The 1966 Washington Quarter has a high mintage, making most grades easy to obtain for an affordable price. You can have a mint state condition quarter for less than a hundred dollars. But if you’re fond of collecting rare varieties, the 1966 Quarter has a few selections that command a premium price.
Later, we’ll discuss more about it. But for now, here’s a summarized 1966 Quarter Price Chart to give you an idea of its current valuation.
| Regular Strike 1966 Quarter | |
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| Good (G4) | $0.30 |
| Fine (F12) | $0.30 |
| Extremely Fine (XF40) | $0.30 |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $0.40 |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $1.50-$2 |
| Choice Uncirculated (MS63) | $5-$6 |
| Gem Uncirculated (MS65) | $15 |
| Superb Gem Uncirculated (MS-68) | $5,750 |
| Special Mint Set 1966 Quarter | |
| Coin Series | Estimated Value |
| 1966 SMS MS 25C | $2.50-$75 |
| 1966 SMS CAM 25C | $35-$600 |
| 1966 SMS DCAM 25C | $600-$2,400 |
A Brief History of The 1966 Washington Quarter
The 1966 Quarter is the 34th year of the Washington Quarter Series. Additionally, 1966 is the second year of the Washington Quarters being minted in clad composition, a change made in 1965 to address the rising price of silver.
The significant change made the 1966 Quarters affordable for those starting their collection, compared to the Type 1 Quarters, which can easily reach a hundred dollars for uncirculated conditions.
But aside from the metal changes, Congress also suspended the release of proof coinage and the use of mintmarks in the 1965-1967 quarters. It made it impossible to determine the origin of each coin, but all indications point to the Philadelphia Mint.
1966 Washington Quarter Coin Information
- Category: Washington Quarters (Type 2, Clad 1965-1998)
- Face Value: 25 Cents
- Obverse-Reverse Designer: John Flanagan
- Metal Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a pure Copper core
- Weight: 5.67 grams
- Diameter: 24.30 millimeters
- Edge: Reeded
- Mintage: 823,301,500
John Flanagan’s design may not fit the medallic art, but Mint facilities adore it because of its low relief and seamlessness to strike from the press.
On the obverse side, you’ll see President Washington facing the left side with the designer’s initial on the truncation of the neck. Above is the word LIBERTY and the mint year at the bottom, while the motto IN GOD WE TRUST sits at the left field.
On the reverse side is an eagle standing on a bundle of arrows with two olive branches, dominating the center. The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM fill the top field, while the QUARTER DOLLAR sits at the bottom.
1966 Quarter Valuation: Regular vs. Special Strike
The 1966 Washington Quarter has four major varieties and one die variety. In this section, we will discuss the valuation of each, including their survival estimates and auction records.
1966 Regular Strike Quarter Value
A total of 821,101,500 Regular Strikes 1966 Quarters came out of the US Mints. The extensive number made it very common today, with roughly 205 million survival estimates.
Circulated conditions through MS-63 are still available in high amounts. However, the number subsides as it reaches higher grades. MS-64 and MS-65 are a bit challenging to find yet affordable when purchased. MS-67 is scarce, with less than a hundred specimens graded. Meanwhile, an MS-68 only has seven samples recorded, with one coin having a plus designation.
Now, let’s see how much they are worth today.
A circulated condition 1966 Quarter is valued around $0.30 to $0.85, while an uncirculated condition is worth between $1.50 to $5,750.
| Coin Grade | Estimated Value |
| MS-60 | $1.50 |
| MS-61 | $2.50-$3 |
| MS-62 | $3.50-$4 |
| MS-63 | $5-$6 |
| MS-64 | $7.50-$8.50 |
| MS-65 | $15 |
| MS-66 | $35-$80 |
| MS-67 | $250-$1,380 |
| MS-68 | $5,750 |
Note that these values are the averages of the prices gathered from reliable independent and third-party numismatic communities. It can go above or below, depending on the current coin market trend.
But an example of it exceeding is this rare 1966 MS-68+ quarter sold for an astounding $21,000 by Heritage Auctions in May 2023. The coin is vividly toned and has a flawless surface, making it the lone finest grade for this variety.
The other MS-68 samples also offer exemplary records from auction records. The lowest sale price for this grade is $900, while the highest fetched $11,750. This MS-68 quarter is almost tied with the sole MS-68+, if not with the presence of tiny marks.
Regular Strike Die Variety: The 1966 25C DDR
The Double Die Reverse (DDR) became a collectible variety for the 1966-dated quarter because it elevates the coin value. And this holds true for this 1966 XF-45 DDR Quarter sold for $920 by Heritage Auctions.
An XF condition 1966 quarter usually sells for more or less $0.30. But because of the evident spread in the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and QUARTER DOLLAR, it fetched a hundred dollars.
1966 Special Mint Set Quarter Valuation
The 1966-dated quarter doesn’t have a proof version in hopes of reducing coin hoarding during that time. However, the Philadelphia Mint produced 2,200,000 pieces of the 1966 Special Strike or Special Mint Set quarter to answer the plea of serious collectors. Although it’s a bit lower than the previous year, the higher grades are still quite common. MS-67 has the highest survival estimate, followed by MS-66, with over a thousand examples.
An SMS Strike has better quality than a Circulation Strike, but not enough to pass as a Proof coin. Today, an SMS MS can sell for $2.50 to $75 but can go higher with a cameo contrast.
Coin grading services give a cameo designation to coins that have frost on the design. An SMS CAM is valued at around $35 to $600, while an SMS DCAM can fetch $600 to $2,400.
| 1966 SMS Quarter Value Chart | |||
| Coin Grade | SMS | SMS CAM | SMS DCAM |
| MS-60 | $2.50 | / | / |
| MS-61 | $3 | / | / |
| MS-62 | $4 | / | / |
| MS-63 | $5 | / | / |
| MS-64 | $7.50 | $35-$40 | / |
| MS-65 | $10 | $50-$60 | / |
| MS-66 | $15-$20 | $75-$85 | $600 |
| MS-67 | $30-$45 | $115-$250 | $2,400 |
| MS-68 | $75 | $600 | / |
Although the 1966 quarter does not sell as much as its predecessor, it still shows a promising auction history. An example is this SMS MS-68 CAM that sold for $4,112.50 by Heritage Auctions in 2014.
Meanwhile, the highest record for a DCAM variety was an SMS MS-67 sold for $3,738 by the same firm in 2006.
1966 Washington Quarter Error Coins and Their Current Value
Looking at a price guide or auction price can help make you feel confident about selling or purchasing a coin. But what about the error coins?
Mint error coins are often scarce, helping elevate their value. Aside from this, some have unique flaws that make them worthy of appreciation from enthusiasts. But when buying one, ensure you’re looking for reliable sellers or coins already graded by trustworthy coin grading services.
Below is a list of 1966 Washington Quarter error coins to give you a glimpse of what’s available in the market and its value today.
1966 Obverse Clad Layer Missing Quarter
Here is a 1966 Mint error coin with a missing clad layer on the obverse side. This type of error occurs if the outer nickel layer does not bond properly with the copper core. As a result, the sides of the coin have contrasting colors, and the weight is lesser.
A partially missing clad layer sells for around $75 to $100, while a fully missing clad layer can fetch up to $300.
1966 Obverse Struck Through and Clashed Die Quarter
A coin could have multiple errors like this 1966 quarter with an obverse struck through and clashed die. The struck-through error is visible near Washington’s chin. This mistake happens when a foreign object gets struck into the coin, and its shape remains on the surface.
On the other hand, clashed die causes sunken and mirror-image marks of one design to overlap with another. It can sometimes be faint like this coin, but others may completely show the reverse design on the obverse side or vice versa.
This specific SMS coin sells for $350.
1966 Uncentered Broadstrike Quarter
Broastrikes occur when a coin gets struck outside the retaining collar. As a result, you get a newly struck coin with a wider final diameter. If the coin is struck out-of-collar, but the design is centered, it is simply called Broadstrike; if not, it is called Uncentered Broadstrike. Note that the design on both sides should be complete to qualify under this striking error.
Broadstrike can sell from $5 to $50 but can fetch hundreds if it has good eye appeal.
1966 Clipped Planchet Quarter
A clipped planchet error occurs when a metal strip is misfed through the machine, and the punch overlaps with the hole from the previous coin. Some would have a dramatic crescent shape error, while others have a toned-done straight-edge clip.
A circulated condition clipped planchet quarter can sell for $3 to $10, while a higher grade can fetch between $30 to $50.
1966 Die Gouge Nose and DDO Quarter
Die gouge is a contact mark caused by a mishandled die. It usually leaves a line that is not part of the original design. Here, you’ll notice it crossing from the left field towards Washington’s nose. Aside from this, you’ll also see a DDO on the words IN GOD WE TRUST.
This specific coin sells for almost $150.
Jenson is a professional numismatist, a dedicated coin collector, a graduate of the College of Business at Oregon State, a life member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), and an overall coin nerd. He is the founder of Coin Value List.