1975 Canadian 25-Cent (Quarter) Value Guide
Find out what your 1975 Canadian quarter is worth. Complete price guide by grade and finish — Business Strike (MS63–MS67), Proof-Like, and Specimen — with current CAD market values, Ultra Heavy Cameo premiums, and the Double Penny provenance variety explained.
Most circulated 1975 Canadian quarters are worth face value — 25¢. In Gem Uncirculated (MS65) condition, values reach $25–$35 CAD, and the rare MS67 tops $300 CAD. Proof-Like collector coins start at $3–$5 CAD, but Ultra Heavy Cameo (UHC) examples can reach $100–$250 CAD.
- Circulated (G4–AU50): Face value (25¢) — no numismatic premium
- Uncirculated MS63:$0.50–$1.00 CAD
- Gem Uncirculated MS65:$25–$35 CAD
- MS66:$60–$100 CAD
- MS67 (Registry Grade):$300+ CAD
- Proof-Like PL65:$3–$5 CAD
- Proof-Like PL65 Ultra Heavy Cameo:$100–$250 CAD
- Specimen SP67:$15–$25 CAD
- Specimen SP68:$50–$80 CAD
Found in change? Worth 25¢ — the 1975 quarter contains no silver and no bullion value above face value in circulated grades. Mirror-like or from a set? You likely have a Proof-Like coin worth $3–$15 CAD depending on grade and cameo contrast. Is it silver? No — the 1975 quarter is 99.9% pure nickel and sticks firmly to a magnet. Canadian silver quarters were last struck in 1968. All values in CAD, 2025 market. See full value chart →
The 1975 Canadian 25-cent piece is a textbook study in condition rarity. With over 252 million struck at the Ottawa Mint — one of the highest mintage quarters of the decade — the coin appears abundant, yet a flawless Gem example is genuinely exceptional: the hard pure-nickel planchets and high-speed production process made perfect strikes a statistical anomaly. The Royal Canadian Mint also issued 197,372 Proof-Like sets and approximately 133,844 Specimen sets that year, giving collectors three distinct finish types to pursue. The 1975 Caribou quarter also marks the second year of the design's permanent return to the denomination after the 1967 Centennial Bobcat and 1973 RCMP Mountie commemorative issues. For values across all Canadian quarter dates and series, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.
Note: Mint errors such as off-center strikes exist for the 1975 quarter but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1975 Canadian Quarter Composition & Physical Specifications
The 1975 quarter is struck from 99.9% pure nickel, a composition that sets Canadian coinage of this era apart from the copper-nickel clad alloy used by the United States. See Numista's technical entry for the 1975 Canadian 25-cent piece and the Royal Canadian Mint's official 25-cent denomination history for additional specification context.
Magnetic Properties — The Primary Authentication Test
Pure nickel is strongly magnetic. A standard magnet held near a genuine 1975 Canadian quarter will attract it firmly. This is your single fastest authentication test: pre-1969 Canadian silver quarters are non-magnetic, so any 1975-dated quarter that fails the magnet test warrants expert examination. This test is equally useful for detecting plated counterfeits or wrong-planchet anomalies.
Why Nickel Composition Affects Grade and Strike Quality
Nickel's high hardness creates significant challenges during high-volume minting. To fill the intricate relief of Arnold Machin's royal effigy and Emanuel Hahn's Caribou design, striking pressure must be high — yet even at maximum press pressure, the hard planchets frequently produce coins with "orange-peel" field texture, soft lettering, or incomplete detail in the caribou's fur. Die wear was rapid: as the dies struck hundreds of thousands of hard nickel blanks, the sharp master-hub details eroded. This is why "Early Die State" (EDS) coins — struck when dies were freshest, showing crisp squared letter edges and distinct hair separation on the portrait — are particularly sought after in the grading room.
Melt Value
The 1975 quarter contains no precious metals. Its intrinsic nickel value is minimal; the source data for this guide does not calculate a specific melt value. For this coin, all value above face value is entirely numismatic, driven by grade, finish, and cameo designation rather than metal content.
1975 Canadian Quarter Value Chart by Grade & Finish
The 1975 quarter exists in three distinct manufacturing finishes, each valued on its own scale. Circulated examples from Good (G4) through About Uncirculated (AU50) trade at face value — the tables below begin at MS63, where numismatic premiums begin. All values in CAD, 2025 market. Reference pricing data: Canadian Coins — 1975 Quarter.
1975 Canadian Quarter — Business Strike (Circulation)
With 252,259,000 coins produced, virtually every surviving circulated example carries bag marks from the production and transport process. The value cliff between MS64 and MS65 is steep precisely because a truly mark-free nickel surface at this mintage level is a genuine condition rarity.
| Type | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | MS67 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 Business Strike | $0.50–$1.00 | $5–$8 | $25–$35 | $60–$100 | $300+ | MS66 may reach $120 per ICCS market data. MS67 is an extreme rarity — population in single digits across major grading services. |
Coins graded below MS63 (all circulated grades from G4 through AU50) are worth face value (25¢) with no numismatic premium under typical market conditions. The sharp drop-off at MS64 to MS65 reflects the near-impossibility of flawless strikes on hard nickel planchets from high-speed production presses.
ℹ️ The MS67 Registry Grade
Population reports suggest fewer than a dozen 1975 quarters across major grading services have achieved MS67, with PCGS reporting as few as 5 or fewer in its census. When one surfaces at auction, registry-set competition can push prices to $300–$600 USD. This premium is disconnected from metal or date value — it is purely the market for perfection in a coin that was never meant to be perfect.
Grade progression on the 1975 Canadian quarter: MS63 with typical bag marks on the caribou-neck field (left), Gem MS65 with full luster and clean focal areas (centre), and the near-perfect MS67 registry standard (right). The improvement in surface quality drives exponential value increases at the top of the scale. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1975 Canadian Quarter — Proof-Like (PL)
Proof-Like coins were struck at the Ottawa Mint on polished dies, packaged in flat pliofilm (cellophane) sheets containing one coin of each denomination. Mintage: 197,372 sets. The mirror fields and frosted devices of the earliest strikes define the cameo premium structure.
⚠️ PVC Damage Risk
Proof-Like coins left in original pliofilm packaging for decades may develop green, sticky PVC residue. If you see this on your 1975 quarter, it requires professional conservation — an acetone dip by a qualified conservator — before the surface is permanently pitted. Do not use nail polish remover. A PVC-damaged coin reverts to face value regardless of its original grade potential.
| Finish | PL65 | PL66 | PL67 HC | PL65 UHC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof-Like (PL) | $3–$5 | $10–$15 | $100+ | $100–$250 | HC = Heavy Cameo. UHC = Ultra Heavy Cameo. Frosting on 1975 RCM dies wore off rapidly; UHC examples represent only the first 1–2% of a production run from a fresh die pair. ICCS applies stricter cameo standards than US services. |
Standard (brilliant, no cameo) PL coins are the most common result. The difference between a standard PL65 at $3–$5 and an ICCS-certified PL65 Ultra Heavy Cameo at $100–$250 represents one of the most dramatic value differentials per grade in Canadian nickel-era coinage. See Calgary Coin Gallery's Canadian quarter listings for current PL and cameo market context.
1975 Canadian Quarter — Specimen (SP)
Specimen coins are the highest quality of manufacture for 1975: double-struck at lower press speeds on carefully prepared planchets, yielding razor-sharp relief and squared-off rims. Sold in rigid leatherette presentation cases. Estimated total Specimen mintage: approximately 133,844, combining the "Double Dollar" sets (~97,000) and the smaller "Double Penny" sets (~36,581).
| Finish | SP67 | SP68 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP) | $15–$25 | $50–$80 | SP68 Deep Cameo (DCAM): auction records for comparable 1975-era Specimen coins in SP68 DCAM suggest values exceeding $200–$400 USD. SP69 remains a rarity barrier. Note: DCAM figure references similar-era coins, not a specific 1975 quarter auction record. |
Intact 1975 Proof-Like sets typically trade for $5–$15 CAD and Specimen sets for $15–$25 CAD, making them a cost-effective way to acquire potentially high-grade or cameo coins before certification. Values in CAD represent typical 2025 market ranges. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Quarter Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1975 Canadian Quarter Varieties
The 1975 quarter carries no major documented die variety of the type associated with the 1965 nickel (Large Beads) or the 1973 quarter (Large Bust). Value is driven almost entirely by condition and cameo designation. Three distinct collecting targets rise above the standard population.
Trophy Level — Ultra Heavy Cameo (UHC) Proof-Like
The most coveted standard-issue 1975 quarter is a PL65 or higher certified Ultra Heavy Cameo by ICCS. The RCM's 1975 die-frosting technique — sandblasting or acid-etching the die faces — wore off rapidly under production pressures. Only the earliest strikes from a freshly treated die pair exhibit the deep black-and-white contrast required for UHC designation. An ICCS-certified PL65 UHC trades for $100–$250 CAD, compared to $3–$5 for a standard PL65. The primary strategy for finding these is purchasing intact raw Proof-Like sets and inspecting them before certification — you are cherry-picking early-die-state coins before they enter the grading pipeline. See Calgary Coin Gallery's 1975 quarter analysis for cameo grading context.
Cameo contrast levels on 1975 Proof-Like quarters: standard brilliant PL where both fields and devices are equally shiny (left); Heavy Cameo with frosted portrait devices against mirror fields (centre); Ultra Heavy Cameo (UHC) showing near black-and-white contrast — the rarest and most valuable designation, found only on the earliest strikes from fresh dies. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Trophy Level — MS67 Business Strike
The condition-rarity trophy for business strikes is the MS67 grade. Population reports suggest fewer than a dozen across major grading services — with PCGS reporting as few as 5 or fewer. Registry-set competition among collectors competing for the finest-known 1975 quarter slot can push auction prices to $300–$600 USD at major houses such as Heritage and GreatCollections. The Saskatoon Coin Club's Canadian quarter variety guide provides useful historical context on production quality challenges across the nickel era.
Findable Variety — Double Penny Specimen Provenance
The RCM issued two Specimen set configurations in 1975: the "Double Dollar" set (approximately 97,000 produced, containing the silver dollar) and the "Double Penny" set (approximately 36,581 produced, substituting two 1-cent coins for the dollar). Because the Double Penny set carried no silver dollar, it is often overlooked — yet its significantly lower mintage makes the accompanying Specimen quarter a provenance rarity for set collectors. An intact 1975 Double Penny Specimen set trades for $15–$25 CAD (see Coins Unlimited for current availability). A loose SP quarter removed from a Double Penny set trades at standard Specimen prices rather than a set premium.
Rim profile comparison: the Specimen quarter's sharply squared, flat rim (top) versus the slightly beveled rim of a Business Strike or Proof-Like coin (bottom). This is the fastest tactile test to distinguish a Specimen from a PL or MS coin without a loupe.
What Is NOT a Variety — Important Clarifications
The "Attached Jewel" / "Detached Jewel" is a documented variety for the 1975 Voyageur Dollar, not the quarter. The variation describes whether a jewel in the Queen's tiara is attached to or detached from the tiara band on the dollar die. While some dealers label minor-denomination coins from a rarer Detached Jewel Dollar set as "Ex. Detached Jewel Set" to claim a provenance premium, there is no widely recognized Attached/Detached Jewel die variation on the 1975 quarter die itself per the Charlton Standard Catalogue or ICCS population reports. The Jewel variety affects the Dollar coin specifically.
"Large Beads": There is no Large Bead vs. Small Bead variety for the 1975 quarter. This confusion arises from the 1965/1966 series. The famous Large Bust variety associated with the denomination belongs to the 1973 quarter — where a 1972 obverse die was accidentally used — not the 1975 issue. The 1975 quarter's obverse design is standard and consistent throughout the production run. Die polish variants (where repeated polishing removed shallow details) are considered late-die-state detractors rather than collectible varieties.
1975 Canadian Quarter Identification Guide
Use this 30-second checklist to confirm exactly what you have and which finish — and therefore which value table — applies to your coin.
1975 Canadian quarter: obverse (left) with Arnold Machin's second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA; reverse (right) with Emanuel Hahn's Caribou head, "25 CENTS" between the antlers, "CANADA" above, and "1975" below flanked by maple leaves.
30-Second Identification Checklist
- Monarch Check: The obverse shows Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" tiara. This is Arnold Machin's Second Portrait, used on Canadian coinage from 1965 to 1989. The legend reads ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA. The detail quality of the tiara jewels and hair strands is a key indicator of strike quality — a sharp, distinct tiara in an uncirculated coin is a positive sign.
- Reverse Check: Confirm the Caribou head (a Rangifer tarandus) by Emanuel Hahn, facing left, with "25 CENTS" between the antlers, "CANADA" arcing above, and "1975" positioned below flanked by two maple leaves. The large open field behind the caribou's neck is prone to contact marks — examine it closely under a single light source.
- Date Check: Confirm "1975" on the reverse. No dual dates appear on this coin.
- Edge Check: The edge is reeded (milled). Run a fingernail around the edge — you should feel fine parallel ridges. A plain or unfamiliar edge would indicate a different denomination or a foreign piece.
- Magnet Test — Composition Verification: Hold a magnet near the coin. A genuine 1975 Canadian quarter (99.9% pure nickel) will be strongly attracted to the magnet. Silver quarters struck through 1968 are non-magnetic. Any 1975-dated quarter that fails the magnet test warrants expert examination — it is either a foreign coin, a silver quarter with the wrong date, or something more unusual.
- Mint Marks: There are no mint marks on 1975 Canadian quarters, regardless of finish. The absence of a mark is standard for Canadian circulation and collector coins of this era and does not indicate rarity or an error.
- Finish Identification (THE CRITICAL STEP): This determines which value table applies.
- Business Strike (MS): Shows "cartwheel luster" — when tilted under a single light, bands of brightness rotate across the fields. Fields and devices reflect similarly. Some contact marks will be present on all but the finest examples. The surface has a warm, "alive" look.
- Proof-Like (PL): Mirror-like fields that reflect your surroundings clearly, like a dark pool of water. Early-strike examples show frosted devices (Queen, Caribou) against those mirror fields — this is cameo contrast and dramatically increases value. Rims are slightly beveled. Originally from flat pliofilm cellophane packs. Important: With 197,372 sets produced for 1975, many have been broken open over the decades. A "shiny" 1975 quarter found loose in a collection or dealer's tray is almost certainly a PL coin, not a rare high-grade business strike.
- Specimen (SP): The definitive test is the rim. Specimen coins have sharply squared-off, flat rims with no bevel — noticeably more angular than any other finish. Fields have a subtle satin or lined texture rather than a deep mirror. Devices are exceptionally sharp. Originally sold in rigid leatherette presentation cases.
- Cameo Assessment (for PL and SP coins): Under a single directional light, tilt the coin slowly. If the fields appear as a dark mirror while the portrait and Caribou appear white or frosty, you have cameo contrast. The stronger the black-and-white appearance, the higher the potential premium. A coin where both fields and devices are equally bright and shiny is a standard (brilliant) example — far more common and worth less.
ℹ️ PL Set Contamination Warning
With 197,372 Proof-Like sets produced in 1975, a large number have been broken open. A shiny 1975 quarter found outside its original packaging is almost certainly a PL coin. Dealers frequently discount raw "Uncirculated" 1975 quarters because they assume PL origin. To claim a full business-strike premium, a coin should ideally be certified — or at minimum show the distinctive cartwheel luster characteristic of a struck (rather than mirror-polished) surface.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Cleaning removes original luster and introduces hairlines visible under 5× magnification. A cleaned 1975 quarter will be graded "Details / Cleaned" by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC and loses all numismatic premium regardless of how bright or white it appears. Watch for milk spots (white, cloudy residue common on RCM nickel coins) and carbon spots (small black dots) — these are pre-existing surface issues that cannot be safely removed without damaging the coin. Buy spotted coins at a discount reflecting the flaw, or avoid them if condition is your priority.
Three finish types of the 1975 Canadian quarter under angled light: Business Strike with rotating cartwheel luster (left); Proof-Like with deep mirror fields and frosted devices (centre); Specimen with subtle satin fields and the characteristic squared rim (right). Identifying your finish is the single most important step before consulting a value table. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Magnet test: a genuine 1975 Canadian quarter (99.9% pure nickel) will stick firmly to a standard magnet. A non-magnetic response would point to a silver composition — Canadian silver quarters were last struck in 1968 — or a foreign coin entirely.
1975 Canadian Quarter Value FAQs
What is a 1975 Canadian quarter worth?
Most circulated 1975 Canadian quarters are worth face value — 25 cents. Uncirculated examples begin showing a numismatic premium at MS63 ($0.50–$1.00 CAD), rising sharply to $25–$35 CAD at Gem MS65 and $60–$100 CAD at MS66. The registry-grade MS67 tops $300 CAD. Proof-Like collector coins from sets range from $3–$5 CAD (standard PL65) to $100–$250 CAD for Ultra Heavy Cameo examples. Specimen coins trade from $15–$25 CAD (SP67) to $50–$80 CAD (SP68).
Is my 1975 Canadian quarter silver?
No. The 1975 quarter is struck from 99.9% pure nickel and contains no silver. Canadian silver quarters (80% silver) were last minted in 1967, with a brief transitional year in 1968 (both 50% silver and pure nickel versions were struck that year). The fastest test: hold a magnet near the coin. A genuine 1975 quarter sticks firmly to a magnet. A silver coin does not. There is no bullion or silver premium for a 1975 quarter above face value.
What makes a 1975 Canadian quarter valuable?
Three factors drive value above face: (1) Grade — because 252+ million were struck on hard nickel planchets at high speed, a truly flawless MS65+ example is a genuine condition rarity despite the high mintage. (2) Finish — Specimen coins from the lower-mintage Double Penny sets trade at a modest premium over standard Proof-Like or Business Strike coins. (3) Cameo Contrast — on Proof-Like and Specimen coins, an Ultra Heavy Cameo designation multiplies value by roughly 10x–50x versus a standard brilliant example at the same grade, because the 1975 die frosting wore off so quickly that UHC coins represent only a tiny fraction of the production run.
What is the difference between a Proof-Like (PL) and a Specimen (SP)?
Both are collector-quality finishes, but they differ in manufacturing and appearance. Proof-Like coins were struck on polished dies with standard planchets, producing mirror-like fields. Specimen coins were double-struck at low press speed on specially prepared planchets, producing exceptionally sharp relief and distinctively squared-off rims. The rim test is the fastest field diagnostic: Specimen rims are noticeably flat and angular; PL and Business Strike rims are slightly beveled. Specimen coins also typically have cleaner, more pristine fields. ICCS and PCGS/NGC maintain entirely separate grade scales for each finish — PL63–PL70 and SP63–SP70 — so comparing raw grades across finish types is not meaningful.
Is there a "Large Bead" variety for the 1975 quarter?
No. There is no documented Large Bead vs. Small Bead variety for the 1975 quarter. This confusion typically arises from the famous Large and Small Beads varieties on 1965 and 1966 coinage. The well-known "Large Bust" variety associated with the Canadian quarter denomination belongs to the 1973 issue, where a 1972 obverse die was used in error. The 1975 quarter's obverse design is standard and consistent throughout the entire production run of 252 million pieces.
What is a "Double Penny" set, and does it affect my quarter's value?
In 1975, the RCM issued two Specimen set configurations: a "Double Dollar" set (approximately 97,000 produced, which included the silver dollar) and a "Double Penny" set (approximately 36,581 produced, which substituted two 1-cent coins instead of a dollar). Because the Double Penny set had a significantly lower mintage, an intact set carries a provenance premium and can trade for $15–$25 CAD. For set collectors tracking the complete 1975 Specimen series, the Double Penny set is the scarcer configuration. A loose Specimen quarter removed from its original Double Penny packaging trades at standard SP prices rather than a provenance premium.
What is a cameo designation, and why does it matter for my 1975 PL quarter?
Cameo refers to the visual contrast between a coin's fields (the flat background) and its devices (the portrait and Caribou design). On a fresh die, the devices are frosted and the fields are mirrored, creating a "porcelain portrait on a black mirror" appearance. In 1975, the RCM achieved die frosting through sandblasting or acid-etching — a technique whose effects wore off quickly under production pressure. Only the earliest 1–2% of strikes from a fresh die pair exhibit Heavy Cameo or Ultra Heavy Cameo contrast. A standard PL65 is worth approximately $3–$5 CAD, while an ICCS-certified PL65 Ultra Heavy Cameo can reach $100–$250 CAD. ICCS applies stricter cameo standards than US grading services; an ICCS UHC designation is a meaningful and hard-earned attribution.
Should I get my 1975 Canadian quarter graded by ICCS or PCGS/NGC?
Grading makes financial sense only when the certified value clearly exceeds the cost of submission. For most MS63–MS64 examples, certification costs exceed the coin's market value. The economics become favorable at MS65 (where values reach $25+) and strongly positive at MS66+ ($60–$100+). For Proof-Like coins, certification is worthwhile if your candidate shows genuine Heavy Cameo contrast. ICCS is the domestic Canadian standard, recognized by the Charlton Standard Catalogue and most Canadian dealers; PCGS and NGC provide broader auction-market liquidity, particularly for registry-grade pieces. Both services are accepted by serious collectors — the choice often comes down to where you plan to sell.
How do I spot a "milk spot" and can it be fixed?
Milk spots are white, hazy, irregular patches that appear on many RCM nickel coins from this era. They are thought to result from residual chemicals in the minting process reacting with the coin's surface over time. They are not the result of cleaning or handling — they are a pre-existing surface issue. Milk spots cannot be safely removed without damaging the coin's luster, and any attempt to do so results in a "Details / Cleaned" grade. When purchasing 1975 quarters, inspect the fields under a single light source before buying; a spotted coin should be priced to reflect the flaw.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide are drawn from 2025 market data synthesized from the following sources: the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins for variety attribution and mintage data; Canadian Coins (canadian-coins.ca) — 1975 Quarter for pricing benchmarks and mintage figures; Numista — 1975 Canadian 25-Cent for technical specifications; Royal Canadian Mint (mint.ca) — 25 Cents for official design history; Calgary Coin Gallery — Canadian Quarters for finish and cameo analysis; Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 25-Cent Major Varieties for die variety context; Coins Unlimited — 1975 Double Penny Specimen Set for set provenance data; and PCGS Population Reports — Canada for graded population context. Auction trend data references Heritage Auctions and GreatCollections for registry-grade material. All prices are in Canadian Dollars (CAD) unless explicitly noted as USD. Values represent typical market ranges as of 2025 and may vary based on individual eye appeal, certification service, and market timing. This guide covers standard (non-error) varieties only.
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.