Collector’s Corner: Quarters

By Ron Schmidt on March 29, 2025.

In this article I would like to talk about the 25 cent piece. There have been more different quarters made then in any other category. Canada made it’s first quarter under the reign of Queen Victoria in 1870 and continued until 1901.

The quality of the coins produced was not great, and therefore there were many varieties in many of these years, making some of them a lot more valuable. The more common ones range from $10-$50/e, but some of the varieties and certain years could bring well over $100/e.

Years to watch out for are 1870 -obv2, 1871-obv1, 1875, 1880 wide 0, 1885, 1887, 1889, and 1893. In 1902 King Edward VII ruled until 1910 changing the face on the coin. These coins are worth from $10-25 for a VG coin with the exception of the 1906 sm cr which could bring over $1,600 in G condition. King George V, then became in power in 1911 and again the coins changed.

From 1911 to 1936 these coin are worth about $7 to $25 with the most expensive years being 1915, 1921, 1927. In 1936 there were 3 coins issued, the normal, with a dot and dot/bar. The normal is aprox $10, with a dot $25 and dot/bar is $30+.

In 1937, 1938, 1939 the coins are worth about $7. From 1940 to 1966 the silver content of the coins has surpassed the collector value of the coins. In this range the coins have to be of fine quality or better to be worth more than the silver value. In 1947 the mint produced three coins. The 1947 normal worth about $9, 1947 dot is worth $90 and 1947 maple leaf is worth bullion value.

Remember that coins must be in pretty good condition in these later years to be worth these prices. In 1967 and 1968 the silver content changed making these coins not worth as much, but still worth more then face value. Later In 1968 the coin was changed to nickel eliminating the silver in the coin. From this point on coins need to be almost mint state to be worth anything over face value. Mint state is a coin that has been packaged at the mint and basically not touched by human hands.

In 1973 there were two coins produced the one with large bust in F condition could bring over $150. In 1991, 1992 there were very few coins produced and these coins could bring $10 plus. In 1992, 1999, 2000 there were 12 different coins is each year and are all common coins as there were millions produced of each type.

From 1997 to 2000 there were no circulation coins produced, so the only ones you see have been broken out from sets and bring a premium price. I will stop at the year 2000 for this article and continue the 25 cent in next article. For more information on any of these coins or others you can come to the Coin & Stamp Show on April 5 at the Stampede Grounds below the grandstand. See you there.

Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com

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