The 1988-P Washington Quarter in Uncirculated Mint condition is worth $16 or more. In circulated condition, it is worth between $0.30 and $0.85.
I must assume you are searching for the 1988 Washington quarter value and price chart for one main reason. That is because you have a well-worn coin in your hand that has an eagle sitting on an olive branch on the back side along with the motto of the United States. The front of the quarter has an image of George Washington’s profile and he appears to be looking at something both impressive and important.
Ever wondered how much is a 1988 quarter worth? Well, you’re in the right place, this guide will help you know the estimated value of your 1988 Washington Quarter.
Most Valuable 1988 Quarter
Most valuable 1988 quarter is 1988-D 25C MS67 PCGS Sold on Jan 5, 2017 for: $1,645.00
1988 Quarter
The Washington quarter is the present quarter dollar or 25-cent piece issued by the United States Mint. The coin was first struck in 1932; it has been redesigned several times since then.
The Quarter featured the same design from 1973 through 1974, and again from 1977 through 1998. From 1975 through 1976, it featured a different design on the reverse to honor the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
History
The coin features a portrait of the first President of the United States, George Washington. Born on February 22, 1732, Washington was commemorated on this coin to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.
In 1932, as the United States prepared to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of its first president, George Washington, members of a committee established by Congress sought a Washington half dollar to commemorate the event.
| 1988 Washington Quarter | |
| Location | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 562,052,000 |
| Denver | 596,810,688 |
| San Francisco | 3,262,948 |
| Total | 1,162,125,636 |
The mint wanted to replace only the Standing Liberty quarter with a new coin that year; instead, Congress made it permanent and required that a depiction of Washington appear on the obverse of the new coin.
The committee engaged sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser to design a commemorative medal and asked her to adapt the design for use for a quarter.
Despite being supported by the Commission of Fine Arts and its chairman, Charles W. Moore, Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon chose a design by Flanagan for the new currency, and his successor, Ogden L. Mills, refused to disturb the decision.
| 1978 Washington Quarter | |
| Metal Composition | 91.67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel |
| Mass/Weight | 5.67 grams |
| Diameter | 24.03 mm |
| Mint Mark | “D” “S” |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Designer | John Flanagan |
Washington quarters from 1965 to 1998 belong to the clad composition and have a metal composition of 91.67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel, which doesn’t give the coin a good melt value. However, quarters from 1932-1964 would have a much better melt value due to their silver content.
The 1988 Washington quarter was minted in three locations namely; Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. The Denver mint struck the highest number of quarters bearing the 1988 date with over 592 million coins struck, the Philadelphia mint was the second highest to strike 1988 quarters with over 562 million coins struck. The San Francisco mint struck proof coins only with 3,262,948 coins struck.
Design
The Washington quarter was created by renowned sculptor John Flanagan; his design, chosen over 97 others in an open competition, is the second regular-issue US coin to picture a famous American.
Obverse
The obverse of the coin features the head of George Washington facing left. It was the 200th anniversary of George Washington in 1932 that led to this decision, which was made to honor the first president. The fact that George’s portrait is on the left side of the coin has no real significance; it is simply a design factor determined by Victor David Brenner in former pennies.
The quarter features the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” just below the chin of the portrait of George Washington. The word “LIBERTY” spans over his head at the rim of the coin. The date is just below the portrait “1988” The “P” mint mark can be seen behind the tail of George Washington’s hair.
Reverse
The reverse of the 1988 Washington Quarter is more detailed than the obverse. The back of the coin depicts an eagle with wings spread, standing on a bundle of arrows with two olive sprays beneath it. The words “QUARTER DOLLAR” appear just below the olive sprays. The “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” appears at the top-rim of the coin. Just above the eagle’s head is the motto of the United States “E PLURIBUS UNUM”
Mints
The United States has three mints where coins are made by the authority of Congress. The Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver mints all made substantial amounts of the quarters and stamped their marks on them including the Philadelphia mint which originally did not stamp mint marks on the obverse.
All 1988 Washington Quarters were struck the same, the only way to tell the difference is by looking at the mint mark on the obverse of the coin.
Philadelphia Mint
Washington Quarters that were struck in the Philadelphia mint did not have a mint mark on the obverse, however, there were some quarters that bore the P mint mark. The mark is located beside the tail of George Washington’s hair. 562,052,000 coins were struck in this mint, all bearing the P mint mark.
Over 500 million coins bearing the 1988 date and P mint mark were circulated for public use, while some of them were saved for coin collectors. Finding a 1988 P coin might not be difficult in lower grades.
Denver Mint
Denver mint coins always have the unique “D” mint mark on them. The 1988 D Washington Quarter isn’t an exception. The Denver mint struck the highest number of coins bearing the 1988 date. A total number of 596,810,688 coins were struck and a lot of those went into circulation for public use.
If your 1988 quarter has a D mark on the obverse, it simply means the coin belongs to the more than 596 million coins struck at the United States Denver Mint.
San Francisco Mint
The San Francisco mint struck proof only coins, hence the relatively low number of total coins minted bearing the 1988 date. 3,262,948 coins were struck in the San Francisco mint. The “S ” mint mark on the obverse is the easiest way to identify the San Francisco issue of the 1988 Washington Quarter.
Grading The 1988 Washington Quarter
There are many different authorities and experts on U.S. coins, and each of them has his or her own opinion on the worth and value of coins. The slight difference you notice in the prices is a result of their systems for grading coins.
The value of coins depends largely on the condition of the coin. This isn’t a problem because, with all quarters, the difference in price is most times minimal based on the condition of the particular coin.
Uncirculated: A coin in this category shows no signs of wear. It looks new, as though it was never used. The color is white, or a natural tone. A circulated coin has lost its luster and shows signs of abrasion. Look for the loss of luster to determine if the coin is uncirculated. The Washington Quarter in this grade is a valuable coin, eagerly collected by many people.
About Uncirculated: This coin has a light amount of wear, but it still retains most of its luster and eye appeal. You will see marks on this coin that show it has come in contact with other coins as it passed through the machine.
Extremely Fine: The highest points on the surface of this coin have been worn, so check the hair of George Washington in this quarter. If only these details are missing, then the coin is extremely fine.
Fine: A Washington quarter in the fine grade shows clear wear on the highest parts of the design. These quarters have a somewhat “faded” appearance. The hairline, curvature of the neck, and high points are still evident but there are flattened areas where the design has worn away.
Good: Here the coin has been worn down by use. Its details are no longer sharp, and they have merged with the surrounding surface.
1988 Washington Quarter Value
The 1988 Washington Quarter is a coin worth between $0.30 and $0.85 in circulated condition, but there are several factors that can increase or decrease this value.
The value of your coin depends on several factors including its condition, date, and mint mark. To accurately determine the value of your coin, use our price guide below.
Year |
Good |
Very Fine |
Extremely Fine |
AU 50 |
AU 55 |
1988 P |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
$0.40 |
$0.50 |
1988 D |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
$0.40 |
$0.50 |
In circulated conditions, a quarter of any year will have noticeable wear on its surfaces due to everyday use. This wear may include scratches, nicks, and dings that reduce its value significantly compared with uncirculated or mint condition pieces.
In uncirculated condition, the 1988 quarter is considered a valuable coin, it is usually a flawless coin that has not been used for any form of transaction.
Unlike early quarters that contained silver, the 1988 Washington Quarter contains 91.67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel which doesn’t give it a significant melt value.
1988 P Quarter Value & Price Chart
The 1988-P Washington Quarter is estimated to be worth $16 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition. In circulated condition, a 1988 P Quarter is worth between $0.30 and $0.85. However, in pristine, uncirculated condition, they sell for as much as $825 on the open market.
In 1988, Denver produced more quarters than Philadelphia. However, with just under 1.2 billion Washington quarters produced that year, numismatic value is at a minimum. Only common values are seen in Washington quarters minted in 1988, and even those coins graded at 63 or above may only fetch nominally higher prices.
Grade |
Price |
MS 62 |
|
MS 64 |
|
MS 66 |
|
MS 66+ |
|
MS 67 |
1988 D Quarter Value & Price Chart
A 1988-D Washington quarter in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition could be worth $11 or more. A 1988 Washington Quarter in circulated condition is worth between $0.30 and $0.85. However, you can sell a 1988 D Washington Quarter in pristine, uncirculated condition for as much as $495 on the open market.
The 1988-D Washington Quarter is one of the toughest dates in MS67 condition in the Clad Quarter series from 1976 to date. It can be hard to find, even more difficult than some Silver Washington Quarter issues.
To illustrate this point, let’s consider the 1939 Washington Silver Quarter. There are more than 250 examples of this coin graded in MS67 condition, with at least 15 examples graded higher. Compare this to only 8 examples of the coin in MS67 condition with one example finer for the 1988-D issue. This issue is definitely tough to find and widely underestimated by collectors.
Grade |
Price |
MS 64 |
|
MS 65 |
|
MS 66 |
|
MS 66+ |
|
MS 67 |
1988 S Quarter Value & Price
The 1988-S Washington Quarter (Proof Coin) is estimated to be worth $4.52 or more. The 1988-S Proof Washington Quarter is a fairly common coin in the Proof Washington Quarter series. The mintage for this coin is right around average for the series. It is easy to find examples of this coin. Most examples grade at about PR67-PR69 Deep Cameo condition. PR70 Deep Cameo examples are significantly scarcer.
Grade |
Price |
MS 68 |
|
MS 69 |
|
MS 70 |
Buying And Selling The 1988 Quarter
The 1988 Washington quarter is a popular coin, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s one of the most colorful issues in the series, with a design that commemorates the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Whether or not the coin is highly sought, you could still buy this coin as an addition to your quarter collection or sell it.
There are a few places where you can buy and sell the 1988 Washington quarter. These include coin shops, coin shows, online auctions, and coin club auctions.
Coin shops
Coin shops can be found in most major cities as well as small towns across the country. They are a great place to meet other collectors and learn about coins. Many shops have websites where they sell their inventory online. You can also find them listed on eBay or other online auction sites.
Coin shows
Coin shows are another way to buy and sell your coins for cash. They are usually held at hotels or convention centers and feature hundreds of dealers who offer a wide variety of coins for sale. Most shows charge admission fees that range from $2 to $10 per person and some allow you to bring items in to sell while others require you to register before entering the showroom floor.
Online auctions
Online auctions are another popular way of buying and selling coins because they offer 24-hour access to buyers around the world while allowing sellers to reach thousands of potential customers at once without having to leave their home computer! Some examples include; HA.com, Greatcollections.com, and eBay.
Which Washington silver quarters are valuable?
All Washington quarters made between 1932-1964 are considered valuable coins, they belong to the Silver Composition coins and contain 90% Silver – 10% Copper. Below is a list of the most valuable silver quarters in the series;
- 1932 D Washington Quarter
- 1937 P Washington Quarter – Doubled Die Obverse
- 1942 D Washington Quarter – Double Die Obverse
- 1943 S Washington Quarter – Double Die Obverse
- 1950 D Washington Quarter – D over S
What is a 1988 quarter made of?
The 1988 quarter belongs to the clad composition coins from 1965-1998, the coin doesn’t have much value and isn’t highly sought by coin collectors. It contains 91.67% Copper – 8.33% Nickel which brings its melt value to the barest minimum.
Final Words
The 1988 quarter is an appealing coin if it’s in great condition but don’t expect top dollar for the piece. Many collectors looking for older coins will pass over this year’s issue in favor of previous years. The 1988 Washington Quarters are generally worth face value.
The 1988 Washington Quarters are generally worth face value. Uncirculated examples in MS-67-68 are worth a small premium, making them slightly better buys than anything else. However, any glaring imperfections in the coin, or worse still signs of wear, will severely reduce this coin’s value. Washington Quarters should be seen as inexpensive coins that are perfect for adding to your collection or starting a collection from scratch.
