1993 Washington Quarter Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties
Which 1993 Washington Quarter errors are valuable? Triple strikes fetch $780, missing clad layers sell for $120–$200. Learn the diagnostics, machine doubling traps, and when to get certified.
Most 1993 Washington Quarters are worth face value, but dramatic striking errors sell for $120–$850, and MS67+ condition rarities can reach $400–$520.
- 💰 Double / Triple Struck: $500–$850 — top auction record $780 (Heritage, 2022)
- 💰 Missing Clad Layer: $120–$200 — coin weighs ~4.7g; one side is copper-colored
- 💰 Wrong Planchet: $200+ — coin is wrong size or weight for a quarter
- 💰 Major Off-Center (50%+): $75–$150 — large blank crescent visible on the face
- 💰 Broadstrike: $20–$50 — coin wider than 24.3mm with a flat or absent rim
⚠️ Biggest trap: Machine Doubling — flat, shelf-like smearing on the date — has zero premium. There are NO major Doubled Die varieties for 1993 Washington Quarters.
1993 Washington Quarter Errors Error Checker
Check your coin for valuable errors and varieties
Values shown are typical retail estimates as of 2026-01 and may fluctuate with market conditions.
1993 Washington Quarters have NO major attributed Doubled Die varieties (DDO or DDR). Any doubling observed is almost certainly Machine Doubling, which has zero numismatic premium.
The famous 'Spitting Eagle' variety is a 1983 Washington Quarter (Die Clash), NOT 1993. Do not confuse the two years.
Error coin values vary significantly based on severity, grade, eye appeal, and market demand. Pricing for major 1993 errors is volatile due to low sales volume.
Professional authentication (PCGS/NGC) is recommended for errors potentially worth $150 or more. Grading fees ($30–$50+) may exceed the value of minor broadstrikes or minor off-center strikes.
Environmental damage (dark or discolored coins at normal weight of 5.67g) is NOT a missing clad layer error. The weight test is the ultimate arbiter.
Machine Doubling (flat, shelf-like smearing) is NOT a valuable Doubled Die variety and has no collector premium.
Pick up a 1993 Washington Quarter from your change jar and it is almost certainly worth 25 cents — but dramatic manufacturing mistakes during that year's billion-coin production run can push value to $120, $500, or even $780. The critical insight for this year: there are no rare die varieties such as Doubled Dies. Every dollar of premium comes from gross physical errors — triple strikes, missing clad layers, wrong planchets. Our complete 1993 Quarter value guide covers baseline prices; keep reading to find out whether your coin has an error worth chasing.
1993 Washington Quarter Specifications & Mintage
These are the specifications every normal 1993 quarter must match. Any significant deviation in weight, diameter, or edge appearance is your first clue that an error may be present.
| Specification | P — Philadelphia | D — Denver | S — Clad Proof | S — Silver Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mintage | 639,276,000 | 645,476,128 | 2,633,439 | 761,353 |
| Composition | Cu-Ni Clad (copper core, nickel faces) | Cu-Ni Clad | 90% Silver / 10% Copper | |
| Weight | 5.67g (±0.23g tolerance) | 5.67g | 6.25g | |
| Diameter | 24.3mm | |||
| Edge | Reeded — copper stripe visible between nickel layers | Reeded — copper stripe visible | Reeded — solid silver-white, NO copper stripe | |
| Base Value | $0.25 (circ) / $1–$5 (MS60–65) | $0.25 (circ) / $1–$5 (MS60–65) | $4–$10 (PR69) | $15–$30 |
Left: Clad quarter edge — copper stripe sandwiched between nickel. Right: Silver Proof edge — solid silver throughout, no stripe.
1993-S Proof Quarter Values
San Francisco produced two proof types in 1993. Telling them apart takes only an edge check and a scale.
- Clad Proof (5.67g, copper stripe on edge):$4–$10 in PR69 DCAM. Mintage: 2,633,439. Standard issue — not an error.
- Silver Proof (6.25g, solid silver edge, no copper stripe):$15–$30. Mintage: 761,353. Has intrinsic silver bullion value. Finding one outside a proof set is called a "breakout," not a mint error.
💡 Silver or Clad?
Tilt the coin and examine the edge under light. A copper stripe between two silver-colored layers = clad. A uniformly silver-white edge with no stripe = silver proof, and it will weigh 6.25g on a digital scale.
⚠️ The Weight Test Is Your Single Most Important Tool
Normal 1993 quarter = 5.67g. Deviations are diagnostic: ~4.7g suggests a missing clad layer; 5.0g suggests a nickel planchet; 2.27g suggests a dime planchet; 6.25g indicates a silver proof (not an error). A digital scale accurate to 0.01g eliminates most guesswork instantly.
For standard circulated and mint-state values, see our complete 1993 Quarter value guide.
1993 Washington Quarter Error Checks: Fast Path to Value
For 1993, the name of the game is physical deformation, not microscopic variety hunting. Use these three checks to quickly determine if your coin warrants further investigation. You need only a digital scale and a 10x loupe — a small magnifying glass available at most coin shops for a few dollars.
The essential trio for 1993 quarter error checking: digital scale (0.01g accuracy), 10x loupe, and a strong magnet.
Check 1: Off-Center Strike or Multiple Strike
Examine the overall shape, rim, and surface. Look for any crescent-shaped blank areas where design is missing, or overlapping ghostly secondary images stacked on top of the primary design.
Off-Center: A crescent of blank, unstruck planchet metal where the die missed the coin. Multiple Strike: Two or three overlapping, properly struck design impressions — the coin was struck again before being ejected from the press. These are the highest-value errors for 1993.
Post-Mint Damage (PMD): coins cut with shears, flattened by a train, or ground on pavement. Key tell — if metal is displaced or scratched over the design elements, it is damage. True striking errors show clean, pristine planchet metal in the blank zone with no tool marks.
Check 2: Weight Anomaly and Missing Clad Layer
The edge (look for the copper stripe sandwiched between nickel layers) and your digital scale readout. Normal is 5.67g. Any notable deviation demands investigation.
Missing Clad Layer (~4.7g): One entire side is copper-red with weak design detail — the nickel outer layer never bonded. Wrong Planchet: A quarter design struck on a nickel blank (5.0g, slightly smaller) or a dime blank (2.27g, much smaller, design runs off edges). Weight must be abnormal to qualify.
Gold- or platinum-plated novelty quarters (gift set items sold as collectibles — these are altered coins worth face value). Acid-dipped or corroded coins (~5.4g with mushy, dissolved details). Environmental damage: a dark or copper-colored coin that weighs the standard 5.67g is not a missing clad layer — the weight test is definitive.
Check 3: Machine Doubling — The Number One Trap (Stop Here)
The date "1993" and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the front (obverse) of the coin. Use a 10x loupe.
Machine Doubling (MD): Flat, shelf-like doubling that makes numbers or letters look smeared or shoved sideways. This is extremely common on 1993 quarters — high-speed production caused widespread mechanical looseness — and carries zero numismatic premium.
A true Doubled Die (DDO — Doubled Die Obverse) would show rounded, bulbous doubling with distinct "notches" at letter corners, resembling two separate overlapping images. No major Doubled Die varieties are attributed for 1993 Washington Quarters in the Fivaz-Stanton guide or the Wexler reference. Any listing claiming a "1993 DDO" without a specific attribution number is Machine Doubling.
Left: Machine Doubling — flat, shelf-like (worthless). Right: True Doubled Die profile — rounded, notched (none confirmed for 1993).
1993 Washington Quarter Errors: Value Table
This table aggregates all known error types for the 1993 Washington Quarter, from verified major auction records down to nominal-premium common errors. Note the complete absence of Fivaz-Stanton (FS) variety numbers — 1993 is strictly an error-coin year. Amber rows have dedicated guides in the Jackpots section below.
| Error Type | Designation | Mint | Rarity | Value Range | Auction Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Struck | Off-Center 2nd/3rd | P | Unique / Rare | $700–$850 (MS66) | $780 (Heritage, 2022) |
| Double Struck | Off-Center 10% | D | Very Rare | $500–$650 (MS64) | $576 (Heritage/GC, 2020) |
| Wrong Planchet | — | P / D | Rare | $200+ | Varies |
| Missing Clad Layer (Full Side) | Rev. Missing Clad | D | Scarce | $120–$200 (MS62) | $156 (Realized) |
| Off-Center Major (50%+) | — | P / D | Scarce | $75–$150+ | Varies |
| Off-Center Moderate (10–40%) | — | P / D | Uncommon | $20–$60 | Varies |
| Broadstrike | Broadstruck | P / D | Uncommon | $20–$50 (MS60+) | ~$48 (est.) |
| Off-Center Minor (<10%) | — | P / D | Common | $5–$15 | — |
| Missing Clad Layer (Partial) | — | P / D | Uncommon | Nominal–$20 | — |
| Die Crack / Cud | Minor | P / D | Common | $1–$5 | — |
| High-Grade Registry (MS67+) | — | P | Condition Rarity | $400–$520 | $516 (Heritage, 2018) |
| Doubled Die (DDO / DDR) | None attributed | P / D | N/A | Face Value | None verified |
| Machine Doubling | N/A | P / D | Very Common | Face Value | — |
Values as of January 2026. Gray italic rows carry no numismatic premium. No Fivaz-Stanton (FS) variety numbers exist for 1993 Washington Quarters — there are no attributed die varieties.
1993 Washington Quarter Valuable Errors: Detailed Guides
Each major error type for 1993 is covered below with full diagnostics, false-positive warnings, and market values sourced from verified auction records. Because 1993 is an error-only year, understanding severity is everything — the more dramatic the deformation, the higher the value.
1993 Double / Triple Struck Quarter
Normal quarter (left) vs. a double-struck example (right) showing two overlapping design impressions, with the second strike off-center.
What Happened
When a coinage press fails to eject a struck coin before the next cycle, the coin is struck a second — and sometimes a third — time. Because the coin shifts between strikes, each subsequent impression lands off-center, creating dramatically overlapping images. A 1993-P triple-struck quarter graded MS66 realized $780 at Heritage Auctions in 2022. A 1993-D double-struck quarter graded MS64 sold for $576 at Heritage/GreatCollections in 2020. Pricing for this type is volatile due to the very low number of known specimens.
How to Identify
- Two or more distinct, properly struck design impressions are visible on a single coin.
- Each impression shows proper relief and three-dimensional detail — not a flat smear or shelf.
- The coin may have an irregular outline due to successive strikes at different positions.
- Secondary and tertiary impressions are typically off-center relative to the primary strike.
False Positives to Avoid
Post-mint damage (a coin struck with a hammer or pressed between heavy objects) can create overlapping marks but shows tool marks, scratches, or displaced metal — not properly struck design elements with clean relief. Machine Doubling (MD) is flat and shelf-like, not a fully struck secondary impression. If the secondary image is smeared rather than sharp and three-dimensional, it is not a multi-strike.
Auction Record
$780 for a 1993-P Triple Struck MS66 (Heritage Auctions, 2022). $576 for a 1993-D Double Struck MS64 (GreatCollections, 2020).
1993 Missing Clad Layer Quarter
Left: Normal clad quarter showing silver-colored nickel face. Right: Missing clad layer — one side copper-red with weakened design detail.
What Happened
The clad quarter's "sandwich" construction — nickel faces pressure-bonded to a copper core — requires a contamination-free bonding surface. If impurities exist on the interface, the nickel layer fails to adhere. When the strip is punched into planchets, that loose layer peels away, and the coin is struck with the copper core exposed on one side. A 1993-D missing reverse clad layer realized $156 at auction.
How to Identify
- Weight is the definitive test: A full missing clad layer coin weighs approximately 4.7g (normal is 5.67g). Weigh before anything else.
- The affected side is copper-red or orange in color.
- Design details on the affected side are often weak because the planchet was thinner than specification.
- The edge on the affected side lacks the nickel layer, showing only the copper core.
- Dual-side missing clad (all nickel absent from both faces) weighs approximately 4.5g and is extremely rare — requires professional authentication.
False Positives to Avoid
This is the most commonly misidentified error in this category. A dark, red, or brown coin weighing 5.67g is environmental damage — galvanic corrosion from burial or chemical exposure — not a missing clad layer. Acid-dipped coins weigh approximately 5.4g with fuzzy, dissolved detail. Gold- or platinum-plated novelty quarters are altered coins worth face value. The weight test eliminates all fakes: if it weighs 5.67g, it is not a missing clad layer, period.
Market Values
- Partial missing clad (patchy copper spots): Nominal–$20
- Full side missing clad (~4.7g): $120–$200
- Dual side missing clad (~4.5g): $500+ — professional authentication required before sale
Auction Record
$156 for a 1993-D Missing Reverse Clad Layer (realized price — specific auction house not itemized in source data).
1993 Broadstruck Quarter
Left: Normal quarter (24.3mm, full reeded rim). Right: Broadstruck quarter — wider diameter, flat rim, reeding absent.
What Happened
The "collar die" is a steel ring that surrounds the planchet during striking. It forms the rim and presses the reeded edge (the grooves on the coin's side) into the metal. When the collar malfunctions or is absent, the metal spreads outward unconstrained, producing a coin larger than 24.3mm with a flat or absent rim and no reeding — but with a complete, centered design that has simply been "spread" outward. The moderate value ($20–$50) reflects that broadstrikes, while visually distinctive, are not rare enough to generate intense collector competition.
How to Identify
- Coin diameter clearly exceeds 24.3mm — measure with calipers or a ruler.
- Rim is flat, undefined, or completely absent.
- Design is complete and centered (not off to one side — that would be an off-center strike).
- Reeded edge (grooves) is absent or severely distorted.
- Design elements near the edges appear stretched outward.
False Positives to Avoid
Coins run over by vehicles appear flattened but show crushing damage and deep scratches across the design. Coins altered with a mechanical press look similar but have tool marks. True broadstrikes show properly struck, undamaged design elements spread uniformly outward — no post-strike scratching or distortion to the struck surfaces themselves.
Auction Record
Approximately $48 (estimated market value based on available sales data — no verified major-auction record on file for this specific year and type).
1993 Wrong Planchet Quarter
Three planchets compared by size and weight: quarter (5.67g, 24.3mm), nickel (5.0g), and dime (2.27g, much smaller).
What Happened
Occasionally, a blank disc (planchet) intended for a different denomination enters the quarter press. The quarter dies then stamp a quarter design onto the wrong-sized blank. Common wrong planchets for quarters include a nickel blank (5.0g, slightly smaller diameter) or a dime blank (2.27g, significantly smaller — the quarter design runs entirely off the edges, showing only a partial image).
How to Identify
- Weigh and measure precisely: nickel planchet = 5.0g; dime planchet = 2.27g (vs. normal 5.67g for a quarter).
- On a dime planchet, the diameter is significantly smaller and the quarter design runs off all edges with only a partial image visible.
- Surfaces show proper strike characteristics — no filing, grinding, or post-strike alteration.
False Positives to Avoid
Damaged coins that have been filed, ground, or chemically etched after leaving the mint. True wrong-planchet errors show a clean, properly struck design on a correctly manufactured but incorrectly sized blank — with absolutely no tool marks, filing ridges, or evidence of post-strike metalwork.
Auction Record
No verified major-auction record on file for a 1993 Washington Quarter struck on a wrong planchet. Value varies by planchet type and grade. Professional authentication by PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before selling — this error is easily fabricated.
1993 Major Off-Center Strike (50%+)
Off-center severity illustrated: minor (<10%, $5–$15), moderate (10–40%, $20–$60), and major (50%+, $75–$150+) with large blank crescent.
What Happened
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly centered under the dies at the moment of impact. The die strikes only part of the planchet, leaving a crescent of blank, unstruck metal. Severity is measured as a percentage of the design that is missing. For 1993, major off-centers (50%+) that still retain the visible date "1993" are the most desirable — the date confirms the year and simplifies authentication. If the date is fully off the struck area, year attribution requires examination of other identifiable design elements.
Severity and Value
- Minor (<10%): $5–$15 — slight crescent visible; often ignored by advanced collectors.
- Moderate (10–40%): $20–$60 — design clearly truncated; irregular shape obvious.
- Major (50%+): $75–$150+ — half or more of the design missing; if "1993" is readable, value increases.
How to Identify
- A crescent-shaped area of completely blank planchet is visible — no design detail whatsoever.
- A sharp, clean boundary separates the struck and unstruck zones.
- The coin may have a non-circular overall shape.
False Positives to Avoid
Coins that have been cut, clipped, or filed after minting show tool marks, rough or uneven edges, and disturbed metal in the missing zone. True off-center strikes have a perfectly smooth, pristine blank planchet surface in the unstruck area with no post-strike interference.
Auction Record
No verified major-auction record on file specifically for a 1993 major off-center quarter. For a related reference, see the 1993-D Double Struck 10% Off-Center PCGS MS-64 at GreatCollections.
1993 Washington Quarter Traps: Common Misidentifications
These are the most frequent false alarms for 1993 quarters. Identifying them quickly saves you time, money, and the disappointment of an expensive grading submission that comes back labeled "damage."
⚠️ Machine Doubling — The Number One False Alarm
A flat, shelf-like doubling on the date "1993" or the letters in "IN GOD WE TRUST." The doubled portion looks smeared or pushed sideways rather than standing as a separate, distinct impression.
Mechanical looseness in the die holder or press causes the die to shift a split second after the primary impact, smearing the still-soft metal. It is extremely common on high-volume production years like 1993, where press-maintenance intervals allowed slight mechanical play.
- The doubling is flat and shelf-like — it actually reduces the visible width of the primary device.
- There are no rounded "notches" at the corners of letters or numbers.
- The doubled portion appears recessed or lower rather than fully three-dimensional.
- No major Doubled Die varieties are attributed for 1993 in the Fivaz-Stanton or Wexler references.
Value: Face value only — $0.25.
⚠️ The "Spitting Eagle" Myth
A crack or line near the eagle's beak on the reverse of a 1993 quarter that resembles descriptions of a famous error variety.
The famous "Spitting Eagle" is a 1983-P Washington Quarter die-clash variety. It does not exist on 1993 quarters. Die flow lines, minor die cracks, or scratches near the eagle's beak on a 1993 coin mislead inexperienced searchers who confuse the two years.
- Check the date. A coin dated 1993 cannot be the 1983-P "Spitting Eagle."
- Lines near the eagle's beak on a 1993 quarter are die flow lines, scratches, or minor die cracks — worth $1–$5 at most as minor die states.
Value: Face value. The real Spitting Eagle is a 1983-P only.
Left: 1983-P "Spitting Eagle" — genuine die clash line from eagle beak. Right: 1993 quarter reverse — no such variety exists for this year.
⚠️ Environmental Damage — The "Copper Coin" That Is Not a Missing Clad Layer
A coin that is dark brown, black, or copper-colored — which might suggest a missing nickel clad layer exposing the copper core.
Coins buried in soil or stored in humid environments undergo galvanic corrosion. Moisture and chemicals react with the copper core through micro-cracks in the nickel surface, staining and discoloring the coin.
- Weigh the coin. If it reads 5.67g (normal), it is environmental damage — not a missing clad layer.
- A true missing clad layer coin weighs approximately 4.7g.
- Environmental damage typically shows pitting, surface roughness, or corrosion pockets under a 10x loupe.
Value: Face value if damaged. The weight test is the definitive arbiter.
⚠️ Coin Wrapper Damage and Post-Mint Damage (PMD)
A perfect circular scratch running through lettering near the rim (the "Ring of Death"), or flattening, gouging, and bent areas on the coin's surface.
Automatic coin-rolling machines create circular scratches when coins feed improperly through the crimper. General post-mint damage comes from normal life: dropped on pavement, run over by a car, stored loose against keys.
- Damage goes over the design — scratches cut through raised letters and devices.
- Metal is displaced or folded in unnatural directions with no clean boundary.
- True mint errors have damage that occurred before or during striking; the struck design elements themselves remain pristine within the error zone.
Value: Face value only. Post-mint damage has zero numismatic premium.
1993 Washington Quarter Errors: How Grade Affects Value
Grade — the condition of a coin's surfaces — significantly affects error coin values. The same error in a higher grade commands a meaningfully higher price because collectors want both the dramatic error and pristine struck surfaces.
- MS60–63 (Mint State, lower): Uncirculated but with bag marks and contact marks from coin bags. Errors at this level trade at the lower end of value ranges. Acceptable for dramatic, rare errors that rarely come in higher grades.
- MS64–65 (Choice to Gem Mint State): Sharper luster with noticeably fewer contact marks. Most verified 1993 error auction records fall in this range — the double-struck MS64 quarter sold for $576.
- MS66–67 (Premium Gem): Exceptional specimens with minimal marks. The triple-struck MS66 brought $780 (Heritage, 2022). A normal 1993-P quarter in MS67 sold for $516 (Heritage, 2018) on condition rarity alone.
- PR69 DCAM (Proof, Deep Cameo): For 1993-S clad proofs — the standard high-grade designation, with deeply mirrored fields and frosted devices. Value: $4–$10.
💡 How Error Coins Are Graded
Error coins are graded on the quality of the struck surfaces, not on the error itself. The error is a separate designation noted in the holder label. An MS66 triple-struck quarter means the struck portions show near-flawless surfaces consistent with that grade — the three overlapping impressions are the error designation, not a grading penalty.
1993 Washington Quarter Errors: Authentication & When to Submit
Required Tools
- Digital Scale (0.01g accuracy): The single most important tool for 1993 quarters. Resolves missing clad layers, wrong planchets, and silver proof identification instantly. If the scale reads 5.67g, the copper-colored coin is environmental damage, not an error.
- 10x Loupe: A small magnifying glass used primarily to disprove doubling for 1993. Confirms the flat, shelf-like nature of Machine Doubling versus the rounded, bulbous profile of true Doubled Dies (of which none are attributed for 1993).
- Magnet: Genuine 1993 quarters — both clad and silver proof — are non-magnetic. A coin that sticks to a magnet is a counterfeit, novelty item, or hollowed-out "magician's coin." Do not submit it for grading.
Scale readings showing the three diagnostic weights: 5.67g (normal), ~4.7g (missing clad layer), 6.25g (silver proof).
When to Submit to PCGS or NGC
Professional Third-Party Grading (TPG) by PCGS or NGC adds market credibility and is essential before selling significant errors. However, grading fees (approximately $30–$50 per coin, plus return shipping) make submission uneconomical for low-value errors.
- DO submit if the potential value exceeds $150: multi-strikes, full missing clad layers, wrong planchets, and major off-center strikes all qualify.
- DO NOT submit minor broadstrikes ($20–$50), minor off-center strikes ($5–$15), or any coin with suspected Machine Doubling. Grading fees will exceed the coin's realized value.
- DO NOT submit any "1993 DDO" unless you have matched it to a specific attribution photo on VarietyVista or Wexler's Doubled Die reference. No major 1993 DDO exists — submissions will be returned as Machine Doubling.
⚠️ Magnetic Coin Alert
A genuine 1993 Washington Quarter — clad business strike, clad proof, or silver proof — is non-magnetic. If your coin sticks to a magnet, it is a counterfeit, a novelty item, or a hollowed-out magician's coin. It has no numismatic value and should not be submitted for grading.
To find a reputable local coin dealer for in-person evaluation, consult the American Numismatic Association (ANA) dealer directory at money.org. Only dealers who specialize in U.S. error coins should be trusted with high-value error submissions.
1993 Washington Quarter Errors: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a 1993 quarter worth a lot of money?
Yes, but only because of dramatic striking errors — not rare designs. A 1993-P triple-struck quarter sold for $780 (Heritage, 2022). A 1993-D double-struck quarter brought $576 (Heritage/GreatCollections, 2020). Missing clad layers sell for $120–$200. High-grade specimens (MS67+) can reach $400–$520 on condition alone. There are no rare die varieties for 1993.
How do I tell if my 1993 quarter has a missing clad layer?
Weigh it on a digital scale accurate to 0.01g. A genuine missing clad layer coin weighs approximately 4.7g (normal is 5.67g). If your coin appears copper-colored but weighs 5.67g, it is environmental damage — corrosion from burial or chemical exposure — not a missing clad layer. The weight test is definitive.
Is the 1993 "Spitting Eagle" real?
No. The famous "Spitting Eagle" is a 1983-P Washington Quarter die-clash variety — it does not exist on 1993 quarters. Any line near a 1993 eagle's beak is a die flow line, a minor scratch, or a minor die crack worth $1–$5 at most. If your coin is dated 1993, it cannot be a Spitting Eagle.
My 1993 quarter has doubling on the date — is it valuable?
Almost certainly not. Machine Doubling — flat, shelf-like smearing — is extremely common on 1993 quarters. No major Doubled Die (DDO) varieties are officially attributed for 1993 Washington Quarters in either the Fivaz-Stanton guide or the Wexler reference. Machine Doubling carries zero numismatic premium. Under a 10x loupe: if the doubling is flat and shelf-like with no notching at letter corners, it is Machine Doubling.
What is my 1993-S silver proof quarter worth?
A 1993-S Silver Proof quarter (90% silver, 6.25g, solid silver-white edge with no copper stripe) is worth $15–$30. It also carries intrinsic silver bullion value. Finding one outside a proof set is called a "breakout" — it is not a mint error, as San Francisco legitimately issued silver proof sets. Confirm it is silver by checking the edge and weighing it.
Should I submit my 1993 quarter error for grading?
Only if the error is likely worth $150 or more. PCGS and NGC grading fees (approximately $30–$50 per coin plus return shipping) make submission a net loss for minor broadstrikes ($20–$50) or minor off-centers ($5–$15). Strong candidates for submission include multi-strikes, full missing clad layers, wrong planchets, and major off-center strikes (50%+).
My 1993 quarter sticks to a magnet. Is that an error?
No. Genuine 1993 Washington Quarters — clad business strikes, clad proofs, and silver proofs — are all non-magnetic. A coin that sticks to a magnet is a counterfeit, a novelty item, or a hollowed-out "magician's coin." It has no numismatic value and should not be submitted for grading.
What is the highest price a 1993 Washington Quarter has ever sold for?
The highest verified sale for a 1993 error is $780 for a 1993-P Triple Struck quarter graded MS66 (Heritage Auctions, 2022). For a non-error coin, a 1993-P graded MS67 sold for $516 (Heritage Auctions, 2018) as a condition rarity. The $780 triple-strike price is volatile — with only one major specimen known, a second example could significantly change the market.
1993 Washington Quarter Error Guide: Sources & Methodology
This guide draws exclusively on verified auction records, variety attribution databases, and official mint specifications. No eBay prices were used as primary benchmarks. All values are retail estimates as of January 2026.
- GreatCollections — 1993-D Double Struck 2nd Strike 10% Off-Center PCGS MS-64 (auction record)
- GreatCollections — 1993-P Washington Quarter NGC MS-67 (condition rarity reference)
- PCGS CoinFacts — 1993-S 25¢ Silver DCAM (silver proof specifications)
- NGC — Double Dies vs. Machine Doubling (diagnostic methodology)
- VarietyVista — Washington Quarter DDO Listings (no 1993 entries confirmed)
- Wexler's Coins — Washington Quarter Doubled Dies Reference
Error coin values are volatile due to low sales volume. The $780 triple-strike auction record is based on a single known sale (2022) and could fluctuate if additional specimens emerge. Pricing data sourced from Heritage Auctions and GreatCollections verified sales 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.
