1960 Quarter Value: Silver, D Mint Mark, Proofs and Type B

In this article

Quick answer

A normal 1960 Washington quarter is 90% silver, with approximately 0.1808 troy ounce of fine silver. Philadelphia regular strikes have no mint mark; Denver has D on the reverse. Philadelphia also made a separate no-mark Proof issue.

The PCGS guide checked October 23, 2026 lists Philadelphia regular strikes at $17 in VF20, $25 in MS63 and $30 in MS65. These ordinary-issue references do not price a Denver coin, Proof or specifically attributed Type B reverse.

Coin photos

1960 Philadelphia regular-strike quarter obverse: Washington and the date.

Same ordinary 1960 reverse: this photograph is not a Type B diagnostic claim.

Basics & coin story

The 1960 quarter combines John Flanagan’s Washington portrait with the eagle reverse used throughout the silver-era series. The later 1965 transition to copper-nickel clad circulating quarters had not yet occurred. Silver is therefore an expected part of a genuine ordinary 1960 quarter.

PCGS records 29,164,000 Philadelphia regular strikes. Saved rolls and surviving condition affect availability as well as original mintage. A large original output cannot tell you how many coins retain a particular grade, and a lower mintage elsewhere does not automatically guarantee a larger premium.

This date also illustrates why reverse design characteristics and manufacturing method are separate questions. The cataloged Type B reverse is an attribution within the regular-strike context; the phrase “Proof reverse” does not mean the whole coin was manufactured as a Proof. For the series context, see the 1962 quarter guide.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Type / denomination	Washington quarter / 25 cents
Designer	John Flanagan
Composition	90% silver, 10% copper
Nominal weight / diameter	6.25 g / approximately 24.3 mm
Fine silver	Approximately 0.1808 troy ounce
Edge	Reeded
Regular mints	Philadelphia: none; Denver: D
Proof	Philadelphia, no mint mark; separate manufacture

Identification

Read the reverse mint-mark area

Look below the eagle’s wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR. D identifies Denver; no letter is normal for Philadelphia. The blank area cannot distinguish a Philadelphia regular strike from a Philadelphia Proof.

Identify Proof manufacture independently

Proofs are collector products with a separate grading context, commonly PR. Reflective surfaces alone are insufficient because polishing can also create shine. Examine the entire finish and details, along with reliable original set context when available.

Keep Type B FS-901 separate from an ordinary reverse

PCGS catalogs a 1960 Type B reverse FS-901 entry. Establish that attribution using its reverse diagnostics before seeking a variety premium. Neither an unusually bright coin nor the presence of silver proves Type B, and the ordinary specimen photographed here is not presented as a diagnostic variety example.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 23, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1960 Philadelphia, regular	VF20	$17	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free circulated coin
1960 Philadelphia, regular	MS63	$25	PCGS retail guide	Ordinary uncirculated issue
1960 Philadelphia, regular	MS65	$30	PCGS retail guide	Grade-specific reference
Contained silver	Approximately 0.1808 troy oz	0.1808 × silver spot per oz	Metal reference	Changes with silver
1960-D / Proof / Type B FS-901	Exact issue and grade	Compare separately	Different entries	Attribution must match

A contained-silver calculation is approximately 0.1808 multiplied by silver spot per troy ounce. Treat it as a metal reference rather than a guaranteed purchase offer. Retail estimates and actual buying spreads can differ, particularly for small transactions.

Check Washington’s cheek and the eagle’s high points for friction, then the fields for contact marks and hairlines. The modest ordinary MS63-to-MS65 guide difference makes certification costs relevant. A very high-grade or attributed coin is a different comparison, requiring evidence rather than an optimistic grade guess.

Match the exact mint, finish, grade and variety when examining completed sales. A Proof set price does not value one regular quarter. Use the grading guide for the general distinction between wear, strike detail and Mint State marks.

Summary

For a 1960 quarter, establish mint and manufacture before considering Type B. Silver and a missing Philadelphia letter are normal. A named reverse attribution requires its own evidence and price comparison.

FAQ

Is a 1960 quarter silver?

Yes. A standard 1960 quarter is 90% silver, with approximately 0.1808 troy ounce of fine silver at nominal weight.

Where is the D on a 1960 quarter?

On the reverse below the wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR.

Does Type B mean a 1960 quarter is a Proof?

No. Type B is a cataloged reverse attribution within the regular-strike context. Proof manufacture is a separate identification question.

Are all no-mark 1960 quarters the same issue?

No. Philadelphia made regular strikes and separate Proofs, both without a mint mark; attributed varieties also require their own comparisons.

References

References and further reading

Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 23, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.