1913 Canadian 25-Cent (Quarter) Value Guide

The 1913 Canadian quarter is a sterling silver business-strike coin produced exclusively at the Royal Mint, Ottawa during the reign of King George V. Issued one year before the First World War, it belongs to the George V Wreath series (1911–1936) and carries the Dei Gratia royal title restored in 1912 following public criticism of its omission from the "Godless" 1911 coins. The Ottawa Mint — which had only opened as a branch of the Royal Mint (London) in 1908 — struck this coin for general circulation with no mint mark, as was standard practice for domestic Canadian silver. For values across the full range of Canadian quarter dates and designs, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.

Note: Production anomalies such as off-center strikes exist for Canadian coinage of this era but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

1913 Canadian Quarter Composition & Melt Value

Close-up of the reeded (evenly grooved) edge of a 1913 Canadian 25-cent coin — a critical authenticity indicator. A smooth or irregular edge signals severe damage or a counterfeit.

The 1913 25-cent coin adheres to the British imperial Sterling Silver standard: 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper. The copper serves as a hardening agent, allowing the otherwise-soft silver to withstand the rigors of circulation while maintaining the characteristic bright, white luster of a precious-metal coin. This composition is distinct from later Canadian silver quarters: in 1920 the standard was reduced to 80% silver, and by 1967 it had briefly dropped to 50% silver before the full transition to nickel. The 1913 quarter is physically denser and noticeably whiter in appearance than any post-1920 Canadian quarter.

Silver Content and Melt Value

With a standard weight of 5.83 grams, the 1913 quarter contains approximately 5.39 grams (0.1734 troy oz) of pure silver. At the February 2026 silver spot rate of approximately $3.56 CAD per gram — sourced from Canada Gold silver price data and SilverPrice.org — the intrinsic metal value calculates to approximately $19.20 CAD. This is the melt floor: the minimum value below which the coin cannot realistically trade, regardless of condition or damage, as long as silver prices remain near current levels.

Note that heavily worn specimens (G4 and below) may have lost measurable mass due to metal loss, potentially weighing only 5.6–5.7 grams. In such cases the melt value is proportionally lower. Collectors purchasing worn examples should treat $19.20 as an approximate, not guaranteed, floor.

Magnetic Test — Composition Verification

Apply a strong magnet directly to the coin. Because the 1913 quarter is composed entirely of silver (92.5%) and copper (7.5%) — both non-magnetic metals — the coin must display no magnetic attraction whatsoever. A coin that sticks is almost certainly a counterfeit, likely a modern nickel or steel slug plated to resemble silver. This single-step test takes three seconds and is the fastest authenticity screen available to any collector. The Canadian Currency Act prohibits the melting of legal-tender coinage, so this coin's silver content is relevant primarily for establishing its minimum market value rather than for metal recovery.

1913 Canadian Quarter Value Chart by Grade

The 1913 Canadian quarter was produced as a business strike only. Standard references — including the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — do not document a commercial Specimen (SP) or Proof-Like (PL) release for this year. No separate collector finish tables are included here, as none are documented. The values below reflect typical market prices for certified and raw examples as of February 2026, drawing on dealer retail prices, auction estimates, and numismatic trend catalogues. All values in CAD.

1913 Canadian 25 Cents — Business Strike (Circulation)

Composition: Sterling Silver (92.5% Ag, 7.5% Cu)  |  Mintage: 2,213,595  |  Melt Floor: ~$19.20 CAD

† G4 reflects the approximate silver melt floor at February 2026 spot prices. Sources: TCNC Prominence Sale XI (Nov. 2024); George Manz Coins; Calgary Coin Gallery; Numista; NGC Price Guide.

Three 1913 Canadian quarters illustrating the condition spectrum — from a heavily worn G4 example trading near the silver melt floor, through a moderately preserved VF20, to a Choice Uncirculated MS63 where numismatic premium commands a sharp premium. (Illustration — not photos of specific coins)

Understanding the Value Cliff

The price trajectory for the 1913 quarter is not linear — it is a series of exponential jumps that severely penalize any imperfection:

• G4–VF20 ($19.20–$45): These heavily to moderately worn coins trade close to their silver bullion value. The numismatic premium above melt is modest in this range, and price increases are gradual. In practical terms, a dealer purchasing these coins will typically offer 90–95% of the ~$19.20 melt floor rather than the catalogue numismatic figure.
• EF40–AU50 ($90–$180): A coin in Extremely Fine condition retains most of its crown detail and registers a genuine numismatic premium. The doubling from VF20 ($45) to EF40 ($90) reflects how rarely this date survived without significant wear through wartime circulation and the heavy commercial use of the era.
• MS60–MS63 ($260–$1,400): The leap from AU50 to Mint State is dramatic, and the jump from MS60 to MS63 is even steeper. A true Mint State George V quarter is scarce; one meeting the Choice (MS63) standard is exceptionally so. Many coins sold in the marketplace as "BU" are AU58 sliders — coins with trace friction that fall just short of Mint State. The price gap between AU58 and MS60 can exceed $80; between AU58 and MS63, it exceeds $1,200.
• MS65–MS66 ($4,000–$8,500): At Gem levels, value is driven by condition rarity, not date rarity. Very few of the original 2.2 million coins survived in unimpaired Mint State — most circulated heavily during WWI, and a significant portion of remaining inventory was melted after 1920 when Canada reduced its silver standard. Surviving Gem examples with full cartwheel luster and undisturbed surfaces are the province of advanced registry-set collectors.

The Crown Band on King George V's portrait — the critical grading point. LEFT: an AU58 "slider" showing the crown band jewels worn flat. RIGHT: a Mint State example with crisp, fully struck crown band jewels and the visible Shoulder Fold in the robe. The difference can represent hundreds or thousands of dollars in value. (Illustration — not photos of specific coins)

The Crown Band — The Key Grading Point

The most important wear indicator on the 1913 quarter is the band of the Imperial State Crown on King George V's head. If the jewels within the crown band are flattened or show any trace of friction, the coin cannot grade Mint State. If the jewels remain crisp and sharply defined, and the Shoulder Fold — the vertical crease in the King's robe at the shoulder — is fully visible, the coin may qualify as Mint State. This distinction is invisible to the naked eye on many coins, yet it represents the difference between a $180 AU50 and a $260 MS60, or between a $260 MS60 and a $1,400 MS63. Professional grading by ICCS or PCGS/NGC is the only reliable method to resolve this question for high-value examples.

Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1913 Canadian Quarter Varieties

Unlike many Canadian silver denominations that offer documented die varieties at the catalogue level, the 1913 25-cent piece is a single design type for standard pricing purposes. There is no recognized leaf variety, no large-date/small-date split, and no commercially documented Specimen release for this year. Value for this issue is driven almost entirely by grade and surface quality. The variants described below represent either condition-driven "trophy" coins defined by their extraordinary preservation, or minor production anomalies of interest to die-variety specialists.

Trophy-Level Examples

Comparison of a standard business-strike lustre (left) versus a "Frost Finish" early die-strike surface (right) on a George V silver quarter. The Frost Finish exhibits a crystalline, matte-like texture on the raised portrait devices contrasting with slightly reflective fields — a significant premium factor at MS65+. (Illustration — not photos of specific coins)

What Is a "Frost Finish"?

The "Frost Finish" is not a separate official minting classification like a Matte Proof or Specimen, but an aesthetic descriptor for early strikes from freshly prepared working dies. When dies are polished and sandblasted during preparation, the first coins struck from them retain a crystallized, frosty texture on the raised devices — the King's portrait, crown, and collar — before the die face wears smooth with use. These early-strike coins possess a visual quality similar to a modern "cameo" finish: the frosted portrait contrasts with the slightly reflective fields, giving the coin a dramatic two-tone appearance. The TCNC Prominence XI auction described a specific PCGS MS66 example as having a "frost finish" and estimated it at $8,500 and up. This finish is a quality attribute of superior business strikes, not evidence of a special intentional production.

Findable Specialist Varieties

1913 Canadian Quarter Identification Guide

1913 Canadian 25-cent piece: obverse (left) showing King George V in royal robes wearing the Imperial State Crown, with legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND:IMP: — note the presence of DEI GRA, which was absent from the "Godless" 1911 coins. Reverse (right) showing the maple-bough wreath surrounding 25 CENTS — CANADA with the date 1913 at the bottom and an Imperial Crown at the top. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Use this 30-second checklist to confirm the identity, finish, and authenticity of your 1913 Canadian 25-cent piece.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Monarch Check: The obverse must show the left-facing robed bust of King George V, designed by Australian sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal. The legend encircling the portrait reads GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND:IMP:

   • Critical detail: Confirm that DEI GRA is present in the legend. If this phrase is absent, you have a 1911 "Godless" quarter — not a 1913. The restoration of Dei Gratia in 1912 is the key legend distinction between the 1911 issue and all later George V quarters.
   • The crown on the King's head is the Imperial State Crown, identifiable by its high relief, arched construction, and the cross pattée at the top.

2. Reverse Check: The reverse must display a wreath of maple boughs encircling the text 25 CENTS and CANADA, with an Imperial Crown breaking the rim at the top of the wreath.

3. Date Check: Confirm 1913 positioned at the base of the reverse, below the crossed boughs. No dual dates or commemorative overprinting exist for this standard issue.

4. Edge Check: The edge must be uniformly reeded — evenly grooved all the way around the circumference. A smooth, plain, or irregularly textured edge is evidence of severe damage, alteration, or a counterfeit planchet.

5. Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Apply a strong magnet to the coin surface.

   • Expected result:No magnetic attraction. The 1913 quarter is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper — both fully non-magnetic metals. The coin must not deflect or stick to a magnet under any circumstances.
   • If it sticks: The coin is almost certainly a counterfeit or a non-silver planchet. Reject and do not purchase.

6. Mint Marks:None are present on the 1913 Canadian quarter. Ottawa Mint domestic silver coins carried no mint mark — the absence of any mint mark is normal and expected. Do not assume a missing mark indicates a damaged or altered coin.

7. Finish Identification:

   • Business Strike (what virtually all 1913 quarters are): Look for the characteristic "cartwheel" lustre — a rotating spoke of white light that sweeps across the fields when the coin is tilted under a single light source. Fields will show microscopic radial flow lines from the striking process. Bag marks (small nicks or contact marks) are common on uncirculated examples and do not indicate cleaning.
   • Specimen (SP) — Extremely Rare for 1913: A genuine Specimen coin would show either a matte, non-reflective surface (Matte Specimen) or mirror-like fields with frosted, satin devices (early Specimen strike). The rim would be razor-sharp and squared off — noticeably more precise than the slightly rounded rim of a circulation strike. No commercial Specimen set for 1913 is documented in standard references. If you believe you have an SP coin, professional authentication by ICCS or PCGS is essential. Statistically, the coin is almost certainly a high-grade business strike or a polished coin.

8. Weight Verification: A genuine coin should weigh approximately 5.80–5.83 grams on a precision scale (0.01 g resolution). Heavily worn examples (Good–Very Good) may weigh slightly less (e.g., 5.7 g) due to metal loss from circulation. A coin weighing significantly below 5.6 g in any grade above VG, or above 6.0 g at any grade, warrants further investigation.

Magnet test for the 1913 Canadian quarter: a genuine sterling silver coin shows zero attraction to a strong magnet. Any magnetic response indicates a counterfeit steel or nickel planchet. (Illustration)

1913 Canadian Quarter Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect typical CAD market prices as of February 2026, compiled from dealer retail listings, auction estimates and realizations, and published numismatic trend catalogues. Primary sources consulted:

• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — variety confirmation and historical mintage data
• TCNC Prominence Sale XI (Nov. 2024) and Prominence Sale XII (April 2025) — high-grade auction estimates and realizations
• George Manz Coins — retail asking prices and variety notes (VG–MS63)
• Calgary Coin Gallery — technical specifications, grading descriptions, and retail price anchors
• NGC World Coin Price Guide — certified coin pricing reference
• Numista — 25 Cents George V — cross-reference and pricing trends
• Canada Gold / SilverPrice.org — February 2026 CAD silver spot price data
• Royal Canadian Mint — 25 Cents history — official denomination context

Market values are typical ranges for the grades indicated and may vary based on eye appeal, originality, and certification status. This guide does not constitute an appraisal. Past auction results do not guarantee future realization prices.