1967 Washington Quarter Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties
1967 quarter error values: silver transitional error ($5,000–$10,000+), SMS DDO FS-101 ($5,750+ DCAM), DDR FS-801 ($11,753 record), wrong planchet ($200–$1,000+). Full identification guide with diagnostics.
Most 1967 Washington Quarters are worth face value — but rare errors can reach $5,000 to over $11,000.
- ⚡ Silver Transitional Error (weighs 6.25g, solid silver edge): $5,000–$10,000+
- ⚡ SMS DDO FS-101 (split serifs on TRUST and LIBERTY): $160–$5,750+ — Deep Cameo adds a massive premium
- ⚡ SMS DDR FS-801 (doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM): up to $11,753 auction record
- ⚡ Wrong Planchet Errors (nickel or dime planchet): $188–$1,000+
⚠️ Machine Doubling is extremely common on 1967 coins and adds zero extra value. Only true doubled dies with rounded, split serifs are worth money.
1967 Washington Quarter Errors Error Checker
Check your coin for valuable errors and varieties
Values shown are typical retail estimates as of 2025-01.
All 1967 quarters lack mint marks due to the 1965–1967 emergency coinage protocols. Coins were struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco but cannot be attributed by mint mark.
Error coin values vary significantly based on grade, eye appeal, Cameo/Deep Cameo contrast, and current market conditions.
Professional authentication (PCGS/NGC) is strongly recommended for any suspected transitional silver error or doubled die variety.
Machine Doubling (flat, shelf-like extensions) is extremely common on 1967 coins and has NO numismatic value. Do not confuse with true Doubled Dies (FS-101, FS-801).
The silver transitional error must be confirmed by weight (6.25g) and edge inspection. Plated or environmentally toned coins are not errors.
Obverse and reverse of the 1967 Washington Quarter — copper-nickel clad, no mint mark.
The 1967 Washington Quarter looks ordinary — no mint mark, 25 cents, over 1.5 billion minted. But hiding within this mass-produced issue are coins worth thousands: a silver-metal error born from the chaotic end of the silver era, dramatic wrong-planchet mishaps, and doubled-die varieties found only in Special Mint Sets. See the full 1967 quarter value guide, then use this error guide to find out if yours is one of them.
1967 Washington Quarter: Specifications & Mintage
Before hunting for errors, know what a normal 1967 quarter looks like. All 1967 quarters — regardless of where they were struck — carry no mint mark. This was a deliberate government policy from 1965–1967 to discourage hoarding. Coins were struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco but cannot be distinguished by visual inspection alone. The only 1967 quarters attributable to a specific facility are the Special Mint Set (SMS) coins, known to have been produced at the San Francisco Assay Office.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | Copper-nickel clad — cupronickel outer layers (75% Cu, 25% Ni) over pure copper core; total 91.67% Cu, 8.33% Ni |
| Weight | 5.67 grams (tolerance ±0.227g) |
| Diameter | 24.30 mm |
| Edge | Reeded (119 reeds) — copper-brown core band visible between two silver-colored outer layers |
| Designer | John Flanagan |
| Business Strike Mintage | 1,524,031,848 (no mint marks; Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco) |
| SMS Mintage | 1,863,344 sets (San Francisco Assay Office; satin/semi-prooflike finish) |
| Proof Set | None — suspended 1965–1967; replaced by SMS |
Critical edge test: A standard 1967 quarter displays a distinct copper-brown band sandwiched between two silver-colored outer layers when viewed edge-on. If that edge is a solid, uniform silver-white with no copper band visible anywhere, weigh the coin immediately — you may have a rare silver transitional error.
1967 Washington Quarter: Quick Error Checks
Run these checks in order. Start with the weight test — it takes 30 seconds and can identify a $5,000+ coin. If any check is positive, follow the link to the detailed guide. You need a digital scale accurate to 0.01g and a 10× loupe (magnifying glass).
Check 1 — Silver Transitional Error: Weight Test
Weigh your coin on a digital scale accurate to at least 0.01g.
A reading of 6.15g–6.30g. The standard clad weight is 5.67g (max tolerance 5.9g). Any reading above 6.0g is statistically impossible for a genuine clad planchet — the silver quarter weight is 6.25g.
A clad coin within normal tolerance (5.4g–5.9g). Environmental deposits can add minor weight — weigh the coin as-is; never clean it before weighing.
Check 2 — Silver Transitional Error: Edge Inspection
Examine the reeded edge under strong directional light.
A solid, uniform silver-white edge with no visible copper band. Normal clad quarters show a distinct copper-brown core sandwiched between two silver-colored outer layers all the way around the rim.
A plated or heavily toned/dirty coin that hides the copper core. Always confirm with the weight test first — edge inspection alone is not sufficient for authentication.
Check 3 — Doubled Die Obverse FS-101 (SMS Coins Only)
On SMS coins only. Examine IN GOD WE TRUST (especially TRUST), LIBERTY (especially L and B), and the date under 5×–10× magnification.
Strong, rounded doubling with split serifs on TRUST — the horizontal strokes at letter ends appear notched or divided. The secondary image is distinct, separated, and at the same height as the primary. Most dramatic on TRUST and LIBERTY.
Machine Doubling (MD) — flat, shelf-like extensions that sit lower than the main device, with smashed or smeared serifs. MD has zero numismatic value and is extremely common on 1967 coins due to 24-hour high-speed production.
Check 4 — Doubled Die Reverse FS-801 (SMS Coins Only)
On SMS coins only. Examine E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES, QUARTER DOLLAR, and the eagle's wing feathers under 5×–10× magnification.
Strong doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM with thickened letters and notched corners. Visible spread on UNITED STATES upper serifs and QUARTER DOLLAR. Separation lines on eagle's wing feathers.
Die deterioration doubling — fuzzy, indistinct ghosting from a worn die. Machine Doubling with flat shelf-like extensions. Both are common on high-volume 1967 production and carry no premium.
Check 5 — Wrong Planchet Error (Nickel or Dime)
Check weight, edge, and design coverage. A nickel planchet weighs 5.00g with a smooth (unreeded) edge. A dime planchet weighs 2.27g and shows only the central design with nearly all legends missing.
5.00g + smooth edge = nickel planchet error (21.2mm planchet in a 24.3mm collar). 2.27g + only central design (no LIBERTY, no date) = dime planchet error. Both are dramatic and valuable.
A worn or damaged coin with a filed edge. Post-mint damage cannot reduce a 5.67g quarter to exactly 5.00g or 2.27g — weight is the definitive test.
Check 6 — Machine Doubling (NOT Valuable)
Date and lettering on both sides, especially IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY.
Nothing — this is a trap. Machine Doubling has no numismatic value. It is extremely common on 1967 quarters due to 24-hour high-speed production with loose dies.
True Doubled Dies (FS-101, FS-801) show rounded, split serifs and a distinct secondary image at equal relief. Machine Doubling shows flat, shelf-like extensions where the doubled area is LOWER in relief and serifs are smashed or smeared.
1967 Washington Quarter: Errors & Values at a Glance
| Error / Variety | Designation | Strike Type | Rarity | Value Range | Top Auction Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMS DDR FS-801 w/ Cameo | FS-801 | SMS | Very Rare (CAM) | $11,753 | $11,753 SP67 CAM |
| Silver Transitional Error | — | Business | Extremely Rare | $5,000–$10,000+ | $5,750 AU58 Details |
| SMS DDO FS-101 w/ Deep Cameo | FS-101 | SMS | Very Rare (DCAM) | $5,750+ | Est. $5,750+ (SP68 DCAM) |
| SMS DDO FS-101 (no Cameo) | FS-101 | SMS | Scarce | $160–$450 | $431 (SP68) |
| SMS DDR FS-801 (no Cameo) | FS-801 | SMS | Rare | $125–$275+ | — |
| Wrong Planchet — Dime | — | Business | Very Rare | $1,000+ | Limited records |
| Wrong Planchet — Nickel | — | Business | Scarce | $188–$550+ | $253 MS62 (2005) |
| Business Strike MS68/MS69 | — | Business | Rare (condition) | $8,000+ | $8,813 MS68 (2017) |
| Machine Doubling (MD) — Trap | — | Any | Extremely Common | Face Value ($0.25) | — |
1967 Washington Quarter: Valuable Errors & Varieties — Detailed Guide
Each of these errors requires a specific diagnostic approach. Follow the steps carefully — the difference between a $5,000 coin and a $0.25 coin often comes down to a single weight reading or the shape of a serif.
1967 Quarter Struck on 90% Silver Planchet (Transitional Error)
Left: Normal clad edge with visible copper core. Right: Silver transitional error — solid silver-white edge, no copper band anywhere.
Origin & Background
The Coinage Act of 1965 mandated the end of silver quarters, but silver planchets from the final 1964 production run lingered in bins and hoppers inside Mint facilities. A small number of these rogue 90% silver planchets were accidentally fed into presses striking 1967-dated clad quarters. The result: a 1967 quarter struck on the wrong metal entirely — a physical relic of the most turbulent transition in modern U.S. coinage history.
How to Identify
- Step 1 — Weigh it: Use a digital scale accurate to 0.01g. A genuine silver quarter weighs 6.25 grams. The standard clad quarter weighs 5.67g with a maximum tolerance of 5.9g. Any reading of 6.15g or above is statistically impossible for a clad planchet — this single number is your most powerful diagnostic.
- Step 2 — Inspect the edge: Under strong directional light, tilt the coin to view the edge. A clad coin shows three distinct bands: silver-colored / copper-brown / silver-colored. A silver error shows a uniform, solid silver-white edge with no color variation anywhere around the circumference.
- Step 3 — Specific Gravity (if needed): For coins with suspected post-mint plating, a Specific Gravity test is definitive. 90% silver SG ≈ 10.34; clad SG ≈ 8.92. PCGS or NGC can perform this during authentication.
Weight is the definitive test: 5.67g = normal clad; 6.25g = possible silver error worth thousands.
False Positives to Avoid
Silver-plated clad quarters are the primary false alarm. Post-mint silver plating can coat the entire coin — including the edge — hiding the copper-brown core band. However, plating adds negligible weight. A plated clad coin will still weigh approximately 5.67g, not 6.25g. Weight eliminates virtually all fakes in a single step. If the weight is normal (5.4g–5.9g), you do not have a silver error, regardless of what the edge looks like.
Market Values
- 🔸 AU58 Details (Cleaned): $5,750 (documented sale)
- 🔸 Mint State, problem-free: $10,000+ (estimated, none publicly documented)
Auction Record
$5,750 for AU58 Details (Cleaned) (Stack's Bowers, May 2009). Even with a cleaning problem designation, this coin commanded nearly $6,000. A comparable 1965 silver transitional quarter sold for $5,040 (Stack's Bowers, June 2022), confirming the consistent mid-five-figure market for this error type across the transitional years.
About Special Mint Set (SMS) Quarters — And Why They Matter
With proof set production suspended from 1965–1967, the Mint produced Special Mint Sets for collectors. SMS quarters were struck at the San Francisco Assay Office on polished planchets using specially prepared dies. They show a distinctive satin or semi-prooflike finish, a sharper strike than a business strike, and a "wire rim" — a squared-off edge where the rim meets the field. Standard SMS quarters trade for $5–$20 in typical grades. But the FS-101 and FS-801 doubled die varieties — found exclusively on SMS coins — can transform a $10 SMS set into a coin worth hundreds or thousands. Cameo (frosted devices against mirrored fields) and Deep Cameo contrast multiplies that value further, since these surfaces are exceptionally rare for early clad-era coins.
How to tell an SMS coin from a business strike: look for satin (non-directional) luster, a sharp wire rim, and the absence of the frosty "cartwheel" luster seen on business strikes when tilted under light.
SMS satin finish (left) vs. business strike frosty cartwheel luster (right).
1967 SMS Doubled Die Obverse — FS-101
Normal TRUST lettering (left) vs. FS-101 DDO split serifs (right) — the key diagnostic pickup point.
Origin & Background
A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) is a die manufacturing error, not a striking error. When the working hub impresses the design into a working die, any misalignment during a second hubbing impression creates two overlapping images permanently baked into that die. The FS-101 is classified as a Class V Pivoted Hub doubled die — the hub pivoted around a central point between impressions, producing dramatic spreading on the outer lettering. Every single coin struck from this die shows the identical doubling in the identical locations.
How to Identify
- Under 5×–10× magnification, examine IN GOD WE TRUST. The doubling is most severe on TRUST — each letter should appear split, with clear separation lines and visibly divided serifs (the horizontal strokes at letter ends).
- Check LIBERTY: strong doubling on L and B specifically, with a distinct secondary image clearly separated from the primary at the same height.
- Light doubling is also visible on the date digits (1967), though less dramatic than the motto.
- The critical authenticator: serifs appear notched or split — not smashed or flat. The secondary image is rounded and at equal relief to the primary device.
False Positives to Avoid
Machine Doubling is everywhere on 1967 coins and looks superficially similar. The key visual test: MD produces flat, shelf-like extensions where the doubled element sits at a lower level than the main device — the coin appears to have a step down to the doubled portion. Serifs are smashed or blurred, not split. True FS-101 shows additive doubling (the device appears wider than a normal coin) while MD shows subtractive doubling (the device appears thinner). Compare to certified examples at PCGS CoinFacts — FS-101 page and the diagnostic page at Variety Vista.
Machine Doubling (flat shelf, lower relief) vs. true DDO (rounded, split serifs, equal height). Only the right is valuable.
Market Values
- 🔸 SP65 (no Cameo): ~$160
- 🔸 SP66 (no Cameo): ~$205
- 🔸 SP67 (no Cameo): ~$250
- 🔸 SP68 (no Cameo): ~$450
- 🔸 SP67 Cameo: $850+
- 🔸 SP68 Deep Cameo: $5,750+ (estimated)
Auction Record
$431 for SP68 (eBay). SP68 Deep Cameo is estimated at $5,750+ based on price guide data — true Deep Cameo contrast on an early clad SMS coin is extraordinarily scarce, explaining the dramatic premium over the non-Cameo SP68 price of ~$450. See PCGS CoinFacts for current population data.
1967 SMS Doubled Die Reverse — FS-801
Normal E PLURIBUS UNUM (left) vs. FS-801 DDR with thickened letters and notched corners (right).
Origin & Background
The FS-801 Doubled Die Reverse receives less attention than the DDO but holds the highest documented auction record of any 1967 quarter variety at $11,753. Like the FS-101, it originates in die manufacturing — a misaligned second hubbing impression left doubled devices permanently on the reverse die. Every coin struck from this die shows identical doubling in the identical locations.
How to Identify
- Examine E PLURIBUS UNUM under 5×–10× magnification — the primary diagnostic area. Letters appear thickened with notched corners; the doubling spread is oriented toward the center of the coin.
- Check UNITED STATES: visible doubling on the upper serifs of the country name lettering.
- Check QUARTER DOLLAR: doubling present on the denomination lettering at the bottom of the reverse.
- Examine eagle's wing feathers: distinct separation lines consistent with a doubled die impression — not fuzzy die deterioration.
False Positives to Avoid
Die deterioration doubling appears as fuzzy, indistinct ghosting caused by worn dies — it is different from a true doubled die because the edges are blurry rather than sharp and distinct. Machine Doubling shows flat shelf-like extensions. Both are common artifacts of high-volume 1967 production with zero premium. The FS-801's notched corners on E PLURIBUS UNUM are the key tell — they are distinct and rounded, not fuzzy.
Market Values
- 🔸 SP64 (no Cameo): $125
- 🔸 SP66 (no Cameo): $165–$175
- 🔸 SP67 (no Cameo): $275+
- 🔸 SP67 Cameo: $11,753 (auction record)
Auction Record
$11,753 for PCGS SP67 Cameo (GreatCollections). This record illustrates the exponential power of the Cameo designation — a standard SP67 example of the same variety trades near $275, but adding Cameo contrast pushes the price past $11,000. The combination of a confirmed die variety and rare surface quality creates a "perfect storm" of rarity in the market.
1967 Quarter Struck on Wrong Planchet (Nickel or Dime)
Quarter struck on a nickel planchet — note the smooth (unreeded) edge and missing peripheral legends.
Origin & Background
The Mint simultaneously produces planchets for multiple denominations. Planchet bins occasionally become cross-contaminated — a Jefferson Nickel planchet (21.2mm, 5.00g) or Roosevelt Dime planchet (17.9mm, 2.27g) slips into the quarter press (24.3mm collar). Because the planchet is smaller than the collar, metal spreads outward but fails to reach the collar walls. The result: a broadstruck coin with a smooth (unreeded) edge and missing or weak peripheral design elements. The Mint's high-speed 24-hour production in 1967 made cross-contamination of planchet bins statistically more likely.
How to Identify — Nickel Planchet
- Weight:5.00 grams (vs. 5.67g for a standard quarter)
- Edge:Smooth and plain — no reeding. The 21.2mm nickel planchet never contacts the 24.3mm collar walls that create reeding during striking.
- Design: Missing or weak peripheral legends — tops of LIBERTY, QUARTER DOLLAR, or the date may be incomplete or absent
- Composition: Solid alloy throughout (no copper-core sandwich visible on edge)
How to Identify — Dime Planchet
- Weight:2.27 grams — dramatically lighter than any normal quarter
- Appearance: A tiny disc showing only the central elements of Washington's portrait (obverse) and the eagle (reverse). Nearly all peripheral legends — LIBERTY, date, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — are missing
- Date visibility: Usually not visible given the extreme size mismatch between the 17.9mm planchet and 24.3mm dies
Quarter on a dime planchet — dramatically undersized, nearly all legends missing, only central design visible.
False Positives to Avoid
Filed or damaged coins with removed reeding are the most common false alarm. Post-mint edge damage can remove reeding and peripheral legends. Weight is the definitive test — post-mint damage cannot reduce a 5.67g quarter to exactly 5.00g or 2.27g. Also verify that Washington's portrait and the heraldic eagle are present on the coin's faces, not Roosevelt (dime) or Monticello (nickel) — that would indicate someone is examining the wrong coin entirely.
Market Values
- 🔸 Nickel planchet: $188–$550+ (higher for dramatic centering or eye appeal)
- 🔸 Dime planchet: $1,000+
Auction Record
$253 for a nickel planchet example graded NGC MS62 (Heritage Auctions, 2005). More recent market data places these in the $188–$550 range, with premium values for examples that show dramatic design misalignment or strong centering.
1967 Washington Quarter: Common Traps & False Alarms
These are the most common reasons collectors believe they have something valuable — but don't. Knowing these saves time and disappointment.
⚠️ Machine Doubling — The #1 Trap on 1967 Quarters
Letters or digits that appear doubled — especially on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, or the date. Can look dramatic under a loupe, sparking excitement about the FS-101 variety.
The Mint ran 24-hour production shifts in 1967, striking over 1.5 billion quarters. Loose dies bounce or slide slightly during or after the strike, shearing metal and creating a shelf-like doubled appearance. This happens at the press — it is not a die variety.
- The doubled area is flat and shelf-like — it sits at a lower level than the main device (step down)
- Serifs are smashed, blurred, or smeared — not split or notched
- The letter or device appears thinner than on a normal coin (subtractive)
- True DDO (FS-101) shows serifs that are split with a rounded secondary image at equal height
Value: Face value only ($0.25). Extremely common on 1967 coins.
Silver-plated clad quarter (left) mimics the silver edge appearance — but still weighs 5.67g, not 6.25g. Weight exposes the fake every time.
⚠️ Silver-Plated Clad Quarter (Fake Silver Edge)
A 1967 quarter with a solid silver-white edge — no visible copper band — appearing identical to a genuine silver transitional error worth $5,000+.
Post-mint silver plating coats the entire coin including the edge, hiding the copper core. These are sometimes marketed as silver errors to uninformed buyers online.
- Weigh it: Plating adds negligible weight. A plated clad coin weighs approximately 5.67g — not 6.15g–6.30g. This single test eliminates virtually all fakes instantly.
- A genuine silver error must weigh 6.15g or above — there are no exceptions due to the physics of silver vs. clad composition.
Value: Face value or less. Post-mint alteration destroys numismatic value regardless of appearance.
⚠️ Cleaned Coins — Significant Value Reduction
A bright, unusually shiny 1967 quarter — sometimes with fine parallel scratches (hairlines) visible under raking light. May initially look like a high-grade coin.
Collectors use household cleaners, silver dips, or abrasives to brighten coins, permanently altering the original surfaces and luster. PCGS and NGC assign a "Details — Cleaned" designation to these coins.
- Fine parallel scratches (hairlines) visible under directional light at an angle
- Unnatural brightness inconsistent with a 50+ year old coin
- The documented 1967 silver error sold for $5,750 with a cleaning problem — a problem-free example would likely bring significantly more. Never clean a potentially valuable coin.
Value: Significantly reduced by PCGS/NGC "Details" designation.
1967 Washington Quarter: How Grade Affects Value
Grade — a coin's condition on a 1–70 scale — dramatically affects value for 1967 quarters, particularly at the high end where condition rarity kicks in.
Business Strike Grades (MS Scale)
Circulated 1967 quarters are common and worth face value — over 1.5 billion were struck. Uncirculated examples (MS60–MS66) carry modest premiums of $1–$15. But because no official mint sets were produced in 1967, coins were distributed in bags where they suffered constant contact damage. Truly pristine survivors are exceptional:
- MS60–MS66: $1–$15 (modest premium over face value)
- MS67: Scarce; small but meaningful premium
- MS68:$8,813 (PCGS, 2017)
- MS69:$8,156 (NGC, August 2024)
The first areas to show wear on business strikes are Washington's hair above the ear and the eagle's breast feathers — both are high points that contact other surfaces first.
SMS Grades (SP Scale)
SMS coins grade on the Specimen (SP) scale. Standard examples in SP64–SP67 are worth $5–$275 for the DDO/DDR varieties without Cameo. The Cameo (CAM) designation indicates frosted devices against mirrored fields; Deep Cameo (DCAM) indicates the strongest possible contrast. Both are exceptionally scarce on early clad-era SMS coins and trigger dramatic premiums:
- SP67 CAM FS-801: $11,753 auction record
- SP68 DCAM FS-101: $5,750+ estimated
- SP67 CAM FS-101: $850+
1967 Washington Quarter: When to Get Your Coin Certified
Third-party grading (TPG) by PCGS or NGC — the industry's two most trusted grading services — provides an independent assessment of your coin's grade, authenticity, and variety attribution. For 1967 quarters, certification is strongly recommended in these situations:
- Suspected silver transitional error: Any coin weighing 6.15g+ with a solid silver edge. The potential $5,000–$10,000+ value makes professional authentication essential before any sale or trade.
- Suspected DDO FS-101 or DDR FS-801: Particularly if you observe Cameo contrast — TPG certification with a Cameo or Deep Cameo designation multiplies value by 10× or more and makes the coin far easier to sell at fair value.
- Any wrong planchet error: Authentication confirms the error is genuine and not post-mint damage, which is critical for buyer confidence.
- Business strikes at MS67 or above: A high-grade 1967 quarter is worth thousands only inside a certified holder — raw (uncertified) high-grade examples are extremely difficult to sell at premium prices.
⚠️ Do NOT Clean Your Coin Before Submission
Cleaning is irreversible and results in a "Details — Cleaned" designation from PCGS and NGC, reducing realized value by 50–90%. The documented 1967 silver error sold for $5,750 despite cleaning. A problem-free example would likely bring significantly more. Store the coin in a non-PVC holder (coin flip or 2×2) and submit it exactly as found.
⚠️ Raw Error Coins on eBay — Buyer Beware
The online market for 1967 "silver errors" and "doubled die" quarters is flooded with Machine Doubling misattributed as DDOs and silver-plated clad coins sold as transitional errors. Never pay a significant premium for a raw (uncertified) error coin without verifying it against the weight and edge diagnostics in this guide — or requiring a PCGS/NGC holder.
Dealer and specialist referral information coming soon. In the meantime, seek dealers accredited by the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) or American Numismatic Association (ANA) for in-person authentication guidance.
1967 Washington Quarter: Frequently Asked Questions
Is my 1967 quarter silver?
Almost certainly not. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from quarters. Standard 1967 quarters are copper-nickel clad and worth face value. However, a small number of genuine silver transitional errors exist. To check: weigh your coin on a digital scale. If it reads 6.15 grams or more (standard is 5.67g), proceed to the edge inspection. A silver transitional error shows a solid, uniform silver-white edge with no copper band. If both tests are positive, do not clean it and consult a professional numismatist or submit to PCGS/NGC.
Why does my 1967 quarter have no mint mark?
This is entirely normal — not an error. From 1965 through 1967, the U.S. Mint removed mint marks from all coins by law. Treasury officials believed collectors hoarding mint-marked coins were contributing to the national coin shortage. Coins from Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco all lack mint marks during these three years. Your coin cannot be attributed to a specific mint by visual inspection, and the absence of a mint mark adds no numismatic value.
What is a Special Mint Set (SMS) coin and how do I identify one?
SMS quarters replaced proof sets from 1965–1967 and were struck at the San Francisco Assay Office on specially polished planchets. They show a distinctive satin or semi-prooflike finish — different from both business strikes (frosty cartwheel luster) and true proofs (deeply mirrored). Also look for a "wire rim" — a sharp, squared-off edge where the rim meets the field — and a crisper strike than a typical business strike. Standard SMS quarters are worth $5–$20; the valuable FS-101 and FS-801 doubled die varieties are found exclusively on SMS coins.
How do I tell machine doubling from a real doubled die?
This is the most critical skill for 1967 quarter collectors. Machine Doubling (MD): flat, shelf-like extensions at a lower level than the main device; serifs are smashed or smeared; the device appears thinner than normal. Zero numismatic value, very common on 1967 coins. True Doubled Die (FS-101/FS-801): rounded, distinct secondary image at equal height/relief to the primary device; serifs appear split or notched; device appears wider than normal. For a detailed visual guide, see the NGC article on Doubled Dies vs. Machine Doubling.
What is the most valuable 1967 quarter error?
By documented auction record, the SMS DDR FS-801 in SP67 Cameo holds the top spot at $11,753 (GreatCollections). High-grade business strikes also command premium prices: an MS68 sold for $8,813 in 2017, and an MS69 sold for $8,156 in August 2024. The silver transitional error (AU58 Details Cleaned) sold for $5,750 in 2009 — a problem-free example would likely exceed that considerably.
Can I still find valuable 1967 SMS varieties in existing sets?
Yes — this remains one of the best "cherrypicking" opportunities in modern U.S. coinage. Many 1967 SMS sets remain in their original sealed plastic cases and sell for $10–$20. A knowledgeable collector who can identify the FS-101 (split serifs on TRUST through the plastic) or FS-801 (thickened, notched letters on E PLURIBUS UNUM) can acquire a coin worth $200+ for the price of a common set. Cameo contrast is also partially visible through the original case — look for frosted devices against reflective fields.
Should I clean my 1967 quarter before submitting it for grading?
Never. Cleaning is irreversible and results in a "Details — Cleaned" designation from both PCGS and NGC, reducing realized value by 50–90%. The documented silver transitional error sold for $5,750 despite being cleaned — a problem-free example would likely bring significantly more. Store the coin in a non-PVC flip or 2×2 holder and submit it exactly as found.
Sources & Methodology
Values reflect retail estimates as of January 2025, derived from documented auction realizations, PCGS/NGC price guides, and certified population data. All specifications, diagnostics, and variety attributions are drawn from the following primary references:
- PCGS CoinFacts — 1967 25C Regular Strike (price guide & auction records)
- PCGS CoinFacts — 1967 SMS DDO FS-101 (population data & values)
- Variety Vista — 1967 DDO-002 Diagnostic Detail Page
- GreatCollections — 1967 SMS DDR FS-801 SP67 CAM Auction Record ($11,753)
- Heritage Auctions — 1967 Quarter on 5¢ Planchet NGC MS62 ($253)
- Stack's Bowers Archive — 1967 Silver Transitional Error AU58 Details ($5,750)
- NGC — Doubled Dies vs. Machine Doubling (diagnostic 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.
