1962 Quarter Value:Silver, No Mint Mark, D and Proof Identification

Quick answer

Coin photos

Basics & coin story

John Flanagan’s Washington portrait originated with the 1932 quarter honoring Washington’s bicentennial. In 1962 it remained paired with the eagle reverse and the original silver composition. The change to copper-nickel clad circulating quarters came in 1965, so silver is expected here rather than evidence of a wrong-metal error.

Philadelphia’s recorded regular-strike mintage was 36,156,000. Original production is only one part of the collecting story. PCGS’s narrative emphasizes the importance of saved coins when comparing this issue with Denver. A lower mintage does not automatically mean fewer survivors in every high grade.

That distinction is useful when choosing a collection goal. A worn silver type example, a matching P-and-D date pair and a high-grade certified specimen are different purchases. The neighboring 1963 quarter guide helps with chronology, while each date and mint retains its own price evidence.

Identification

Find the mint mark on the reverse

Look below the eagle’s wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR. A D identifies the Denver entry. A blank area is the expected Philadelphia arrangement, not a mint error. Do not search beside Washington’s neck as you would on a later quarter. If corrosion or wear obscures the area, record the mint as uncertain until examined.

Separate a regular strike from a Proof

Both Philadelphia products lack a mint letter. Proof is a manufacturing category, commonly graded PR, while uncirculated regular strikes use Mint State, or MS. A coin that reflects a lamp may be polished rather than a Proof. Compare the full finish, details and any original collector context; no single bright patch establishes the issue.

Keep genuine varieties separate from damage

A claimed doubled die or repunched mint mark needs the diagnostics of a specific cataloged entry. A stain, scratch or shelf-like displaced outline should not inherit a premium from a different variety. Photograph both sides and the detail under even light without cleaning it. The date and mint must still agree with the attribution.

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.

The metal-content calculation is approximately 0.1808 multiplied by the silver price per troy ounce. It measures contained silver rather than collector retail value. A dealer’s buying spread, handling costs and a coin’s condition can affect the amount offered. Keep a changing silver reference separate from the dated grade estimates above.

Inspect Washington’s cheek and hair and the eagle’s high points for friction, then the open fields for contact marks and cleaning hairlines. A sharp outline is not proof of an uncirculated grade. Original luster, wear and surface alteration need to be considered together. The grading scale and cleaning-identification guide explain the general checks.

For a sale comparison, match the exact mint, grade and surface status and confirm that the reference is a completed transaction. A seller’s ambitious asking price is not a realized value. Certification costs should be weighed against the likely collector premium before submitting an ordinary example.

Summary

FAQ

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