1998 Quarter Value: P, D, S Proofs and the Final Eagle Year

In this article

Quick answer

An ordinary worn 1998-P or 1998-D Washington quarter usually starts at 25 cents. These regular strikes are copper-nickel clad. San Francisco made both clad and 90% silver Proof versions; an S alone does not establish silver.

For a defined uncirculated comparison, the APMEX 1998-P guide consulted October 27, 2026 shows MS63 at $1, MS65 at $6 and MS67 at $36. Those retail estimates do not apply to every quarter from change or to the Denver and Proof issues.

Coin photos

1998-P Washington quarter obverse: mint letter beside the portrait and date below.

Same 1998-P reverse: familiar eagle design from the final year before State Quarters; the coin is clad.

Basics & coin story

The 1998 quarter closes the long pre-State Quarters run of the familiar Washington obverse and heraldic eagle reverse. The 50 State Quarters program began in 1999 with changing reverse designs. This makes 1998 an easy historical marker, not an automatic rarity.

Philadelphia struck 896,268,000 and Denver 821,000,000 regular quarters in 1998. Many coins were available for commerce and collecting. The few pieces that survive in exceptional grades form a condition market separate from the common worn population.

John Flanagan’s design remains identifiable by the portrait, date and eagle. For the next year’s changing reverses, use the 1999 quarters guide. An article about a scarce State Quarter variety is not a price guide for a normal 1998 eagle quarter.

Identification at a glance
Feature	What to check
Date / denomination	1998 / 25 cents
Regular-strike mints	P Philadelphia; D Denver
Regular construction	Copper-nickel layers over a copper core
Regular nominal mass / diameter	5.67 g / about 24.3 mm
S collector versions	Clad Proof and 90% silver Proof
Silver Proof mass / silver content	6.25 g / approximately 0.18084 troy ounce fine silver
Mint mark location	Obverse, to the right of Washington’s portrait
Historical position	Final year before the 1999 State Quarters program

Identification

Find the obverse P, D or S

The mint letter is to the right of Washington’s portrait. P and D are the normal regular-strike issues. S directs the search to collector Proofs. A letter partly hidden by wear or debris is not enough to establish a missing-mint-mark error.

The photographed 1998-P was cataloged as NGC MS67. Check the grade and certification of your own coin before choosing a high-grade comparison.

Check a Proof’s metal before pricing

Both S Proof compositions can have reflective fields. Original set identification, the edge and precise weight help distinguish the 5.67-gram clad coin from the 6.25-gram silver Proof. A face-on photograph and the S letter alone leave the metal unresolved.

The silver Proof contains approximately 0.18084 troy ounce of fine silver. Multiply that by a dated silver spot quote only after confirming the issue. Ordinary P/D coins have no silver-content premium. The Washington quarter overview explains the broader alloy history.

Describe damage before claiming an error

Contact marks, rim dents, discoloration and a thin-looking letter are common after circulation. A genuine striking or planchet error needs a consistent physical explanation and appropriate attribution. A seller’s error label does not supply that evidence.

For a proposed off-center strike, photograph both sides and the edge, preserving the whole planchet outline. For alleged wrong-metal material, weigh it accurately and seek authentication. Do not acid-test or polish a potential error at home.

Condition & value

USD face value and APMEX 1998-P retail-guide snapshot consulted October 27, 2026. No guide update date is inferred. Values concern the specified grades, not a purchase offer or an automatic valuation of the photographed NGC coin.

Value comparisons: match the issue before using a price
Issue	Grade / condition	Value or reference	Basis	Important condition
1998-P / 1998-D clad	Common circulated coin	$0.25 starting point	Face value	No verified premium attribute
1998-P clad	MS63 / MS64	$1 / $3	APMEX guide snapshot	Specific preservation grades
1998-P clad	MS65 / MS66	$6 / $12	Same guide	Do not transfer to D or Proof issues
1998-P clad	MS67	$36	Same guide	High-grade comparison; certification and surfaces matter
1998-S clad or silver Proof	Exact composition, grade and cameo	Use matching Proof sales	Separate collector issues	S alone does not identify the metal

The APMEX figures are grade-specific guide estimates, not completed transactions or guaranteed offers. For a purchase or sale, compare recent transactions with the same mint and preservation grade.

The gap between face value and a certified high grade explains why an impressive online result rarely describes an ordinary quarter from change. Examine friction, marks and original luster before considering a professional submission. Grading and shipping costs can exceed a modest premium.

Compare recent sold lots with the same mint, grading service, numerical grade and finish. Keep raw roll coins, single certified coins and complete Proof sets separate. If the coin is worn and no verified variety or error is present, twenty-five cents is the useful starting point.

Summary

Identify the mint, regular strike versus Proof and the metal before using a value. The 1998 date marks a design transition, while exceptional preservation and verified attributes—not the date alone—support a premium.

FAQ

Is a 1998 quarter silver?

Normal 1998-P and 1998-D quarters are clad. A separate 1998-S 90% silver Proof exists alongside an S clad Proof.

Is 1998 the last Washington quarter?

No. It is the final year of the familiar pre-State Quarters eagle design run. Washington quarters continued with new reverse designs beginning in 1999.

What is a circulated 1998 quarter worth?

A common worn P or D example usually starts at its $0.25 face value unless a specific premium feature is verified.

Does an S on a 1998 quarter mean silver?

No. Both clad and silver Proof versions carry S. Confirm the composition, weight and exact collector issue.

References

References and further reading

References consulted October 27, 2026. Price tables retain the update dates stated in the text; guide estimates, face values and completed transactions are different forms of evidence.