How Much is a 1965 Quarter Worth? | 2024 Value Guide
At a Glance:
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- 1965 quarters were the first quarter-dollars minted without any real silver bullion.
- Most 1965 quarters are common and worth $1 or less, but some rare specimens sell for thousands.
- 1965 quarters are valuable if they contain a minting error, real silver, or are kept in great condition.
How Much is a 1965 Quarter Worth, Really?
The 1965 quarter was minted at a pivotal time in U.S. history. Fresh on the heels of the Coinage Act of 1965, it was the first quarter-dollar minted without any real silver. Before the Coinage Act of 1965, real silver quarters were produced by the U.S. Mint. Like modern quarters, quarters minted in 1965 or later were made from an alloy of inexpensive metals – namely copper and nickel. Although the average 1965 quarter does not contain actual silver, some highly graded 1965 quarters can be quite valuable to collectors.
How much is a 1965 quarter worth? The most valuable 1965 silver quarters were accidentally minted using 90% silver instead of the copper-nickel alloy that makes up quarter-dollars minted after 1964. Non-silver 1965 quarters can also be very valuable, depending on their grade (condition). In near-perfect condition, a 1965 quarter can sell for as much as $7,000 at auction. Non-silver 1965 quarters in excellent condition can also be worth thousands of dollars, depending on their grade.
On this page, readers will learn more about 1965 quarter values, how to identify rare variations of the popular coin, and more. Let’s talk about one of the most fascinating coins in modern numismatics – the 1965 quarter-dollar.
1965 Quarter Value Chart
The value of a 1965 quarter can range all the way from just $.25 to $16,500 or more, depending on its condition and the metals used to produce it.
If this sounds like a large range of values, that’s because it is. Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) is generally considered one of the most useful sources for coin values. PCGS evaluates coins based on their grade, a term used to describe a collectible coin’s relative condition. Let’s take a look at how much 1965 quarters are worth in various grades according to Professional Coin Grading Services.
| Grade | Est. Value |
|---|---|
| 1-62 | $.25 – $1 |
| 63 | $8 – $10 |
| 64 | $14 – $16 |
| 65 | $22 – $28 |
| 66 | $40 – $55 |
| 67 | $400 – $850 |
| 68 | $16,500 |
Is a 1965 quarter rare? 1965 quarters are relatively common – over 1.8 billion of these coins were minted. Because of how common they are, the vast majority of 1965 quarters are worth $1 or less. 1965 quarters in excellent condition are extremely rare and valuable, though. Over time, most 1965 quarters were heavily circulated and worn down, making them worth little more than their face value of 25 cents.
Very few 1965 quarters have been kept in peak condition for nearly sixty years. As a result, 1965 quarters graded at MS67 or higher sell for hundreds – or thousands – of dollars. The elusive MS68 quarter is worth $16,500, according to Professional Coin Grading Services. Investors who have a 1965 silver quarter with minimal damage should consider having their coin professionally graded, as these high-grade quarters can sell for quite a lot of money.
What Makes a 1965 Quarter Valuable?
Condition is the main thing that makes a 1965 quarter valuable. Most 1965 quarters are worth $1 or less, but specimens graded MS67 or higher by a certified coin grader can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars at auction. In other words, condition is the single most important factor used to determine 1965 quarter values. 1965 quarters are nearly worthless in bad condition, but very valuable if they have been kept nearly perfect since minting.
There’s another 1965 quarter that might be even rarer and more valuable than the popular MS68 1965 quarter: the 1965 silver quarter. A very small number of quarters minted in 1965 were mistakenly struck using a silver planchet, which became illegal earlier that year under the Coinage Act of 1965. These coins are considered mint-made error coins – and they can be worth several thousand dollars.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes a 1965 quarter valuable.
Condition Makes All the Difference
Most 1965 quarters are worth little more than one-quarter of a dollar. 1965 quarters in great condition can be worth hundreds of dollars. The most highly graded 1965 regular strike quarter was discovered in MS68 condition. To date, very few 1965 quarters in such great condition have made it onto the open market.
Expect to find most 1965 quarters in low to moderate condition. It is very rare to find any circulated coin with a grade above MS65. MS65 coins have basically never been introduced into the economy and have been maintained in near-perfect condition for decades. In the case of the 1965 quarter, specimens in excellent condition have been expertly maintained for well over half a century. In other words, don’t anticipate receiving a coin this perfect as change.
The 1965 Silver Quarter – A Rare and Valuable Error
What is a 1965 silver quarter and how much is it worth? A very small number of 1965 quarters were mistakenly struck using a silver planchet instead of a copper/nickel planchet. After the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, the U.S. Mint was required to stop minting circulation coins using real silver. For the quarter-dollar, coins minted following the Coinage Act were to be struck using a combination of copper and nickel. As most coin collectors know, however, mistakes happen!
Because the 1965 quarter was the first U.S. quarter-dollar minted without real silver, a select number of coins in the series were accidentally minted using the previous year’s silver planchets. Very little numismatic literature exists to confirm the existence of the 1965 silver quarter, but specimens are frequently listed on auction sites for $8,000 or more.
1965 Doubled Die Quarter – Identification and Value
Some 1965 quarters feature a doubled die error. A doubled die quarter is a coin that has been struck by a malfunctioning die. Doubled die quarters will sometimes be easy to spot, but some specimens may feature a subtle doubling effect that is only clear under close magnification.
To spot a doubled die 1965 quarter, look for signs of die doubling in four main spots:
- “In God We Trust”
- “Liberty”
- The Date (1965)
- George Washington’s Left Side
How much is a doubled die 1965 quarter worth? Like with other quarter-dollars from 1965, the value of a 1965 doubled die quarter depends on its condition. In MS64 condition or above, these rare error coins are worth at least $1,400. Because no specimen has been identified with a grade better than MS64, expect MS65+ doubled die quarters to sell for quite a lot more than this.
Identifying a 1965 Quarter
1965 quarters are easy to identify. These coins will look like any other quarter and bear the date “1965” on the obverse. The trickier part for investors is identifying the condition of their 1965 quarter, which can greatly impact its value. Generally, numismatists defer to professional graders to determine the grade of their rare coins. Engaging an expert is a good strategy for investors to get a better idea of how much their 1965 quarter-dollar is worth.
To confirm that a 1965 quarter features a doubled die error, consider using a specialized coin magnifying glass called a loupe. Remember, the doubled die error on this coin shows up on the date, on “In God We Trust,” on “Liberty” or on the left side of George Washington’s profile. Because the doubling effect on the 1965 quarter is so obvious, it should be easy to verify that a given coin features this error.
How to Know is a 1965 Quarter is Silver
How do collectors know if their quarter is made of silver? The easiest way to determine whether or not a coin contains silver is by weighing it. A quarter containing the pre-1965 standard silver content of 90% should weigh the same as other .90 silver coins of the same size. A ‘silver’ quarter that weighs the same as a modern copper-nickel alloy quarter likely does not contain any silver at all.
Silver testing kits are another option, and investors who really want to verify a coin’s silver content should consider consulting a coin dealer. Most coin dealers can easily test a coin to determine its precious metal content, and it never hurts to get a second opinion!
Final Thoughts: When is a Quarter Worth More Than 25 Cents?
So how much is a 1965 quarter worth?
The 1965 quarter is one of the most important quarters ever produced by the U.S. Mint, as it was the very first coin in the quarter-dollar series to contain no silver. Unfortunately, this historical significance doesn’t do much for the average 1965 quarter’s value. The majority of 1965 quarters in average or below-average condition are worth less than $1.
1965 quarters are only really valuable when they contain one (or more) of the following features:
- Excellent Condition (Above MS65)
- Doubled Die Error
- Accidentally Struck on a Silver Planchet
For most readers hoping that their 1965 quarter is a hidden treasure worth millions, it might be time to jump back into that coin drawer and search for more valuable coins.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
Michael Roets is a writer and journalist for Hero Bullion. His work explores precious metals news, guides, and commentary.