Finance and Business Blog

Archive for October, 2024

How do you determine the value of a 1969 quarter? Is it through its physical attributes, available varieties, or rich history?

 

It will interest you to know that to determine the value of a 1969 quarter, you need to be aware of factors ranging from coin rarity to coin color to mint errors, as these have a huge impact on how well a coin performs in the coin collector’s world.

For this reason, and to ensure that you get the highest value for your coin, this detailed guide is expertly curated to help you determine that 1969 quarter value.

1969 Quarter Value Chart

Here is a breakdown of the 1969 Quarter price. The coin’s grade, variety, and respective prices are included, as determined by PCGS.

 

Mint Mark       Good – Extremely Fine        Uncirculated

MS64  Uncirculated

MS66  Uncirculated

MS67+

1969 No Mint Mark Quarter Value   $1        $5        $28      $825

1969 D Mint  Quarter Value  $1        $16      $34      $2,250

1969 S Mint Mark Quarter (Proof Set)        $2        $6        $8        $10

1969 Proof Set  Quarter Value Type 2        $1        $5        $5        $7

 

We recommend using this Find Bullion Prices Silver Coin Value Guide to help you determine the value of your possession’s 1969 no-mint mark quarter. The coin’s price will vary depending on the grade, which is determined by its condition.

 

History of the 1969 Quarter

The first time the U.S. Mint struck the Washington Quarter was in 1932. With its arrival on the scene, the standing Liberty Quarter was discontinued.

Although the intention was to create a coin that would be produced for one year alone in honor of the first American president, George Washington, on his 200th posthumous birthday anniversary, the 1969 quarter would be in use until 1998.

The adopted design lasted longer than planned because the 1969 quarter’s design was in every regard preferred to that of the standing liberty quarter, which it replaced.

To determine the design to be featured on this coin, hundreds of artists submitted designs based on the famous Washington bust sculpture created by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon.

 

After reviewing all the entries by different designers, the Coin Commission chose Laura Gardin Fraser’s design. However, when the commission submitted the designs to Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, he refused Fraser’s design.

 

This led to a controversy about whether Mellon refused this design because he didn’t believe a female designer should design such a significant coin or if there was another reason he disagreed with the selected design.

 

Fraser’s design eventually lost out as Mellon picked John Flanagan’s design. However, her design came back to life when it was issued in 1999 as the 1999 George Washington Commemorative Gold $5 Coin.

 

Features of the 1969 Quarter

This section paints a mental picture of the physical and distinguishing features of the 1969 quarter.

 

The Obverse

As stated earlier, the 1969 Washington quarter obverse is based on a pre-existing sculpture of George Washington sculpted initially by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon.

Here, a left-facing image of George Washington takes center stage.

Common phrases you’ll find here include;

• LIBERTY: At the top of this Washington’s image and close to the rim
• IN GOD WE TRUST: To the image’s left is the famous phrase

 

Finally, the 1969 quarters had their mint location inscribed on the obverse. You’ll find it by the right carrying a “D” or “S” mint mark to signify either the Denver or San Francisco mint. Only Philadelphia-minted quarters didn’t carry such a mark.

 

The Reverse

The reverse of the 1969 quarter is totally different from the obverse, as the American eagle occupies the center of the coin. The eagle clutches a quiver with its talons, representing war. It also has an olive branch beneath it, representing peace.

In addition, here are some phrases you’ll find on close examination of the coin’s reverse.

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: At the top of the coin and very close to the rim
• E PLURIBUS UNUM: Right above the eagle’s head
• QUARTER DOLLAR: At the lower end of the coin

 

The Edges

The 1969 Washington Quarter features a reeded edge. This means there are 119 carefully carved-out lines around the edge of every coin that defines its appearance.

 

1969 Quarter Details

 

Coin Series: Washington Quarters

Year: 1969

Total Mintage: 1,009,174,955

Designer: John Flanagan

Mint Location: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver

Composition: 75% Copper and 25% Nickel

Diameter: 24.3 millimeters

Weight: 5.67 grams

Edges: Reeded

Melt value: $0.0545

 

In addition to the physical details above, you should also know that this coin is 75% Copper and 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center. The 1969 quarter weighs 5.67 grams and has a melt value of $0.0540.

Finally, this coin has a face value of $0.25, a diameter of 24.30 mm, and a thickness of 1.95 mm.

 

Varieties of the 1969 Quarter

Depending on the presence or absence of a mint mark and the mint mark itself, 1969 quarters are divided into three different varieties. These mint marks serve as an indication of where the coin was produced.

Mintmarks      Location         Mintage

1969 No Mint Mark Quarter    Philadelphia     515,708,000

1969 “D” Mint Mark Quarter   Denver 489,789,780

1969 “S” Mint Mark Quarter   San Francisco 3,677,175

 

1969 No Mint Mark Quarter

First, let’s begin with the 1969 quarters from the Philadelphia Mint. These quarters possessed no mint marks and totaled 515,708,000, the highest mintage in the Washington quarter series.

 

This coin variety generally has a market value higher than its actual face value. A 1969 Philadelphia mint quarter in an MS 64 grade, which is more common, is worth $5, while a rarer MS67+ grade is worth as much as $825.

 

In addition to the above, you should also know that the record for the most expensive 1969 no-mint mark quarter sold is held by an MS68 coin worth $1,440. Heritage Auctions sold it in January 2023..

 

1969 “D” Mint Mark Quarter

In addition to the Mint at Philadelphia, 1969 quarters were also minted in Denver in large numbers, with a total mintage of 489,789,780. Coins from these two mints bore the same physical features. However, the Denver mint possessed the “D” mint mark, while the Philadelphia mint did not.

 

Although “D” mint 1969 Washington quarters tend to be a little higher in value than those from Philadelphia, factors like the grade of a particular coin will also help determine the disparity in price when valuing the coin.

 

A low-grade D mint mark 1969 quarter in okay condition will only sell for $1 or $2; those graded higher, like the MS66, can sell for as much as $34, while an MS67+ grade 1969 quarter can rise to as high as $2,250.

The record sale for this coin currently stands at $1,078.

 

1969 “S” Proof Quarter

 

In 1969, the San Francisco mint produced 3,677,175 proof quarters in two known types. One proof was called Type 1, and it possessed a filled “S” mint mark on the right side of the coin’s obverse, while the second was tagged Type 2 and showed a precise “S” mint mark.

 

The Type 2 1969 “S” proof quarters are more sought after than their Type 1 counterpart. This is because they possess a clear “S” mint mark. As seen in the table above, this translates to a slight price disparity between the two types.

 

1969 Quarter Errors

Error coins are common during production. These errors often affect the coin’s value, mainly increasing the price. Here, we’ve put together known 1969 quarter errors.

 

1969 Quarter Filled D Error

The thought of a mint mark being filled immediately brings to mind the type 1 San Francisco proof quarter, not a Denver mint, which is why finding a filled D error is quite interesting.

This error makes the coin one of a kind and is in demand by collectors, making it worth double the regular asking price. An error coin of this kind sold for $450 on eBay.

 

1969 Quarter Triple D error

Due to a die error, the D on a quarter may be tripling. This is not a common error, but quarters with this error tend to have a higher value due to this defect.

On eBay, a 1969 quarter with this error currently stands at $500, making it one of the most valuable 1969 error coins available.

 

 

FAQs

 

On What Side Of The 1969 Quarter Will You Find The Mint Mark?

Philadelphia mints do not have any mint marks on the coin. However, you’ll find marks on the Denver Mint and San Francisco proof coins on the right side of the coin’s obverse.

 

Are The 1969 Washington Quarters Rare Coins?

These quarters are not rare because they have very high mintages from the Philadelphia and Denver mints. However, rare error coins are high in value.

 

Behavioral finance, a field that combines psychology and economics, has increasingly shaped the way we understand financial decision-making. While traditional finance assumes that individuals are rational actors who make decisions purely based on logic and information, behavioral finance recognizes that psychological biases, emotions, and cognitive errors often play a significant role in shaping how people invest. As a result, understanding these behavioral patterns has become crucial for both individual investors and financial professionals seeking to navigate markets more effectively.

One of the key concepts in behavioral finance is overconfidence, which refers to the tendency of individuals to overestimate their own abilities, knowledge, or control over events. In investing, overconfidence can lead to excessive trading, as investors believe they can time the market or pick winning stocks more accurately than they actually can. Studies show that frequent traders tend to underperform those who take a more passive, long-term approach, as high trading volumes often lead to increased transaction costs and poor timing. Despite this, overconfidence persists because investors tend to focus on their successes while overlooking their failures.

Another important behavioral bias is loss aversion, which suggests that people experience the pain of a loss more intensely than the pleasure of a gain. This can lead to irrational decision-making, such as holding onto losing investments for too long in the hope that they will rebound, rather than cutting losses early. Loss aversion also plays a role in market phenomena like “panic selling,” where investors quickly sell off assets during market downturns to avoid further losses, often at the worst possible time. This emotional reaction to loss, rather than a rational assessment of future opportunities, can cause investors to miss out on potential recoveries.

Herd behavior is another psychological tendency that heavily influences financial markets. This phenomenon occurs when individuals follow the actions of a larger group, often without fully understanding why. In investing, herd behavior can lead to asset bubbles, where the price of a stock or commodity becomes significantly overvalued as more people buy into the trend. The dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and the housing bubble of the mid-2000s are classic examples where herd mentality drove prices to unsustainable levels before eventually collapsing. Investors who succumb to herd behavior may feel a sense of security in following the crowd, but this can result in significant financial losses when the bubble bursts.

Anchoring is yet another cognitive bias that affects investment decisions. It occurs when individuals rely too heavily on an initial piece of information, or “anchor,” when making decisions. In the context of investing, this might involve placing too much emphasis on a stock’s past price, causing investors to either overvalue or undervalue its current potential. For instance, if an investor purchased a stock at $50, they may anchor on this price and resist selling it even if new information suggests the stock is overvalued or headed for further decline. This can lead to suboptimal investment choices, as decisions are influenced by irrelevant historical data rather than current market conditions.

The field of behavioral finance not only helps explain why individuals make irrational decisions, but it also provides insights into broader market trends. When biases like overconfidence, loss aversion, herd behavior, and anchoring are widespread, they can influence market movements, contributing to volatility and instability. Understanding these psychological factors is critical for both individual investors and financial professionals who want to make more informed, rational decisions.

By recognizing and managing these biases, investors can improve their decision-making process and avoid common pitfalls. Acknowledging that emotions and cognitive shortcuts often drive financial choices can lead to more disciplined and strategic investing, helping individuals achieve better long-term outcomes. As behavioral finance continues to grow in prominence, its lessons will likely become even more integral to navigating the complexities of the modern financial world.