled) light source, a cleaned coin reveals fine parallel hairline scratches across the fields — evidence of whizzing, polishing, or chemical dipping. A cleaned VF-30 may sell at VG-10 prices or worse. The market penalizes cleaning ruthlessly on Key Dates.
• PVC damage: A greenish, sticky residue on the surfaces indicates PVC contamination from old soft-plastic flip holders. This requires professional conservation using pure acetone — do not attempt to remove it at home.

Step 8 — Finish Identification

Virtually all 1887 quarters encountered in the market are Business Strikes, identifiable by their cartwheel luster — the rotating reflective pattern visible when the coin is tilted under a moving light source. Specimen (SP) strikes, the only other documented finish for this date, have mirror-like or satin-smooth fields with no die flow lines, and distinctive square wire rims where the edge milling meets the coin face at a sharp 90-degree angle. Any coin claimed to be a Specimen 1887 requires immediate expert examination and third-party certification before any transaction.

1887 Canadian Quarter Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide are synthesized from 2024–2026 auction realizations, current dealer market data, and certified coin references. Primary sources consulted include:

• NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 25 Cents KM 5 (1870–1901)
• CoinVarieties — Canada 1887 25 Cents (source for PCGS MS-62 Heritage Auctions realization, January 2020)
• B&W Coin — Rarity and Value of Canada's 1887 & 1893 Quarters
• B&W Coin — 1887 Canadian Quarter: Rare Sterling Silver Coin Story
• Canadian Coin & Currency — ICCS VF-30 Dealer Listing (market data point)
• Numista — 25 Cents Victoria Canada (technical specifications)
• Calgary Coin Gallery — Canadian Quarter Reference and Grading Notes
• Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 25-Cent Major Varieties Reference
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (current edition) — primary Canadian reference for mintage data and variety attribution.
• ICCS (International Coin Certification Service) — Canadian grading standard and population data.
• Heritage Auctions and Geoffrey Bell Auctions — auction realization archives.

All prices reflect CAD values. Market values for scarce Victorian coins can shift materially between auction cycles. This guide does not constitute investment advice. Verify current market prices with a qualified numismatist or auction specialist before major transactions.