Are you curious if any of the 2023 U.S. quarters are worth more than face value?
The 2023 quarters with women’s faces on them are a continuation of the American Women Quarters program that the United States Mint launched in 2022.
This popular commemorative series offers 5 new designs each year through 2025. These unique designs showcase innovative and influential American women who made important contributions to society.
What’s Unique About The 2023 Quarter?
The American Women Quarters series honors a wide range of women.
Some of these women were already common household names, while the legacies of others became more widely known as a result of being honored on these commemorative quarters.
The American Women Quarters all feature an obverse (“heads side”) design of George Washington that most Americans hadn’t seen until it was used on the first of these special quarters in 2022.
This new right-facing bust of Washington was originally designed in 1932 by sculptor Laura Gardin-Fraser and was proposed for use on what became the Washington quarter.
If you find an uncirculated 2023 quarter and notice George Washington’s hair or jawline looks a little soft or faded around the edges, don’t automatically assume that it’s a striking error. When the Mint started pumping out these massive, high-relief Laura Gardin Fraser busts onto rigid copper-nickel clad metal, the intense striking pressure put a beating on the steel coin dies. As those dies get tired and start to deteriorate from striking millions of coins, the fine details are the first things to go. Collectors call this a late die state—it’s completely normal, but it’s the exact reason why finding a flawless, early die-state strike with booming luster is so tough.
Then-Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon favored the design by sculptor John Flanagan instead — so his design debuted that year on the first Washington Quarters. That U.S. quarter design was used until 1999, when the first 50 State Quarters were released. At that time, the design needed to be modified in order to accommodate additional inscriptions that were moved from the reverse to the obverse.
United States Mint and U.S. Treasury officials thought it would be fitting to use Laura Gardin Fraser’s iteration of George Washington on the obverse of the American Women Quarters.
As a result, that design, which was crafted by one of the premier female sculptors of her time, is seen on all 2023 quarters.
What Are The 5 Designs On 2023 U.S. Quarters?
On the reverse of the 2023 quarters are the likenesses of 5 American women who represent a wide range of ethnicities — spanning the geographic expanse of the United States and representing accomplishments in the arts, sciences, civil rights, and many other areas of society.
The 5 women appearing on 2023 quarters:
- Bessie Coleman – She was an early American aviator who became the first African American female and first Native American to earn a pilot license, which she received in 1921. On the quarter she is seen suited up for a flight and prepared to go confidently into the sky. The coin was designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by Eric David Custer.
- Jovita Idar – A Mexican American suffragist, activist, and journalist, Idar fought for the rights of Mexican Americans and immigrants. The quarter, designed and sculpted by John P. McGraw, boasts a unique design with myriad inscriptions emblazoned across the likeness of Idar that describe who she was and what she stood for, including “MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS,” “TEACHER,” “JOVITA IDAR,” “NURSE,” “EVOLUCIÓN,” “ASTREA,” “EL HERALDO CRISTIANO,” “LA CRUZ BLANCA,” “JOURNALIST,” “LA CRÓNICA,” “EL PROGRESO,” and “LA LIGA FEMENIL MEXICANISTA.”
- Edith Kanakaʻole – A Hawaiian dancer, teacher, and chanter, Kanaka’ole earned widespread distinction as a famous hula dancer and helped popularize one of Hawaii’s most culturally iconic dances. The coin, which depicts Kanaka’ole looking joyfully toward the viewer, was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Renata Gordon.
- Eleanor Roosevelt – The wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt served as First Lady of the United States during her husband’s historic 4-term presidency from 1933 through 1945. She was a highly visible public figure during her time as first lady and championed women’s rights and equality. The quarter was designed by Don Everhart and sculpted by Craig A. Campbell.
- Maria Tallchief – A Native American ballerina, Tallchief was considered the first major prima ballerina of the United States. She earned great national acclaim as one of the nation’s top ballerinas, all the while serving as a role model for so many people within and beyond her Native American community. The quarter was designed by Ben Sowards and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
“I am pleased to announce the designs of the 2023 American Women Quarters,” said United States Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson in a U.S. Mint press release. “These beautiful designs honor the achievements of these amazing women and add to the Mint’s rich history of rendering the history of our Nation in enduring examples of numismatic art.”
Factors That Affect The Value Of A 2023 Quarter
As part of a limited-edition program, these quarters are already considered collectors items. Finding a complete set of 2023 quarters in circulation can be challenging — which adds to their appeal.
One thing that affects the values of 2023 quarters is collector demand.
Specifically, the popularity of the honoree will play a role, as will the popularity of collectors completing their own coin sets which include 2023 quarters.
Generally, quarters featuring more well-known figures tend to be in higher demand and may fetch higher prices.
Likewise, collectors seeking to complete a set of 2023 American Women Quarters may be willing to pay a premium for the specific coins they need.
There is also the investment potential of 2023 quarters to consider. While not guaranteed, some collectors view certain rare or unique 2023 quarters as potential investments — hoping their value will appreciate over time.
How Much Are 2023 Quarters Worth Today?
Individual 2023 quarter values tend to vary — depending on the condition (or grade) of the coin itself.
Circulated vs. Uncirculated 2023 Quarter Values
On the low end, pretty much every 2023 U.S. quarter that you find in pocket change with any signs of wear is worth only its face value of 25 cents.
However, uncirculated 2023 quarters are much more valuable! Generally, a mint condition 2023 U.S. quarter is worth $1 to $3.
Rare 2023 Quarter Values
And it gets better. Some rare 2023 quarters are worth even more than that…
If you find a 2023 quarter that has no signs of wear on it and it is free of any nicks, scratches, or other detractions, it could be worth hundreds of dollars (especially if it is certified by a third-party grading service and graded MS-67 or higher).
Proof 2023 Quarter Values
Next up in the 2023 quarter value rankings, you have what are called proof coins.
These are coins that are specially made for coin collectors. They offer superior quality and are wonderful for showcasing the intricate details of each coin.
- Copper-nickel clad proof 2023 quarters generally sell on an individual basis for $3 to $5 each.
- Silver proof 2023 quarters sell for $5 to $10 each.
If you’re buying the 2023 silver OR clad proof sets, take a close look at the cardboard box. The U.S. Mint made a major packaging blunder on the initial run, printing a portrait of aviator Bessie Coleman on the back of the box without her iconic flight helmet. The Mint eventually caught the mistake and mailed out flat replacement boxes to early buyers. While hundreds of thousands of these “no-helmet” error boxes are floating around out there (meaning they don’t command a massive financial premium), they remain a fascinating piece of modern minting trivia that collectors love to hold onto!
Their monetary value aside, the 2023 American Women Quarters represent a unique and valuable tribute to some of the most remarkable women in US history.
Rare 2023 Quarter Errors And Their Values
The 2023 quarters that are worth the most money are those with errors and varieties!
While there aren’t very many 2023 quarters with known errors and varieties that are known to exist at this time, if you happen to find one, it would be worth these approximate values:
- Doubled Die 2023 Quarter Error — If you find a 2023 quarter with doubling in part of the lettering or design, it may be a doubled die. The values of a doubled die coin largely depend on how drastic the doubling is and its location. (Also important is how rare and sought after the coin is.) Minor, obscure doubled die quarters might sell for only small premiums above face value, but those with dramatic doubling can fetch well more than $100.
- Off-Center 2023 Quarter Error — Off-center quarters are fascinating errors! They’re made when either the coin isn’t seated squarely between the dies, or the dies are misaligned on the press. Off-center quarter values largely depend on how far off center the design was struck — and also whether or not the date is fully visible. So, a 2023 quarter that’s 5% or 10% off center may be worth $20 or $30, while an example that 50% off center with a full date can be worth more than $250.
- Broadstrike 2023 Quarter Error — U.S. quarters without ridges on their edges stir great curiosity among collectors. In most cases, quarters with no ridges are just heavily worn due to their use in vending machines and are worth only their face value. If the quarter has no edge reeding and it’s wider and thinner than normal, then it is most likely a broadstrike error. A 2023 broadstrike quarter error can be worth anywhere from $20 to $50.
Look for these 3 fun variety slip-ups: (1) On a Bessie Coleman quarter, use a coin loupe to inspect the wings of her biplane — there’s a famous saucer-shaped die chip error there that collectors have nicknamed the “UFO Error”. (2) And if you track down a Maria Tallchief quarter, scan her feathered headdress. A common die break frequently leaves an extra blob of metal right on top, making it look like she’s wearing 3 feathers instead of 2 of them. (3) Finally, check the front of any 2023 quarter for the “IN COD WE TRUST” anomaly, where heavy die wear often rubs away the lower curve of the letter “G”. While item #3 is a common novelty that is just for laughs, those first two are the little treasures that can actually bring a nice premium from variety hunters!
The Bottom Line
Overall, the 2023 quarters serve as a powerful reminder of the remarkable women who have shaped the United States. They not only represent a shift in U.S. currency design but also spark conversations about diversity, inclusion, and the importance of recognizing female achievements.
So, the next time you come across a 2023 quarter, take a moment to appreciate the inspiring woman pictured on the back and the unique story she tells.
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