1987 Quarter Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties

Pick up a 1987 quarter and you’re holding one of 1.2 billion coins struck that year — worth exactly 25 cents to most people. But a small number escaped the Philadelphia and Denver Mints with spectacular manufacturing flaws: struck on the wrong metal, pressed twice simultaneously, or missing entire layers of their copper-nickel “sandwich.” Those coins sell for hundreds of dollars at Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers. See the full 1987 quarter value guide — then use the quick checks below to find out if yours is one of the rare exceptions.

1987 Quarter: Specifications & Mintage

Before hunting for errors, memorize these control specs. Any deviation in weight or diameter is your first diagnostic clue.

1987 Washington Quarter obverse and reverse with key diagnostic areas labeled.

Mintage by Facility

1987 Quarter Quick Checks: Do You Have Something Valuable?

Run through these checks in order. The first two require a digital scale accurate to 0.01g — the single most important tool for 1987 quarter errors. The last two are traps to help you avoid a false alarm.

Three critical weights: 5.67g (normal), 4.7g (missing clad layer candidate), 2.27g (dime planchet candidate).

1987 Quarter Error & Value Table

Error & Variety Values (All Mints Unless Noted)

1987 Quarter Jackpots: Major Mint Errors Worth Real Money

The following errors represent genuine numismatic discoveries. Each requires specific diagnostics — mostly a digital scale and a 10x loupe (magnifying glass). Read through all eight before examining your coin.

1987 Mated Pair (Double Strike with Indent)

A mated pair: the indent on coin 1 matches the design imprinted on coin 2, confirming a genuine double-strike event.

Origin & Background

A mated pair occurs during a catastrophic press jam. A struck coin fails to eject from the collar. A fresh planchet drops onto the trapped coin, and the dies descend again. The result is two coins inseparably linked: the bottom coin receives an indent of the new planchet on its obverse; the new planchet receives a mirror-image impression of the bottom coin’s design on its reverse (a “brockage”). Surviving as a matched set requires the pair to be discovered immediately — most are separated in counting rooms.

How to Identify

• You must have two coins that fit together like puzzle pieces — a single coin alone is less compelling without its mate.
• The indent on one coin must precisely correspond to the design relief on the other.
• The brockage side (mirror image) should show a crisp, reversed coin design — not random impressions or damage marks.

False Positives to Avoid

Coins with random circular impressions from Post-Mint Damage (stacking, vice marks) are sometimes mistaken for brockages. Genuine mated pairs show crisp, recognizable coin design details in the indent — not random tooling marks or scratches. The fit between the two coins is the definitive test.

Market Values

• 💰 Verified range: $500–$600+

Auction Record

$552.00 for AU58 NGC (Heritage Auctions). The AU58 grade suggests either light circulation after discovery or friction from the error event itself.

1987 Quarter Struck on Dime Planchet

Left: Normal 1987 quarter (24.3mm, 5.67g). Right: Quarter design struck on a dime planchet (17.9mm, 2.27g) with legends cut off at the periphery.

Origin & Background

This is a feed error. A dime planchet (intended for the dime press, weighing 2.27g and measuring 17.9mm in diameter) is accidentally mixed into the hopper feeding the quarter press. When the quarter dies — sized for a 24.3mm coin — strike the tiny planchet, the metal cannot flow to fill the collar. The center of Washington’s design strikes normally, but the outer legends (“QUARTER DOLLAR,” the date) are often entirely missing because the planchet simply isn’t large enough to reach the die’s periphery.

How to Identify

• Weight must be approximately 2.27 grams — this is the critical test. A dime’s weight. Non-negotiable.
• The coin must be clad: inspect the edge for the copper core sandwich.
• Design details present in the center area will appear sharp and well-struck.
• Outer legends and rim will be incomplete or absent due to the planchet’s small diameter.

False Positives to Avoid

A coin that has been filed, ground, or cut down to a smaller size will show tool marks along the cut edge and will not have the precise 2.27g weight of a genuine dime planchet. Post-Mint Damage coins also lack the clean design cutoff pattern of a true wrong-planchet strike.

Market Values

• 💰 Verified range: $253–$400
• Date visibility matters — coins where the date is legible command more.

Auction Record

$253 for a verified 1987-P struck on a dime planchet (confirmed sale). Comparable dates (e.g., 1982) have reached $399.99 for similar errors.

1987 Quarter Missing Clad Layer

Left: Normal clad quarter showing silver-colored nickel surface. Right: Missing clad layer with solid copper (reddish) face and lighter weight — the weight test distinguishes genuine from environmental damage.

Origin & Background

The 1987 quarter is a metal sandwich: copper-nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core. The bonding process uses high-pressure rollers. If a strip of the outer nickel-copper layer peels away before the blank is punched — due to contaminants or improper roller pressure — the resulting planchet will be missing one clad layer. When struck, the coin appears copper-colored on one side (the exposed core) and normal silver on the other.

How to Identify

• Weight must be approximately 4.7g–4.9g — lighter than the standard 5.67g because one metal layer is absent.
• One face is distinctly copper-colored (reddish-brown to bright red).
• Inspect the edge: the clad sandwich will be asymmetric, with one layer visibly thinner or missing.
• Eye appeal matters: a bright red copper surface is worth more than a brown or oxidized one.

False Positives to Avoid

A copper-colored coin weighing 5.67g is NOT a missing clad error. It is most likely environmental damage (buried in acidic soil), improper annealing (where copper atoms migrate to the surface during heating), or chemical alteration. This is called the “Sintered” false positive. Weight is the definitive test — there are no exceptions.

Market Values

• 💰 MS62–MS64 range: $250–$325
• Higher grades with bright copper surface: up to $350

Auction Record

$258.50 for a comparable clad layer error at Heritage Auctions. A 1987-P Missing Clad Layer in ANACS MS62 RB has been verified at similar price points.

1987 Quarter Off-Center Strike (>10%)

Off-center strike showing crescent-shaped unstruck area (left) and visible date (right) — both obverse and reverse must be off-center for a genuine error.

Origin & Background

This striking error occurs when the retaining collar — which normally holds the planchet in place and shapes the reeded edge — fails to deploy, or the planchet is not properly seated before the dies descend. The planchet is struck partially outside the die area, leaving a crescent-shaped unstruck blank.

How to Identify

• Design is clearly shifted with a crescent-shaped unstruck area at one edge.
• Both obverse and reverse must be off-center in the same direction.
• Estimate the percentage of offset (10%, 25%, 50%). Greater offset = higher value.
• Confirm the date is visible — dateless off-center coins are harder to attribute to 1987 and sell for less.
• Major off-center (>50% with date) commands the highest premiums.

False Positives to Avoid

A Misaligned Die (MAD) error — where only ONE side appears off-center — is common and worth only $1–$5. Both sides must show the shift. Also beware of bent or damaged coins that may appear off-center due to post-mint deformation.

Market Values

• 💰 Minor (<10%, no date): $15–$30
• 💰 >10% with date: $100–$300
• 💰 Combination error (with clip): significantly higher

Auction Record

$164.50 for a 1987-D Off-Center Strike on a Triple Curved Clipped Planchet — a combination error where three clips preceded the off-center strike, making it especially dramatic.

1987 Quarter Clipped Planchet

Clipped planchet showing smooth curved bite at rim (top) and Blakesley Effect — weak rim area directly opposite the clip (bottom).

Origin & Background

Clipped planchets result from errors in the blanking press, where a moving strip of coin metal is punched into round discs. If the strip is fed through at the wrong speed, the punch can overlap a hole already cut from a previous punch — resulting in a planchet with a curved “bite” missing. Straight clips occur when the strip end is included in the punch.

How to Identify

• A smooth, curved (or straight) indentation at the rim — perfectly smooth, factory-cut edges.
• Look for the Blakesley Effect: a weak or poorly struck area of the rim directly opposite (180°) the clip. This is the diagnostic that separates genuine clips from post-mint damage.
• Multiple clips on the same coin (double or triple) increase value significantly.

False Positives to Avoid

A rough or jagged missing piece is Post-Mint Damage — pliers, vice, or impact. Genuine clips have smooth, rounded edges like a factory cut and always display the Blakesley Effect. Rim distortion from dryer damage can also be confused with clips.

Market Values

• 💰 Single curved clip: $20–$40
• 💰 Multiple clips or combination errors: up to $164

Auction Record

$164.50 for a 1987-D triple curved clipped planchet combined with an off-center strike — the combination of two errors on one coin drove the premium.

1987 Quarter Broadstrike

Left: Normal quarter with reeded edge (119 reeds). Right: Broadstrike with smooth edge and expanded diameter — the retaining collar was absent during striking.

Origin & Background

The retaining collar is the ring that surrounds the planchet during striking — it shapes the reeded edge and prevents the metal from spreading. When the collar fails to engage, the planchet is struck without lateral restraint. Metal flows freely outward, producing a coin slightly wider than normal with a completely smooth edge.

How to Identify

• Diameter exceeds 24.3mm (measure with calipers if possible).
• The edge must be completely smooth with zero reeding — no partial reeds, none at all.
• The design will appear complete but slightly spread or flattened at the periphery.

False Positives to Avoid

A “Dryer Coin” — a quarter tumbled in a clothes dryer — may appear wider but retains partial reeding and shows contact scratches. If any reeding is present, it is not a broadstrike. A coin that was simply hammered or pressed flat post-mint is also not a broadstrike.

Market Values

• 💰 Verified range: $10–$30
• Note: Certification fees ($30+) often exceed this coin’s value — raw sales are typical for broadstrikes.

1987 Quarter Spitting Eagle (Die Crack Variety)

Spitting Eagle variety: raised line extending from the eagle’s beak (left). A scratch (incuse line) is Post-Mint Damage with no value (right).

Origin & Background

The “Spitting Eagle” variety on 1987 quarters is caused by a die crack or die clash. In a die clash, the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them — the outline of Washington’s neck or jawline is transferred to the reverse die, appearing as an incuse mark near the eagle’s beak that shows up as a raised line on struck coins. A die crack is simply a stress fracture in the hardened die steel from extended use at high production volumes.

How to Identify

• Look on the reverse near the eagle’s beak for a line extending outward.
• The line must be raised: drag a non-marring probe (or carefully your fingernail) across it — it should catch.
• Under magnification, a genuine die crack appears as a continuous raised ridge.

False Positives to Avoid

An incuse (dug-in) line is a scratch — Post-Mint Damage worth nothing. If your fingernail dips into the line rather than catching on it, reject it. Simple die polish lines (thin, parallel raised lines from die maintenance) are not the Spitting Eagle variety.

Market Values

• 💰 Raw examples: $5–$20 (fun cherrypick for roll hunters, not an investment-grade variety)

1987 Quarter Doubled Die (Minor — Wexler WDDO)

True doubled die (left): rounded doubling with split serifs that add to letter width. Machine doubling (right): flat shelf-like smear that subtracts from letter width — worth face value only.

The Reality of 1987 Doubled Dies

There is no recognized FS-101 Doubled Die Obverse for the 1987 Washington Quarter in the Cherrypickers’ Guide, and PCGS does not attribute a major doubled die variety for this date. The Wexler Doubled Die Files list minor varieties (e.g., 1987-P WDDO-001), typically classified as Class VIII (Tilted Hub Doubling), showing slight thickening on LIBERTY or IN GOD WE TRUST. These are traded among specialists for $5–$15 but are rarely worth the cost of professional certification.

How to Identify a True Doubled Die

• Under 10x magnification, look for split serifs — notches at the corners of letters such as the R in LIBERTY.
• True hub doubling shows rounded secondary images that add to letter width.
• Look for notching (a small gap or “split”) at letter terminals under magnification.

False Positives to Avoid

Machine Doubling — the #1 false alarm — shows flat, shelf-like doubling that subtracts from letter width. If the “doubling” looks like a step down from the main device, it is Machine Doubling with zero numismatic value. Die Deterioration Doubling (fuzzy, mushy letters from worn dies) is equally worthless and extremely common on 1987 quarters due to the era’s extended die life practices. See the PCGS Cherrypickers’ Guide Exclusions for formal confirmation.

Market Values

• 💰 Minor Wexler variety: $5–$15 (specialist market, certification typically not cost-effective)

1987 Quarter Traps: The Most Common False Alarms

These three “errors” flood online forums and eBay every year. Learn to recognize them so you don’t waste money on certification or sell yourself short on a coin that’s actually valuable.

⚠️ Machine Doubling (MD) — The #1 False Alarm

Machine doubling vs. true doubled die: the key is whether doubling is flat and shelf-like (worthless) or rounded with split serifs (genuine variety).

What You See:

A shadow or shelf-like step alongside letters on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, or QUARTER DOLLAR. Looks like doubling at first glance.

Why It Happens:

In the late 1980s, the U.S. Mint extended die life to maximize efficiency. As presses aged and loosened, the hammer die could shift or bounce sideways while retracting after the strike, shearing the freshly struck metal. The result is a flat, shelf-like secondary impression — not a true doubled die at all.

How to Tell It’s NOT Valuable:

• The doubling is flat and shelf-like — a step down from the main device.
• It subtracts from the width of letters (letters appear thinner near the shelf).
• No split serifs (notches) at letter corners under magnification.
• A true DDO adds to letter width with rounded, notched doubling. Machine Doubling subtracts.

Value: Face value only. The most common “error” report on 1987 quarters.

⚠️ Dryer Coin / PMD Ring

Dryer coin (left) with partial reeding and incuse grooves vs. genuine broadstrike (right) with completely smooth edge — any reeding present means it is PMD.

What You See:

A circular groove or ring on the reverse cutting through QUARTER DOLLAR, a flattened or expanded rim, or an overall “worn smooth” appearance on the lettering and rim.

Why It Happens:

Quarters tumble in clothes dryers with metal buttons and zippers, causing mechanical abrasion. The repeated strikes flatten the rim, create incuse grooves, and can make the coin appear wider than normal.

How to Tell It’s NOT Valuable:

• Inspect the edge: if any reeding is present, it is not a broadstrike — genuine broadstrikes have zero reeding.
• Incuse grooves or rings on the surface are dug-in damage, not raised die errors.
• The damage pattern is random and mechanical, not geometric like a genuine mint error.

Value: Face value only.

1987 Quarter Grading: How Condition Affects Value

The MS67 Cliff: MS66 examples sell for $15–$30, while MS67 examples sell for $600–$700 — a near-vertical price jump driven by population scarcity.

For non-error 1987 quarters, condition is everything. The coin’s grade (assigned on a 1–70 scale by professional services) determines whether your coin is worth 25 cents or $700.

The MS67 Cliff Explained

The “MS67 Cliff” refers to the exponential price jump between MS66 and MS67 for 1987 quarters. Both grades are technically “uncirculated,” but the population of MS67 examples is dramatically smaller. The high-volume, rough-handling production environment of 1987 — where coins were bagged, transported, and counted in bulk — left virtually all business strikes with bag marks that prevent MS67 certification.

The 1987-P MS67 sold for $690 (May 2018) and the 1987-D MS67 sold for $676 (Heritage Auctions, January 2015). Philadelphia strikes often suffer from weaker strike quality, making a full-detail 1987-P MS67 a conditional rarity even within the MS67 tier. Professional grading from PCGS or NGC is essential before selling any coin you believe reaches MS67.

1987 Quarter Authentication: When to Get It Certified

Not every 1987 quarter needs professional certification (grading). Use this guide to decide when it’s worth the cost.

When to Submit to a Third-Party Grading Service (TPG)

Approved Third-Party Grading Services

• PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) — widely recognized, registry sets drive MS67 demand
• NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) — widely accepted; the verified Mated Pair was graded NGC AU58
• ANACS — accepted service; the verified Missing Clad Layer was graded ANACS MS62 RB

Dealer and buying network information is not included in the current data set. For major errors, Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers accept direct consignments.

1987 Quarter Errors: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Methodology

All values in this guide are derived exclusively from verified “Sold” auction records and recognized numismatic authorities. eBay data is excluded from high-end valuations to ensure data integrity.

• NGC Coin Explorer — 1987-P 25C MS (mintage, specs)
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1987-P 25C (auction records, population data)
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1987-D 25C (auction records)
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1987-S 25C DCAM Proof (proof records)
• Heritage Auctions Archive — PCGS #5922 (Mated Pair and error auction records)
• Wexler Doubled Die Files — Washington Quarter (WDDO variety attribution)
• Variety Vista — Washington Quarter DDO Listings
• PCGS Cherrypickers’ Guide Exclusions (confirmation of no FS-101 for 1987)

Auction data sourced from Heritage Auctions, Stack’s Bowers, and GreatCollections verified sales archives. All prices reflect hammer prices in USD. Values are subject to change with market conditions.