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COIN VALUE GUIDES · QUARTER GUIDES
Ellis Island Quarter:Design, Mint Marks, Value and Error Checks
Identify the 2017 Ellis Island quarter from New Jersey, compare its normal design with damage and separate ordinary clad coins from collector versions.
HeriBase TeamPublished In this article
Quick answer
The Ellis Island quarter is a 2017 America the Beautiful issue honoring New Jersey. A normal worn P or D clad example generally begins at its 25-cent denomination. Its reverse is a planned commemorative design, not a mint error.
Identify the mint, finish and metal before comparing prices. Uncirculated coins, silver Proofs and authenticated errors need separate evidence.
Coin photos
Basics & coin story
An immigrant family approaches the arrival experience at Ellis Island. The human figures and historic setting connect the design to migration rather than a generic harbor view.
This coin belongs to the national-site quarter program. Its reverse subject is one of five released in 2017. A picture set and a complete date-and-mint collection are different projects: the latter can include several versions of the same scene.
Start with the 2017 design checklist to place the coin among its annual companions. This page concentrates on identifying this particular reverse, interpreting its subject and deciding whether an unusual feature deserves further examination.
| Feature | What to check |
|---|---|
| Ordinary denomination | 25 cents |
| Normal clad mass / diameter | 5.67 g / 24.26 mm |
| Ordinary circulation metal | Copper-nickel clad; no silver |
| Mint mark position | On the Washington portrait side |
| P / D | Philadelphia / Denver |
| S | Collector issue; confirm finish and metal |
| Issue | 2017 / Ellis Island / New Jersey |
| Silver Proof standard | 90% silver |
Identification
Recognize the intended scene
An immigrant family approaches the arrival experience at Ellis Island. The human figures and historic setting connect the design to migration rather than a generic harbor view.
Read the site name, NEW JERSEY and 2017 together. Compare their position with the official reference. A shadow, worn detail or unfamiliar historical image does not by itself establish a mint error.
Separate the mint from the finish
P and D identify Philadelphia and Denver. San Francisco S collector strikes include different finishes and metals; the mint letter alone does not establish silver or Proof manufacture. Keep any original packaging, but identify a loose coin by its own features.
Ordinary clad quarters weigh nominally 5.67 grams. Edge appearance and weight are screening tools, not a complete authentication of a wrong-planchet claim. Never scratch or file a coin to expose its metal.
Check the mechanism behind an error claim
A broad off-center strike moves the design relative to the blank. A scratch removes metal after manufacture; a doubled-looking edge may need a different explanation. Record both sides, the complete rim and a close-up before assigning a name.
Compare an alleged feature with the same design and year. Do not import a variety name from another quarter. Preserve the surface and seek a qualified examination when a claim would materially change the value.
Condition & value
USD denomination reference checked October 30, 2026. No unsupported current premium is assigned to an ungraded coin; match issue, manufacture and preservation before using completed sales.
| Issue | Grade / condition | Value or reference | Basis | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P or D ordinary clad | Worn circulating coin | 25¢ baseline | Denomination | An unusual picture is not an error |
| Uncirculated clad | Preservation established | Compare exact issue and grade | Collector premium | Marks and surfaces matter |
| S collector coin | Correct finish and composition | Separate product comparison | Collector issue | S alone does not establish silver |
| Claimed major error | Mechanism authenticated | Individual matched sales | Production anomaly | Exclude post-mint damage |
Most examples encountered in change are ordinary clad coins. A seller’s large asking price is not evidence that the design is rare. Search completed records for the same mint, finish and preservation, not just the honoree or site name.
Clad and silver collector versions can share the same central design. A whole Proof set’s retail price also includes other coins and packaging, so it cannot directly value a single loose quarter.
For sorting, keep a representative ordinary example, then isolate only coins with a credible additional reason for review. The modern-quarter sorting guide distinguishes limited issues, collector products and genuine errors.
Summary
Identify the Ellis Island scene and the complete date-and-mint combination first. Ordinary worn clad coins begin at 25 cents; collector manufacture, preservation and genuine errors need their own comparisons.
FAQ
What year is the Ellis Island quarter?
The design was issued in 2017 and honors New Jersey.
Is every Ellis Island quarter valuable?
No. A normal worn P or D clad coin generally begins at 25 cents. Other versions require specific evidence.
Does S mean silver?
No. Confirm the collector product, finish and composition; S alone is insufficient.
Does an unusual reverse detail prove an error?
No. Compare the intended design first, then distinguish production anomalies from wear and later damage.
References
References and further reading
References consulted October 30, 2026. Price tables retain the update dates stated in the text; guide estimates, face values and completed transactions are different forms of evidence.