1963 Quarter Value: 90% Silver, D, No Mint Mark and Proofs

In this article

Quick answer

A normal 1963 Washington quarter contains 90% silver, with approximately 0.1808 troy ounce of fine silver at its nominal 6.25-gram weight. No mint mark is normal for Philadelphia; a D on the reverse identifies Denver. The standard issues are different from the copper-nickel clad quarters introduced in 1965.

The PCGS retail guide checked October 22, 2026 lists Philadelphia regular strikes at $17 in Very Fine 20, $25 in Mint State 63 and $30 in Mint State 65. These estimates apply to problem-free coins of the stated issue and grade. A Denver coin, a Philadelphia Proof or an attributed variety needs its own comparison.

Coin photos

1963 Philadelphia Washington obverse: the full date appears below the portrait.

Same 1963 reverse: inspect below the wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR for a D.

Basics & coin story

John Flanagan’s Washington portrait first appeared in 1932 to honor Washington’s 200th birthday. In 1963 it still accompanied the eagle reverse and the 90% silver standard. The date falls just before the final 1964 regular silver-quarter issue and the 1965 change to clad metal.

PCGS records 74,316,000 Philadelphia regular quarters in 1963. Such output helps explain why an old silver coin can be common while a particularly well-preserved example earns a condition premium. Original production is not the number surviving in a specific grade. The adjacent 1964 quarter guide explains the final regular silver year without supplying interchangeable prices.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Type / denomination	Washington quarter, eagle reverse / 25 cents
Designer	John Flanagan
Metal	90% silver, 10% copper
Nominal weight / diameter	6.25 g / approximately 24.3 mm
Fine silver	Approximately 0.1808 troy ounce
Edge	Reeded
Regular issues	Philadelphia: no mark; Denver: D
Proof issue	Philadelphia, also without a mint mark

Identification

Find the D on the reverse

Inspect below the eagle’s wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR. The 1963 mint mark is not beside Washington on the obverse. A missing letter in the normal Philadelphia location is expected, so the coin should not be advertised as a missing-mark error solely for that reason.

No mark does not establish a Proof

Philadelphia made regular strikes and a separate collector Proof. Both lack a mint mark. Proof is a manufacturing category, commonly graded PR, while an uncirculated regular strike uses Mint State, or MS. Reflective fields, crisp detail and original set context support identification; a polished coin’s shine does not create Proof status.

Check the correct silver period

The normal 1963 issue is not a modern clad quarter with an unusual color. Its silver composition is expected. Conversely, a white edge alone does not prove authenticity or identify an alleged off-metal error. The date, design, mint, weight and physical surfaces should agree. Keep an unusual piece unchanged for examination rather than testing it by scratching.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 22, 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
1963 Philadelphia regular	VF20	$17	PCGS retail guide	Problem-free circulated example
1963 Philadelphia regular	MS63	$25	PCGS retail guide	Uncirculated, correct mint
1963 Philadelphia regular	MS65	$30	PCGS retail guide	Original surface quality must match
Contained silver	Approximately 0.1808 troy oz	0.1808 × silver spot per oz	Metal-content calculation	Not a fixed buying quote
1963-D / Proof / attributed variety	Exact issue, grade and designation	Use matching evidence	Separate entries	No Philadelphia regular-strike price transferred

A contained-silver reference is approximately 0.1808 times the silver price per troy ounce. That measures metal rather than collector retail value or a dealer’s guaranteed offer. Silver-market changes, buying spreads and selling costs can move the amount received away from a printed guide figure.

For condition, inspect Washington’s hair and cheek and the eagle’s high points for friction, then the fields for contact marks and hairlines. Weak strike, wear and cleaning are different issues. A coin should not receive an MS65 comparison simply because the date is clear or the surface is bright. Use the grading guide and the cleaning-identification guide for the general examination steps.

Summary

Read the 1963 date, check the reverse for D, and separate regular strike from Proof before using a price. The 90% silver content is normal. Preserve the surfaces, calculate the metal reference separately and compare the same mint and grade when seeking an offer.

FAQ

Is a 1963 quarter silver?

Yes. A standard 1963 Washington quarter is 90% silver and contains approximately 0.1808 troy ounce of fine silver at the nominal weight.

Where is the mint mark on a 1963 quarter?

It is on the reverse below the wreath and above QUARTER DOLLAR. D identifies Denver; no mark is normal for Philadelphia.

Is a no-mint-mark 1963 quarter a Proof?

Not necessarily. Philadelphia made regular strikes and a separate Proof issue without a mint mark. Identify the manufacturing category independently.

Can a 1963-D quarter use Philadelphia prices?

No. Denver is a separate issue. Match the mint, numerical grade, surface status and any attributed variety before using a price.

References

References and further reading

Sources and quoted guide evidence checked October 22, 2026. Guide estimates, historical sales, face value and metal-content calculations are identified separately.