1938 Washington Quarter Value No Mint Mark What It’s Worth Today
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The 1938 Washington Quarter with no mint mark is worth anywhere from $5 in heavily worn condition to well over $200 or more in higher mint state grades. If you recently found one of these coins in an old collection or tucked away in a drawer, you’re in the right place to learn exactly what you have.
What Makes the 1938 Philadelphia Quarter Special
The 1938 Washington Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which is why it carries no mint mark — Philadelphia coins from this era never did. The Washington Quarter series itself began in 1932, so by 1938, the design was still relatively young and gaining collector interest.
The mintage for the 1938 Philadelphia issue was 9,472,522 coins — not a rare number by any means, but far fewer than many other years in the series. This moderate mintage, combined with the coin’s age and silver content (90% silver, 10% copper), gives it solid baseline value even in circulated grades.
If you’re not sure what mint mark you’re looking at — or if you can’t find one at all — a coin identifier and value app can help you quickly confirm what you have and get an instant value estimate right from your phone. Many everyday collectors find this to be one of the easiest ways to get started.
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1938 Washington Quarter No Mint Mark Value by Grade
The grade of your coin matters enormously when determining its value. A coin that has been heavily circulated will show lots of wear on Washington’s cheek and hair details, while uncirculated coins will appear sharp and lustrous. Here’s a general breakdown of what the 1938 Washington Quarter with no mint mark is worth in various conditions:
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| Grade | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | Heavy wear, outline visible | $5 – $7 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | Moderate wear, some detail remains | $8 – $12 |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Light wear on high points | $15 – $25 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-58) | Slight wear, nearly full luster | $30 – $55 |
| MS-63 | Uncirculated, minor marks | $60 – $100 |
| MS-65 | Gem uncirculated, strong luster | $150 – $250+ |
For the most current auction results and certified coin pricing, you can check out detailed 1938 Washington Quarter MS grade price data that tracks real market sales across grading tiers.
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How to Tell If Your Coin Is Worth More
Beyond basic grade, a few other factors can push the value of your 1938 Washington Quarter higher. Strike quality is one of them — some Philadelphia coins from this era are known for weak strikes, particularly on the eagle’s breast feathers on the reverse. A coin with a strong, sharp strike commands a premium.
Luster and eye appeal also play a big role. Even among MS-63 coins, one with beautiful original white luster will sell for more than a dull or cleaned example.
Cleaned coins — those that have been polished or dipped improperly — are generally worth significantly less than raw or naturally toned examples. If your coin looks suspiciously shiny but still has old wear lines underneath, it may have been cleaned, which hurts its value.
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CoinKnow is a great tool for digging into these finer details. The app breaks down not just price estimates but also what to look for in strike quality and surface preservation — super helpful if you’re just learning the hobby.
Silver Value as a Floor Price
One thing that always works in your favor with a 1938 Washington Quarter is the silver content. Each coin contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. With silver prices typically ranging between $25 and $30 per troy ounce in recent years, that means even a heavily worn 1938 quarter has a melt value of roughly $4.50 to $5.50.
This acts as a price floor — your coin will almost never be worth less than its silver melt value, regardless of condition. So even if the coin is too worn for collector interest, it still has real intrinsic value as a silver piece.
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To see a full breakdown of the 1938 quarter’s value across all grades and mint marks, that resource covers everything from circulated examples all the way to top-pop certified specimens.
Should You Get It Graded?
If your 1938 Washington Quarter looks uncirculated — no signs of wear on the face or eagle — it may well be worth submitting to a professional grading service like PCGS or NGC. A certified MS-65 example can fetch $150 to $250 or more, and the certification adds significant buyer confidence in the market.
For coins that appear circulated, professional grading usually isn’t worth the cost unless you suspect a major variety or error. In those cases, CoinKnow can help you quickly check whether your specific coin shows any known doubled die or repunched date varieties before you spend money on grading fees.
Your Old Coin Could Be Valuable!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much is a 1938 Washington Quarter with no mint mark worth today?
A: In circulated grades, it’s typically worth $5 to $25 depending on condition. In uncirculated grades, values range from $60 to $250 or more. Silver melt value provides a floor of around $4.50 to $5.50.
Q: Why does my 1938 quarter have no mint mark?
A: The absence of a mint mark means your coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Philadelphia did not place mint marks on coins during this era, so “no mint mark” is completely normal and expected for this date.
Q: Is the 1938 Washington Quarter rare?
A: It’s not considered rare, with a mintage of over 9 million pieces. However, high-grade uncirculated examples are genuinely scarce and command strong collector premiums. The coin is common in circulated grades but uncommon in pristine gem condition.
