Sharpness is not the first thing that comes to mind when you lay your eyes on a 1957 Washington Quarter. George Washington’s hair doesn’t offer much in terms of detail, and the same theme continues in the reverse. It sort of looks like an airbrushed painting. But hey, these are the kinds of things that make a coin unique.
But how valuable is this vintage coin? Perhaps the chart below will offer some perspective:
| Mint | Good (G4) | Fine (F12) | Extremely Fine (XF40) | Uncirculated
(MS60) |
Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65) |
| 1957-P Quarter | $6 | $6 | $6 | $10 | $28 |
| 1957-P Proof Quarter | – | – | – | $8 | $22 (PR)
$30 (CAM) $160 (DCAM) |
| 1957-D Quarter | $6 | $6 | $6 | $10 | $28 |
Source: PCGS, 2023
1957 Quarter: Historical Background
The 1957 Quarter is also known as the 1957 Washington Quarter because it bears the likeness of America’s first President, George Washington.
President Washington has been a mainstay on the Washington Quarter since 1932. In fact, the 1932 Washington Quarter was a tribute to what was supposed to be the 200th birthday of this founding father.
The Washington Quarter’s production from its inception through 1957 was marked by production challenges. Most notable is the crude polishing of the dies that wore down the design’s details. The coin grew blurry as it approached 1957, our year of interest.
Below is a pictorial comparing the Washington Quarter over the years. Please pay attention to the sharpness of the details.
From the images above, you can notice that the hair on President Washington has smoothed out over the years. Even John Flanagan’s initials (JF) disappeared due to the aggressive polishing.
1957 Quarter: Physical Features
If you were scrolling through Google’s image results of the 1957 Quarter, you would see a lot of rainbow-colored coins. But don’t be fooled; the coin is naturally silver in color. And since the 1957 Quarter came before the Coinage Act of 1965, it contained real silver, lots of it. Silver contributes about 90% of the coin’s metallic composition. Copper contributes the remaining 10%.
Below is a highlight of the coin’s physical attributes:
1957Quarter: Physical Characteristics
| Physical Feature | Notes |
| Metallic Composition | 90% Silver
10% Copper |
| Weight | 6.25 grams |
| Diameter | 24.3 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
Obverse Design and Features
The 1957 Quarter’s obverse bears the same design that has been on the Washington Quarter since 1932. This was John Flanagan’s 1931 design.
John Flanagan was keen to include the following elements on the obverse of the Washington Quarter:
- The left-facing profile of President Washington is struck at the center of the obverse
- The word “LIBERTY,” arching directly over President Washington’s head
- The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” is on the left side of the coin, right under George Washington’s chin
- The year of issue “1957,” is directly under George Washington’s bust
Had it not been for the crude polishing the 1957 Quarter dies had to endure, John Flanagan’s initials (JF) would have been visible along the cutout of George Washington’s neck. However, some mint condition 1957 Quarters show traces of Flanagan’s initials.
Reverse Design and Features
The reverse was also the work of John Flanagan. He included the following elements in his design for the 1957 coinage:
- A left-facing bald eagle with its wings stretched out is at the center of the coin.
- The eagle is perching on a bundle of arrows.
- Two olive sprays are arching under the arrows, with their tips imposed over the eagle’s wings.
- The mint mark struck below the olive sprays, just beneath their intersection point.
- The motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is struck directly over the bald eagle’s head.
- The country of issue “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” arching over the bald eagle and its spread-out wings.
- The denomination “QUARTER DOLLAR” is under the olive sprays, arching along the lower rim of the coin.
The reverse design wasn’t spared either from the crude polishing of the dies. The bald eagle’s feathers seem to be fading away, with the left breast and tail feathers getting the worst of it.
1957 Quarter: Varieties and Valuation
Between the years 1955 and 1967, the San Fransisco Mint was conspicuously absent from the production of the Washington Quarter. Therefore, in 1957, we only had two varieties: 1957-P and 1957-D Washington Quarters.
1957-P Quarter Value
The Philadelphia Mint has now become famous for striking coins without mint marks, and they didn’t disappoint in 1957. They struck 47,779,952 quarters in 1957, all with no mint marks.
The 1957-P Quarter has gained substantial value since its release in 1957. A 1957-P Washington Quarter can fetch approximately $6 in good condition.
Below is a highlight of the value of various grades of the 1957-P Quarter:
| 1957Quarter Condition | Estimated Value |
| Good (G4) | $6 |
| Very Good (G8) | $6 |
| Fine (F12) | $6 |
| Very Fine (F20) | $6 |
| Extremely Fine (XF40) | $6 |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $7 |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $10 |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65) | $28 |
Source: PCGS, 2023
The 1957-P has sold quite a few valuable coins over the years. Among the notable sales was the auction of an NGC-graded MS68 coin that sold for a jaw-dropping $3,819. This is the auction record for the 1957-P variety.
1957-P Proof Quarter Value
The Philadelphia Mint also made a couple of proof coins for that year: 1,247,952 in total. Since proof coins are not meant for normal circulation, they tend to look better than regular strikes. They are also struck on highly polished planchets, so that helps, too.
So, how valuable are 1957-P Proof Quarters? Let’s find out:
| 1957Quarter Condition | Estimated Value | ||
| Proof (PR) | Cameo (CAM) | Deep Cameo (DCAM) | |
| Good (G4) | – | – | – |
| Very Good (G8) | – | – | – |
| Fine (F12) | – | – | – |
| Very Fine (F20) | – | – | – |
| Extremely Fine (XF40) | – | – | – |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $5 | – | – |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $8 | – | – |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65) | $22 | $30 | $160 |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (MS68) | $42 | $115 | $1,000 |
Source: PCGS, 2023
The record for the most expensive 1957-P Proof Quarter is held by this 1957-P Proof Quarter that’s graded PR69. It sold for $548. The most expensive 1957-P Cameo Quarter is graded PF69CAM, and it sold for $1,093.The Deep Cameo condition’s record is held by this PR69DCAM quarter that sold for a record-shuttering $11,400.
1957-D Quarter Value
The Denver Mint also pulled its weight in 1957, minting 77,924,160 coins, almost double Philadelphia’s mintage. But how valuable are these coins today?
Apparently, the 1957-D Quarter is as valuable as similarly-graded 1957-P Quarters. Check out the table below:
| 1957Quarter Condition | Estimated Value |
| Good (G4) | $6 |
| Very Good (G8) | $6 |
| Fine (F12) | $6 |
| Very Fine (F20) | $6 |
| Extremely Fine (XF40) | $6 |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $7 |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $10 |
| Brilliant Uncirculated (MS65) | $28 |
Source: PCGS, 2023
The 1957-D variety has also sold some pretty valuable examples over the years. The most expensive we could find is this MS68 quarter, which sold for $11,400.
1957 Quarter: Valuable Error 1957 Quarters
The 1957 Quarter yielded some interesting varieties. Below are five valuable coins in the 1957 Quarter’s roster:
1. 1957-D Quarter with Re-engraved Tail Feathers: Sold for $2,200
To prolong the life of their dies, the U.S. Mint would add vertical lines along the tail feathers of the bald eagle. This decision led rise to a highly collectible variety, the Re-engraved TF (tail feathers).
2. 1957-D Quarter with a Misplaced Mint Mark: Sold for $1,860
The mint mark is usually the last detail that is struck on a coin. And until 1989, they used hand-puncheons to impart these mint marks. Once in a while, the mint mark would be punched in the wrong spot, just as they did to this coin.
3. 1957-P Quarter with a Type B Reverse: Sold for $423
To clear the air, this is not an error coin, just an interesting variety. The U.S. Mint used six different types of reverses on the Washington Quarters. These reverses are designated Type A through Type H. This particular coin used the Type B reverse.
Type B reverses featured a pointed olive leaf tip that extends above the topmost arrow tip, angling slightly to the left. Another leaf is strongly struck, making contact with the “A” of “DOLLAR.”
4. 1957-D Quarter with Repunched Mint Mark: Selling for $49.95
While punching the mint mark, the coin can shift out of alignment, leading to a Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) error. You can identify this error by doubling around the edges of the “D” mint mark. This coin may not be in the best condition, but it holds a little bit of value due to that repunched mint mark.
5. 1957 Quarter with Die Crack Error: Selling for $30
Coin dies have a very demanding job. Sometimes, they crack or break on the job. A die break is bad news for whoever has to repair it, but good news to collectors because it yields some valuable error coins. This particular coin has a die crack error on the reverse, resulting in lines over the eagle’s left wing.
1957 Quarter: Is it Worth Collecting
In comparison to other coins of the era, the 1957 Quarter has accumulated some value over the years. Good-condition coins can fetch you a decent amount, but prices increase with grading.
Proof coins hold the best value, but you want to track down those pristine Cameo and Deep Cameo examples. Find the right coins, and they will gain value.
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.