Are you curious about the value of the 1788 quarter in your possession? Or perhaps you’ve found one and long to add it to your collection? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
In this piece, we’ll reveal all you need to know about the commemorative 1788 quarter.You’ll learn what makes it valuable and why getting your hands on one might fetch you huge bucks in the coin market.
1788 Quarter Value Chart
Before we go any further, here is a value chart showing the prices of different grade 1788 quarters. The prices also point to the mint location of the varieties in this series.
| Types | Good – Almost Uncirculated (G – AU) | Mint State (MS) | Clad Proof (PR) | Silver Proof (PR) |
| 1788 “Georgia” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $58 | $5 – $81 |
| 1788 “Connecticut” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $60 | $5 – $70 |
| 1788 “Massachusetts” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $40 | $5 – $70 |
| 1788 “Maryland” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $37 | $5 – $76 |
| 1788 “South Carolina” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $32 | $5 – $70 |
| 1788 “New Hampshire” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $37 | $5 – $89 |
| 1788 “Virginia” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $37 | $5 – $75 |
| 1788 “New York” Quarter | $0.25 | $1 – $5 | $1.75 – $37 | $5 – $69 |
The 1788 quarters were minted in all three US Mint facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, with billions of these coins produced for circulation across the country. For this reason, you’ll often come across several of them in circulated condition; however, they usually aren’t worth more than their face value of 25 cents.
Don’t fret. Factors like errors and grades can increase the worth of that 1788 quarter.
For instance, 1788 quarters in Mint condition are worth much more in the coin market and can fetch you up to 5 dollars.
Likewise, if you’re lucky enough to find an error coin in circulated condition, you can bet it’ll be valued at a far higher price.
Another factor that determines a coin’s value is demand. Using the coin value checker, you can find your coin’s value and market demand.
That said, due to their attractive features, collectors tend to find proof coins in this series more desirable, causing them to be in high demand.
1788 Quarter History
The year was 1999, and the US Mint decided to launch a commemorative series featuring quarters representing every state in the USA. These coins were slated for release over a period in the order in which each state joined the Union.
Interestingly enough, the 1788 quarters is a collection featuring eight coins representing the states that joined the year 1788, except for North Carolina. These states include Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York.
Each of these eight state quarters was released between 1999 and 2001, with the Georgia quarter spearheading the release on July 19, 1999, and New York, the final coin for the series, released on January 2, 2001.
Another interesting piece of history is that all of these state coins in the 1788 quarter had an impressive mintage number of approximately a billion pieces, making them among the most popular coins in the series.
To cap it off, although the 1788 quarters are a fairly recent release, collectors nationwide are constantly looking to get their hands on one. As a matter of fact, many who find them desirable collect them with no intention of selling them off, as these coins show great potential of increasing in value as time goes on.
Features of the 1788 Quarter
Although every 1788 state quarter has common features in its design, unique elements still tell them apart. We’ll discuss them here:
The Obverse
The obverse of every 1788 quarter features a brilliant replica of George Washington’s head and, by extension, neck. Here, he’s facing the left direction, and the familiar words and phrases in US coins surround him.
For instance, you’ll see boldly written “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “QUARTER DOLLAR” forming an arch close to the coin’s top and bottom rims, respectively. You’ll also find “LIBERTY” positioned right next to Washington’s Adam’s apple and “IN GOD WE TRUST” close to the hair flowing down his neck on the right with a mint mark beneath.
All these features fit into the coin’s obverse, providing more space for the more intricate and distinct designs on the reverse.
The Reverse
The reverse of the 1788 quarter holds exciting monuments and symbols peculiar to each state it represents. While some coins feature elements you find in nature, others incorporate landmarks that add to their appeal and uniqueness.
For example, on the Connecticut coin, you’ll see a design of the famous Charter Oak. Likewise, the South Carolina coin showcases the state’s outline and symbols, like the Palmetto tree, the Carolina Wren, and the Yellow Jessamine indicating its peculiarity.
The New York coin takes its design up a notch by featuring the prominent Statue of Liberty, while the Maryland Coin has a depiction of the state’s Dome. Other coins, like the Georgia and New Hampshire coin, have more simplistic designs featuring the Peach and rock formation, respectively.
Finally, the Virginia coin adds a piece of history into its design by featuring the three ships that brought the first English settlers into Jamestown. In contrast, the Massachusetts coin showcases a depiction of a minuteman soldier of the American Revolution.
In each case, you’ll find the state’s name, the year it joined the Union, the year of mintage, and the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the reverse design.
Details of the 1788 Quarter
| Category: Commemorative State Quarters Total mintage: Approximately 1 billion of each coin (except Georgia) Mintage Location: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco First coin released: July 19, 1999 The last coin released: January 2, 2001 Obverse Designer: John Flanagan and William Cousins Reverse Designer: T. James Ferrell, Thomas D. Rogers, William Cousins, Edgar Z. Steever, and Alfred Maletsky Composition: 91.67% Copper and 8.33% Nickel Diameter: 24.3 mm Mass / Weight: 5.67 grams |
The 1788 quarter boasts a remarkably high mintage and an impressive number of Obverse designers. The coin is made of base metals composed of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. Likewise, you can tell that it’s a slightly heavy coin with a larger-than-usual appearance going by its weight of almost 6 grams and diameter of 24.3 millimeters.
In addition to its design, the 1788 quarter has reeded edges, contributing to its aesthetic appeal and making it relatively easy to spot counterfeits.
Varieties of the 1788 Quarter
Now that you’ve gotten acquainted with how the 1788 quarters came into existence and have gotten a mental image of how it looks, let’s explore the different varieties of this commemorative coin.
| Variety | No Mint Mark (Mintage) | D Mint Mark (Mintage) | S Mint Mark (Mintage) | S Mint Mark Silver (Mintage) | Total |
| 1788 “Georgia” Quarter | 451,188,000 | 488,744,000 | 3,713,359 | 804,565 | 944,449,924 |
| 1788 “Connecticut” Quarter | 688,744,000 | 657,880,000 | 3,713,359 | 804,565 | 1,351,141,624 |
| 1788 “Massachusetts” Quarter | 628,600,000 | 535,184,000 | 4,020,172 | 965,421 | 1,168,669,593 |
| 1788 “Maryland” Quarter | 678,200,000 | 556,532,000 | 4,020,172 | 965,421 | 1,239,741,593 |
| 1788 “South Carolina” Quarter | 742,576,000 | 566,208,000 | 4,020,172 | 965,421 | 1,313,769,593 |
| 1788 “New Hampshire” Quarter | 673,040,000 | 495,976,000 | 4,020,172 | 965,421 | 1,174,001,593 |
1788 Georgia Quarter Value
This coin is uniquely the first released 1788 quarter.
The significant piece of history it holds has the potential to increase its value significantly. So, while it may not be worth much in today’s market, as the standard issue sells for only about $5 while the silver proof is valued at around $80, you may be surprised at how much it may appreciate after a while.
Also, some rare variants of the Georgia quarter are worth way more, with some going for even thousands of dollars. For instance, in 2022, a gold-tinted 1788 Georgia quarter sold for a whopping $7,200.
1788 Connecticut Quarter Value
With over a billion of this coin released, it’s no surprise it isn’t worth much.
You’ll get the standard issue at any price between $1 to $5, while the proof versions can fetch you up to $70. However, market conditions change with time and can cause a significant increase in this coin’s value.
Conversely, if you’re lucky, you can find rare 1788 Connecticut quarters that’ll fetch you thousands of dollars each.
1788 Massachusetts Quarter Value
The Massachusetts quarter is quite common, with a total mintage among the highest produced in the commemorative state quarters series. Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that it would be worth relatively little. You can get a regular issue in uncirculated condition for $5, while its proof variant can be worth around $70.
1788 Maryland Quarter Value
Like the rest of the series, the Maryland Quarter has a fair value. So, if you have a regular one you’d like to sell, you can expect to make nothing more than $5. However, a proof version is worth an extra $70, and some error-marked varieties can sell for much more, ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.
1788 South Carolina Quarter Value
Regular-struck South Carolina quarters are usually worth around $5. However, you’ll find that some of them possess rare errors that collectors find highly desirable. For this reason, they can sell for a lot higher. Finding error coins is difficult, so you should look into proof coins, which can fetch you around $70 apiece.
1788 New Hampshire Quarter Value
As usual, you’ll only make between $1 to $5 if you sell your regular New Hampshire Quarter. Proof versions can fetch you about $90; however, the fortune lies in ones marked with error, as these can sell for a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on their demand.
1788 Virginia Quarter Value
Generally, regular versions of this coin are worth nothing more than $5, while proof coins sell at a price range of $35 to $75. Much like the rest, rare varieties and error coins have a much higher market value. So if you have one, you may have struck gold.
1788 New York Quarter Value
This is the last of the 1788 quarters and one of the most common among the series. Ordinarily, it’s not worth more than the others, with prices ranging from $5 to $69, but the coin market is dynamic, so you can expect its value to increase.
1788 Quarter Error
One fascinating thing about the 1788 quarter is that its rare errors can significantly increase its initially low value, making it one of collectors’ most sought-after error coins. Some of these errors include:
1788 Quarter Mule Error
The “Mule” is one of the rarest errors you can find. This error features the obverse and reverse of two entirely different coin types, and in the case of the 1788 quarter coin, the error combines the Sacagawea dollar’s reverse with the state quarter’s obverse.
It’s believed that there are only 19 of this error coin, with reports of some having sold for between $40,000 to $70,000. In 2012, however, one of these coins was auctioned at an impressive sum of $155,250.
1788 Quarter Overstrike Error
An overstrike is an error that occurs when coins are struck on an already-struck planchet. An example of a 1788 coin with this error is an NGC-grade MS63 Georgia Quarter overstruck with the Susan B. Anthony Dollar die. This coin is valued at $9,500—an impressive amount compared to its face value of $0.25.
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