Are you building your Barber quarters collection? You are probably curious about the 1898 quarter value and whether this piece is worth adding to your collection. Although common in lower grades, Mint State and Gem examples of the 1898 quarter are scarce to rare but will often command premium prices.
This guide will walk you through the history of the 1898 quarter and explore the key features that can help you identify high-value Barber quarters. You will also learn how to grade your quarter and discover minting errors worth good money.
So, let’s find out: how much is an 1898 quarter worth?
1898 Quarter Value Chart |
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| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1898-No Mint Mark Quarter Value | $20 | $45 | $100 | $11,250 |
| 1898-O Quarter Value | $35 | $125 | $400 | $37,500 |
| 1898-S Quarter Value | $20 | $100 | $270 | $20,000 |
| 1898- Proof Quarter Value | – | – | – | $5,750 |
History of the 1898 Quarter
The 1898 quarter belongs to the Barber coin series and was produced following the economic recovery. As a result, all three mints—Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco recorded relatively high mintages compared to previous years.
The United States Mint produced the Barber coin series from 1892 to 1916. For much of the early 19th century, all silver coins featured the Seated Liberty design but by the late 1880s this designed had received so much public criticism, the Mint caved into the pressure to change it.
In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed an act allowing all U.S. denominations to be eligible for redesign from the 25th year after the coin was first produced. This paved way for the Mint to start the process of redesigning the much-criticized Seated Liberty design.
A new Mint Director, Edward Leech, took office in October 1890. Leech was a proponent of coin redesign and wasted no time in launching a design competition for the new coins. Among other common artists, he invited elite, mostly New York-based artists to submit models for the new coins. But Leech was adamant that only the winner would be awarded with a $500 cash prize. As a result of this caveat, most of the invited artists did not participate in the competition, leaving Leech with literally no submissions to consider.
Faced with this bleak reality, Leech turned to Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber, requesting him to submit his own designs for the new coins. Barber prepared several models, none of which initially impressed Leech and this led to a lengthy back and forth between the two men. Finally, Barber presented a design that Leech could accept and production began in January 1892 following President Harrison’s approval.
Although not considered a key date, the 1898 quarter is still an important piece for the completion of any Barber quarter collection. These historical quarters are scarce in Mint State and Gem condition and often command premium prices, making them a genuinely worthwhile addition to your set.
Also read: Top 13 Most Valuable State Quarters Worth Money
Features of the 1898 Quarter
Let’s now look at the physical characteristics of the 1898 quarter. Knowing these features will help with grading and authenticating your silver quarter and identifying rare Barber quarters worth adding to your collection.
Here’s what to look out for:
Obverse of the 1898 Quarter
The “heads” features a right-facing Liberty adorned in a Phrygian cap and a laurel band around her head with the inscription LIBERTY at the front.
The national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, is etched above Lady Liberty while the date, 1898, is shown at the bottom of her portrait.
Thirteen stars representing the original states encircle Liberty’s portrait. Six are positioned on the left side and seven on the right.
Reverse of the 1898 Quarter
The “tails” side features the iconic Heraldic Eagle with a shield on its breast, which is symbolic of independence and sovereignty.
The eagle holds an olive branch in its left talon, representing peace and a bunch of arrows in the right talon symbolizing victory and readiness to defend the nation against any aggression.
In addition, the eagle clenches a flag in its beak with the Latin motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, which translates to, “OUT OF MANY, ONE.”
Above the eagle’s head is a constellation of thirteen stars, representing the original thirteen states. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are inscribed in an arch at the top while the denomination, QUARTER DOLLAR, is etched on the opposite side at the bottom. The two inscriptions are separated by two periods, one on the left and the other on the right.
Other Features of the 1898 Quarter
Additional features of the 1898 quarter include:
- Diameter: 30 millimeters
- Weight: 30 grams
- Edge: Reeded
- Metal Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- ASW: 1808oz
- Fineness: 9
Also read: Top 16 Most Valuable Modern Quarters Worth Money
1898 Quarter Value Guides
Next, we’ll answer the big question: how much is an 1898 quarter worth? The value of an 1898 Barber quarter depends on factors such as the mintmark, coin condition, and rarity. This issue was minted in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco; we’ll look at the three varieties, including the proofs minted that year.
The three varieties include:
- 1898 No-Mint mark Quarter
- 1898-O Quarter
- 1898-S Quarter
- 1898 Quarter Proof
Let’s take a look at how much each is worth.
1898 No-Mint mark Quarter Value
The Philadelphia mint struck about 11, 100,000 Barber quarters in 1898 and as was the tradition, these coins did not have a mintmark. This was the highest mintage in the entire issue, making these quarters common across all grades. In fact, after the 1892 issue, the 1898 no-mintmark quarters are the most abundant.
Here’s a breakdown of the values across all grades:
Circulated Examples: Worn examples are abundant and affordable but become relatively scarce from Extremely Fine (XF), although pieces are generally affordable for most collectors. At grade Poor/Average, quarters will sell for about $10, up to $20 for Good (G) and as much as $45 for a Fine (F) example. At Extremely Fine (XF), pieces will fetch up to $100 while an About Uncirculated (AU58) will sell for as much as $275.
Mint State Examples: Uncirculated examples are equally plentiful, especially in lower grades but survivors become fewer starting at grade MS65 and higher. At MS60, examples will sell for at least $300, up to $435 for an MS63 and as much as $650 for an MS64. Specimens graded MS65 can be hard to come by and often command premium prices of up to $1350. Gems graded MS66 and higher are genuinely rare, selling for as much as $2,100 for an MS66 and up to $11,250 for an MS67.
Auction Record: In 2014, Great Collections held a record-breaking auction in which they sold an MS68 for a remarkable $22,794.
1898-O Quarter Value
The New Orleans (O) mint struck up to 1,868,000 quarters in 1898, the second-highest mintage that year. With close to 2 million 1898-O quarters in circulation, these pieces are common up to the Fine (F) examples after which circulated survivors become scarce.
So, how much are 1898-O quarters worth? Here’s what to expect:
- Circulated Examples: Worn examples of the 1898-O quarter are plentiful in lower grades but the population starts to dwindle at grade Fine (F). Higher grades command higher prices and About Uncirculated (AU58) are exceedingly scarce and quite expensive. A piece graded Poor/Average will sell for as much as $20 while one graded Good (G) will fetch up to $35. At grade Fine (F) expect your quarter to sell for at least $125 and as much as $400 for an Extremely Fine (XF). A rare About Uncirculated (AU58) will sell for at least $800.
- Mint Examples: Uncirculated 1898-O quarters are rare, especially in higher grades and Gem prices are often prohibitive. At MS60, expect a piece to fetch as much as $950 and at MS63 the prices shoot up to $1,850 or more. Specimens graded MS64 will command prices of up to $3,200 while rare Gems graded MS65 will sell for at least $7,000. Any survivors graded MS67 are genuinely rare and will command up to $37,500.
- Auction Record: In 2014, Heritage Auctions sold an MS68 for a staggering $58,750, making it the most valuable 1898-O Barber quarter to date.
1898-S Quarter Value
About 1,020,592 Barber quarters bearing the mintmark “S” were minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1898. This was among the lowest mintages in the entire Barber quarters series, and as a result, higher-grade circulated examples are scarce. Many survivors were also harshly cleaned after re-entering the United States from the Philippines after the Spanish-American War and the Philippines Insurrection. The cleaning greatly lowered the value of higher-grade circulated pieces and made niece-looking pieces hard to come by.
- Circulated Examples: These are slightly scarce in lower grades and become hard to come by starting at grade Fine (F) and higher. Examples graded Poor/Average sell for as much as $10 while those graded Good (G) can fetch up to $20. Fine (F) examples will bring in about $100 and as much as $270 for pieces graded Extremely Fine (XF). Rare About Uncirculated (AU58) examples will command impressively high prices of as much as $1,100 and are in high demand among collectors.
- Mint State Examples: Uncirculated 1898-O quarters are rare across all grades and Gems are genuinely hard to come by. An MS60 will sell for as much as $1,350 and up to $1,750 for an M63. Rare MS64 examples will command up to $4,500 while Gems graded MS67 will bring in up to $20,000 or more.
- Auction Record: In a record-breaking sale, Heritage Auctions sold an MS68 for as much as $20,400 in 2023.
1898 Proof Quarter Value
In addition to the regular strike Barber quarters, the Philadelphia Mint struck 735 proof coins. This is confidently the first year the Mint began producing quality proof coins with frosted devices and satin surfaces. Unsurprisingly, 1898 proof quarters are a favorite among collectors. Prices range from $390 for proofs graded $390 to as much as $11,750 for specimens graded PF68. In 2014, Heritage Auctions sold a PR69 for a record-breaking $27,025.
1898 Quarter Grading
When grading an 1898 Barber quarter, inspect the coin’s condition including the extent of wear, strike quality, and luster.
Pay attention to high contact points such as the inscriptions LIBERTY on the laurel headband, Liberty’s cheek, ear, nose and chin. Also, examine the clarity of the stars. On the reverse, check out the talons, wing feathers, shield and stars for signs of wear.
Extensive wear, weak outlines, smoothness, and a weak strike on these high-contact areas point to a lower grade. Higher grades will display clear, crisp details, strong outlines, few if any surface damages, and a brilliant mint luster.
Rare 1898 Quarter Errors List
Several minting errors show up in the 1898 Barber quarter series. Depending on the coin’s condition, some errors can be worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Here are some worth adding to your collection:
1. 1898 Quarter Re-Punched Mintmark Error
Re-punched mintmark errors are often seen on 1898-S quarters. This error occurs when the mintmark is punched onto the die multiple times in slightly different positions, resulting in visible doubling. If you look closely, the mintmark will appear to have an additional or ghost outline.
In 2020, a collector on eBay paid an impressive $130 for an 1898-S quarter graded Good (G) with a strong re-punched mintmark error.
2. 1898 Quarter Re-Punched Date Error
Another re-punching error is the re-punched date error, which occurs when the date is stamped on the die multiple times in different positions. The overlapping impressions create a shadow-like appearance around the date’s digits.
In 2015, Great Collections auctioned an 1898-O graded Fine (F) for $150, a few dollars more than the coin’s original value.
3. 1898 Quarter Doubled Die Error
Doubled dies are also very common in all varieties of the 1898 quarter and happen when the die strikes the planchet several times in different positions This results in some of the design elements/inscriptions showing some doubling, for example the inscriptions LIBERTY or UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and Liberty’s facial features may show some doubling.
Generally, the stronger and more visible the doubling, the more valuable the error tends to be. In 2019, a collector paid $100 for an 1898-no mintmark quarter graded Fine (F) with an obverse doubled die error.
Also read: 17 Most Valuable Quarter Errors Worth Money
Where to Sell Your 1898 Quarter?
Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons.
Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)
FAQs
How much is an 1898 quarter worth?
The value of an 1898 quarter depends on its condition and rarity. Prices range from as low as $10 for pieces graded Poor/Average to as high as $37,000 for Mint State Examples. Gems, which are rare in this series, can command as much as $50,000.
Is an 1898 quarter rare?
Mint State examples of 1898 quarters are rare, especially in higher grades and Gems can be genuinely hard to find. Worn, circulated examples are common but can be difficult to grade and may not be as valuable.
How do I tell if my 1898 quarter is real?
Compare your 1898 quarter with images of real, genuine examples from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). Compare the features including the diameter, weight, and edge type. You can also perform a magnet test to check for silver—real silver is not magnetic, so a real 1898 quarter should not stick to the magnet.
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