1942 Canadian 25-Cent (Quarter) Value Guide
1942 Canadian quarter value by grade. Circulated examples trade at silver melt (~$16.46 CAD). Gem MS65 reaches $350. Specimen: $4,000+ CAD est. Complete CAD price guide updated February 2026.
Most 1942 Canadian quarters are worth approximately ~$16.46 CAD — the silver bullion value. Collector premiums emerge only in high uncirculated grades.
- Circulated (G4–VF20): Bullion value — approximately $16.46 CAD (silver melt; floats with spot price)
- Extra Fine (EF40):$21.00
- About Uncirculated (AU50):$35.00
- Uncirculated (MS60):$40.00
- Choice Uncirculated (MS63):$50.00
- Gem Uncirculated (MS65):$350.00
- Superb Gem (MS66):~$1,500 (est. retail)
- Specimen (SP) — Institutional Rarity:$4,000+ CAD (est.)
All values in Canadian Dollars (CAD) as of February 2026. The 1942 quarter is 80% silver (approx. 0.15 troy oz) — its melt value sets a firm price floor for every circulated example. Proof-Like (PL) sets were not issued in 1942, so a particularly shiny coin is simply a well-preserved business strike, not a collector set piece. A coin with mirror-bright fields and matte relief could be the extremely rare Specimen strike — authentication is required. Confirm authenticity with a magnet: a genuine 1942 Canadian quarter is non-magnetic. See full value chart →
1942 Canadian 25-cent coin: obverse showing King George VI (T.H. Paget portrait) facing left with the IND:IMP: title confirming a 1942 date, and reverse showing Emanuel Hahn's Caribou head design first introduced in 1937. Struck entirely at the Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa.
The 1942 Canadian quarter belongs to the George VI Caribou series, struck exclusively at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa at the height of the Second World War. While the five-cent denomination of the same year underwent its famous transformation into Tombac brass to conserve nickel, the quarter retained its established 80% silver composition, serving as a cornerstone of Canada's wartime commerce. Emanuel Hahn's Caribou reverse — introduced in 1937 — gives the coin enduring visual identity. For values across the entire Caribou quarter series, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.
Note: Major mint errors such as off-metal strikes on Tombac planchets exist for this year but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1942 Canadian Quarter Composition & Melt Value
Alloy and Silver Content
The 1942 quarter adheres to the standard established for Canadian silver coinage in 1920: 80% silver (Ag) and 20% copper (Cu). The copper serves as a hardening agent, giving the coin greater durability than the earlier Sterling Silver (.925) Victorian-era issues. This 80/20 standard remained in force for Canadian quarters until mid-1967, when rising silver costs forced a debasement to 50% silver — making 1942 examples identifiable as pre-debasement, full-silver issues.
Actual Silver Weight (ASW) and Melt Value
The silver content — the Actual Silver Weight (ASW) — establishes a floating price floor below which the coin generally will not trade. The calculation is straightforward:
- Total Weight: 5.83 grams
- Purity Factor: × 0.80
- ASW: 4.664 grams of pure silver ≈ 0.15 troy oz
Using the February 2026 silver spot price of approximately $3.53 CAD per gram — sourced from SilverPrice.org Canada and GoldBroker.com (CAD charts) — the melt value calculates to approximately $16.46 CAD. This figure is dynamic: it rises and falls with daily silver spot prices.
In practical terms, worn 1942 quarters purchased in bulk as "junk silver" will typically sell at 85–95% of spot value to account for dealer refining and resale margins, while retail sellers price at or above spot. Many older printed catalogue values of $6–$10 for lower grades are now obsolete — the silver content alone exceeds those figures.
Magnetic Properties — Authentication Diagnostic
The 1942 quarter is non-magnetic. Both silver and copper are non-ferrous metals, so a genuine coin will not respond to a strong magnet. This is the single fastest authentication check available to the non-specialist: if a coin dated 1942 sticks to a magnet, it is either a counterfeit or an extremely unusual wrong-planchet error, and professional authentication is required before any value is assigned.
⚠️ Never Melt Legal Tender
Canada's Currency Act prohibits the melting of Canadian legal tender coins. The melt value discussed in this section is a theoretical price floor for numismatic valuation purposes only — not a recommendation to destroy coins.
1942 Canadian Quarter Value Chart by Grade
The following table reflects retail prices for problem-free coins — meaning unclean, undamaged, and with original surfaces. A coin that has been wiped, polished, dipped, or otherwise impaired typically trades at or below the bullion floor regardless of the detail underneath. All values are in Canadian Dollars (CAD) as of February 2026.
1942 Canadian Quarter — Business Strike (Circulation)
| Type | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 Circulation (George VI / Caribou) | BV* | BV* | BV* | BV* | $21.00 | $35.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 | ~$120 | $350.00 | MS66: ~$1,500 (est. retail) | MS67: ~$3,000+ (projected) |
*BV = Bullion Value ≈ $16.46 CAD at current silver spot (~$3.53 CAD/gram, February 2026). For grades G4–VF20, the silver content supersedes any older printed catalogue value. Sources: Canadian Coins — 1942 Quarter pricing data; NGC World Coin Price Guide — KM#35.
Grade comparison for the 1942 Canadian quarter: a circulated EF40 example (left) shows wear on the Caribou's shoulder and King's cheekbone, while a Mint State MS65 example (right) displays full cartwheel lustre with no trace of wear. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Understanding the Grade-Value Curve
Circulated grades (G4–VF20): The silver melt floor. In these grades, every 1942 quarter effectively trades as a precious metal asset. The silver content — approximately $16.46 CAD at February 2026 spot — sets a hard minimum that makes older catalogue prices for these grades irrelevant to current transactions. Bulk buyers of "junk silver" will pay 85–95% of spot; retail sellers price at or near spot.
EF40–AU50: The collector premium emerges. At Extra Fine ($21.00) and About Uncirculated ($35.00), the coin transitions from a bulk bullion piece to a single collectible. The premium above melt is modest but real, reflecting the coin's preservation as a historical artifact from a pivotal wartime year.
The Mint State grade cliff. The narrow spread between MS60 ($40.00) and MS63 ($50.00) suggests that hoarded uncirculated rolls exist. The price curve then accelerates sharply: MS64 (~$120), MS65 ($350.00), MS66 (~$1,500 estimated retail), MS67 (~$3,000+ projected). This exponential curve reflects the genuine rarity of pristine wartime survivors — bulk handling, canvas bags, and the era's indifference to preservation eliminated nearly all mint-fresh examples.
The "George VI Soft Strike" diagnostic: a wartime 1942 quarter can show weakly defined fur on the Caribou's shoulder and flat detail in the King's hair/ear even in Mint State condition. The key is lustre — if full cartwheel lustre rotates across the high points, the coin is uncirculated despite soft detail. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
⚠️ The George VI Soft Strike — Do Not Confuse Wear With Weakness
Wartime production pressures — worn dies, high-speed presses, reduced quality control — frequently produced 1942 quarters with weakly defined central details (the King's ear and hair, the Caribou's shoulder fur) even on coins that were never circulated. The correct grade diagnostic is lustre, not sharpness: if full cartwheel lustre (the rotating sheen produced by metal flow during striking) is present across the high points, the coin is Mint State even if those points appear soft. If the metal on the cheekbone or shoulder is dull grey, the coin has wear and is circulated. A fully-struck 1942 quarter — with sharp hair strands and crisp Caribou fur — is a premium item commanding specialist attention.
1942 Canadian Quarter — Specimen (SP) Finish
The Royal Canadian Mint suspended commercial collector set sales during the war years to maximize production efficiency. As a result, confirmed Specimen strikings for 1942 are virtually non-existent in the public market. Only a few examples are believed to exist, originating from VIP presentation sets or internal Mint archives. Because these coins do not trade at regular intervals, no standardized pricing table is available.
Based on the sale of a 1944 Specimen quarter — a slightly more common wartime date — for $4,000 USD at a Heritage World Coin Auctions sale (documented via NumisBids), a confirmed 1942 Specimen is conservatively estimated to open at $4,000+ CAD at auction, with the potential for significantly higher realization if registry set collectors compete.
⚠️ Specimen Authentication Required
Proof-Like (PL) sets were not issued in 1942 — there is no collector-issue version of this coin that would produce a bright, set-quality business strike. Do not confuse an attractive business strike for a Specimen. A genuine 1942 Specimen will exhibit a razor-sharp strike with squared, wire-like rims, and a distinct contrast between matte-textured relief devices and mirror-bright fields. Any suspected Specimen must be authenticated by PCGS, NGC, or ICCS before any premium value is assumed.
ℹ️ Eye Appeal Premium
For business strike coins, original surfaces in "blast white" condition or with attractive rainbow toning can command a 20–30% premium above the values listed in the table. Conversely, coins with black or "terminal" toning may trade at a discount. Original, unaltered surfaces are always preferred.
Values in CAD represent typical retail market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1942 Canadian Quarter Varieties
The 1942 quarter does not carry the headline varieties found in certain other Canadian issues — there is no equivalent to the 1936 Dot quarter here. However, die-related anomalies arising directly from wartime production conditions give specialists specific items to search for. The following are documented non-error varieties. Major mint errors (off-metal strikes on Tombac or steel planchets) are extremely valuable but are classified as manufacturing errors and are out of scope for this guide.
A) Trophy-Level Rarity
The most valuable non-error 1942 quarter is the Specimen strike, estimated at $4,000+ CAD (see Value Chart above). Within the business strike market, a certified MS66 is estimated at approximately ~$1,500 CAD (estimated retail) and an MS67 — described by specialists as a "unicorn" grade for this issue — is projected at approximately ~$3,000+ CAD. Population data from PCGS and NGC confirms the extreme scarcity of coins at these levels; the wartime circulation velocity and bulk-bag handling eliminated nearly all pristine survivors.
B) Findable Die Varieties
Die clash diagnostic on the 1942 Canadian quarter: an obverse die clash leaves a ghostly raised outline of the Caribou's antlers in the field near King George VI's portrait. A red arrow highlights the area to examine carefully under magnification. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
| Variety | Identification | Why It Occurs | Premium Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Die Clash (Obverse) | Ghostly outline of the Caribou's antlers visible in the field near the King's portrait | The obverse and reverse dies collided without a planchet between them, transferring each die's design as a raised impression onto the other | +20% to +50% over standard grade value |
| Die Clash (Reverse) | Outline of the King's chin or neck visible in the field near the Caribou | Reverse manifestation of the same die collision event | +20% to +50% over standard grade value |
| Die Cracks | Raised, irregular lines of metal running through lettering such as REX or through the date numerals | Die metal fracturing under the repeated high pressure of overused wartime dies | Nominal — approximately $5–$10 above standard value |
⚠️ The "Doubled Die" Confusion — US vs. Canadian
Online searches for "1942 Doubled Die" frequently return results referencing Fivaz-Stanton (FS) catalogue numbers such as FS-801. The FS system is a reference exclusively for United States coins. A 1942 US Washington Quarter with a confirmed hub-doubled die reverse is a meaningful variety; a 1942 Canadian quarter showing mechanical "shelf doubling" — the flat, shelf-like displacement common on wartime machine-struck coins — is generally considered a non-value-adding manufacturing anomaly. True hub doubling on 1942 Canadian quarters is minor and is not currently listed as a distinct Charlton-catalogue variety commanding a premium. Any claim of a significant doubled die on a 1942 Canadian quarter requires verification through the Charlton Standard Catalogue or the Numista KM#35 reference entry.
1942 Canadian Quarter Identification Guide
The date "1942" appears on coinage from Canada, Newfoundland, and the United States — all distinct issues with separate markets. Before assigning any value, confirm that you have a genuine 1942 Canadian quarter using this 30-second checklist.
30-Second Identification Checklist
Monarch Check (Obverse): The obverse must show King George VI facing left, in a bare-headed mature portrait designed by T.H. Paget. The full inscription reads GEORGIVS VI D:G:REX ET IND:IMP: The presence of IND:IMP: (Emperor of India) is a critical date confirmation — this title was removed from Canadian coinage in 1948 following India's independence. If this text is absent, the coin is not from 1942. Disqualifier: Queen Elizabeth II or King George V on the obverse indicates a different coin entirely.
Reverse Check: The reverse must show a Caribou head facing left with prominent antlers, the word CANADA arching above, and 25 CENTS at the bottom. The date 1942 appears to the right of the Caribou's neck. Disqualifier (US): An eagle on the reverse = US Washington Quarter (90% silver, different denomination market). Disqualifier (Newfoundland): A coat of arms with two settlers = Newfoundland 1942-C 25-cent coin, a separate legal tender issue.
Date Check: Confirm the date reads 1942. No dual-date varieties exist for this issue.
Edge Check: The edge is reeded (uniform ridges around the circumference). A plain or irregularly edged coin would indicate a counterfeit or wrong-denomination strike.
Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Apply a strong magnet to the coin. A genuine 1942 Canadian quarter is non-magnetic and will not stick or deflect toward the magnet. Silver (80%) and copper (20%) are both non-ferrous metals. A coin that responds to a magnet is either a counterfeit or an extremely unusual wrong-planchet error — in either case, do not assign value without professional authentication.
Mint Mark Check: There are no documented mint marks on 1942 Canadian quarters. All examples were struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. No mark on the coin is standard and expected. Any notation claiming a mint mark is irrelevant to this issue.
Finish Identification (Critical for Value):
- Business Strike (MS): Standard cartwheel lustre with radial flow lines visible in the fields. May show small bag marks from contact with other coins in transport. The George VI soft strike may produce flat central detail even on fully uncirculated examples — use lustre (not sharpness) to confirm Mint State status.
- Specimen (SP) — Extreme Rarity: Razor-sharp, fully defined strike with squared, wire-like rims. The relief — the King's portrait and the Caribou — carries a distinct matte or satin texture that contrasts against highly polished mirror fields. If you believe you have a Specimen strike, do not clean, handle further, or flip the coin. Send it directly to PCGS, NGC, or ICCS for authentication before assuming any premium value.
Finish identification for the 1942 Canadian quarter: Business Strike (left) shows cartwheel lustre and radial flow lines across the fields; Specimen (right, extremely rare) shows mirror-bright fields contrasting against matte-textured relief on the Caribou and King's portrait. Note that PL collector sets were not issued in 1942. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Magnet test for the 1942 Canadian quarter: a strong magnet produces no attraction — the 80% silver, 20% copper composition is entirely non-ferrous. Any magnetic reaction indicates a counterfeit or wrong-planchet anomaly requiring professional authentication.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Cleaning a 1942 quarter — whether wiping with a cloth, polishing with a product, or chemical dipping to restore brightness — leaves microscopic hairlines visible under magnification. These hairlines permanently classify the coin as "Cleaned/Details" grade. A cleaned MS65 coin drops to melt value instantly, regardless of its underlying detail quality. Original, unaltered surfaces are non-negotiable for numismatic premium.
1942 Canadian Quarter Value FAQs
What is a 1942 Canadian quarter worth?
A worn 1942 Canadian quarter in circulated grades (G4–VF20) is worth approximately $16.46 CAD — its silver melt value at February 2026 spot prices. This is a floating number that moves with the daily silver market. Uncirculated examples command genuine collector premiums: MS60 is approximately $40.00, MS63 is approximately $50.00, and a certified Gem MS65 is approximately $350.00. At the trophy end, MS66 is estimated at approximately ~$1,500 and the extremely rare Specimen strike is estimated at $4,000+ CAD.
Is a 1942 Canadian quarter made of silver?
Yes. The 1942 Canadian quarter is composed of 80% silver and 20% copper, containing approximately 0.15 troy ounces of pure silver. This 80/20 silver standard was maintained for Canadian quarters from 1920 until mid-1967, when the composition was reduced to 50% silver, before silver was removed entirely in 1968. The quickest field verification is the magnet test: a genuine 1942 quarter is non-magnetic. A coin that sticks to a magnet is not a genuine 1942 Canadian quarter.
How do I calculate the melt value of my 1942 quarter?
Use this formula: (5.83 g × 0.80) × silver spot price per gram = melt value. The coin contains 4.664 grams of pure silver (approximately 0.15 troy oz). At February 2026 spot prices of approximately $3.53 CAD per gram, this yields approximately $16.46 CAD. You can track live silver prices in CAD at SilverPrice.org Canada and GoldBroker.com (CAD charts).
What makes a 1942 Canadian quarter valuable above melt?
Three factors drive numismatic premium above the silver floor: (1) Grade — condition rarity is the primary value driver; the exponential jump from MS64 (~$120) to MS65 ($350) to MS66 (~$1,500) reflects how few pristine examples survived wartime bulk handling. (2) Strike quality — a fully struck coin with sharp Caribou fur and defined King's hair detail commands a premium over the common soft-strike example at equivalent grade. (3) Eye appeal — blast-white or rainbow-toned original surfaces can add a 20–30% premium over catalogue values, while cleaned or terminally toned coins typically trade at a discount.
Is the 1942 Canadian quarter rare?
The 1942 quarter had a mintage of 6,935,871, making circulated examples readily available today. However, high-grade survivors are genuinely scarce: the high circulation velocity and bulk-bag handling of the war years meant most coins were quickly worn down to Fine or Very Fine condition. A certified MS65 is a condition rarity. Anything at MS66 or above is extremely uncommon, and the Specimen strike is virtually non-existent in the public market, having been struck only for VIP presentations or internal Mint archives.
What is the "George VI Soft Strike" and does it affect my coin's grade?
Wartime production pressures — overused dies and high-speed presses — frequently produced 1942 quarters with weakly defined central details (the King's ear and hair, the Caribou's shoulder fur) even on coins that never circulated. This is a manufacturing characteristic of the era, not damage. The diagnostic for Mint State status is lustre, not sharpness: if full cartwheel lustre rotates across the high points under a light, the coin is uncirculated. If those points show dull grey metal with broken lustre, the coin has wear and is circulated. A fully-struck 1942 quarter with sharp, defined devices is rarer than average and commands a premium.
Should I get my 1942 Canadian quarter professionally graded?
Grading is economically justified only when the expected certified value significantly exceeds the cost of the service (typically $30–$80 CAD per coin plus shipping). At MS63 (approximately $50.00), the economics are unfavorable. Grading becomes worthwhile at MS64+ (approximately ~$120 and above) and is strongly advisable for any potential MS65 or higher. The Canadian market standard is ICCS (International Coin Certification Service), which is recognized for conservative, strict grading. PCGS Gold Shield holders currently command the highest premiums in the global market due to their security features and international liquidity. Any suspected Specimen strike must be authenticated by a major grading service before any premium value can be assumed.
How do I tell a 1942 Canadian quarter from a 1942 US Washington Quarter?
Check the reverse: the Canadian quarter shows a Caribou head with the text CANADA above; the US Washington Quarter shows an Eagle with E PLURIBUS UNUM. Also check the obverse: the Canadian coin features King George VI with the inscription GEORGIVS VI, while the US coin shows George Washington with LIBERTY. Both coins are silver and similar in size, but they are entirely separate issues. The US Washington Quarter is 90% silver (not 80%), commands a different collector market, and any "doubled die" FS-catalogue references you encounter apply only to the US coin. See the Numista KM#35 reference for the 1942 Canadian quarter for full specification details.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide represent CAD retail prices for problem-free, unaltered coins as of February 2026. Because the 1942 quarter contains silver, prices for circulated grades are inherently dynamic and move with the precious metals spot market. This guide is a reference point, not a guaranteed transaction price — actual dealer bids and auction hammer prices will vary based on eye appeal, originality, and market conditions at time of sale. MS66 and MS67 values are estimates based on grade rarity; the MS67 in particular is a projection with no confirmed regular-market trade on record. The Specimen estimate is derived from comparable sales of a 1944-dated Specimen.
Primary Sources:
- Canadian Coins — 1942 Quarter pricing data (grade-by-grade retail values, February 2026)
- NGC World Coin Price Guide — KM#35 (1937–1947)
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (primary reference for variety listings and mintage confirmation)
- Numista — Canada 25 Cents KM#35 (specifications and variety reference)
- Heritage World Coin Auctions — Norweb Collection sale (via NumisBids) (Specimen comparator)
- Heritage World Coin Auctions — August 2019 Monthly Sale (NumisBids) (realized price context)
- SilverPrice.org — Silver Price Canada and GoldBroker.com (CAD) (spot price data, February 10, 2026)
- Saskatoon Coin Club — George VI 25-Cent Photo Grading Guide (visual grading reference)
- George Manz Coins — Canadian Silver 25 Cents (die variety reference)
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.