How Much Is A Gold Plated Quarter Worth? (2024 Update + Price History)

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Last Updated on: 9th April 2024, 09:10 pm

A gold coin isn’t worth its weight in gold. Not necessarily, at least. Many plated gold quarters are worth no more than a standard 25-cent U.S.-minted quarter. Although these coins contain a thin layer of gold—usually about 0.003 inches thick—they’re virtually impossible to resell because they have little to no melt value. 

A genuine gold quarter, however, is worth a pretty penny. If you’re a lucky owner of one of the 91,752 government-issued gold quarters in circulation, you’ve got a resellable collector’s item worth far more than its face value. 

Curious to know what your gold quarter is worth? Below, I’ve broken down the current market price of a gold quarter, analyzed its price history, and commented on whether they're a sound investment during periods of economic instability and rising inflation.

Gold Quarter Value 101: A Crash Course

Gold quarters are relatively new inventions, but gold coins aren’t. In the United States, gold coins were first introduced with the passage of the Coinage Act of 1792. This statute led to the minting of a $10 coin (Eagle), a $5 coin (Half-eagle), and a $2.50 coin (Quarter-eagle). Gold quarters are not to be confused with Quarter-eagles, which are also made of gold but are worth considerably more. 

In the 19th and 20th centuries, commemorative gold coins were issued periodically by the U.S. Mint, including the 1903 Louisiana Purchase Expo dollar, the 1916 McKinley Memorial dollar, and the 1922 Grant Memorial dollar. 

By the late 20th-century, the collectors’ aftermarket for gold coinage grew such that the U.S. Mint began issuing coins not intended for circulation (NIFC). These commemorative gold and silver coins were issued purely for collectors’ markets and include such rare coins as the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum coin ($5 face value) and the 2000 Library of Congress bimetallic eagle ($10 face value). 

Standing Liberty Centennial Gold Coin (2016)

The only officially sanctioned gold quarter to ever enter circulation is the Standing Liberty Centennial Gold Coin, issued in 2016, with a 99.99% 24 karat gold composition and a face value of 25 cents. The coin weighs 0.25 troy ounces and features a “W” hallmark on its obverse side in reference to its minting location in West Point, New York. Only 91,752 Standing Liberty Centennial quarters have ever been produced by the U.S. Mint. 

The aftermarket value of a Standing Liberty Centennial gold quarter is derived from its melt value which, in turn, derives from the current spot price of gold. Given that the coin contains 0.25 ounces of gold, its resale value is approximately a fourth of the price of a one-ounce gold bullion bar. 

At the time of writing, the per-ounce spot price of gold bullion is $2,352.87 (At time of press). Therefore, a U.S.-minted gold quarter, which contains 0.25 ounces of pure gold, is currently worth $588.21 in pure melt value.  

However, this assumes that the coin has a sharp strike with a full original luster but up to two or three noticeable contact marks (MS-66/67). A gold quarter in “perfect uncirculated” mint state (MS-70) without any wear, scratches, or contact with other coins as detected by 5x magnification can often sell for 15-25% more than its weight in gold. 

To find the melt value of your gold coin, use our price of gold calculator. Our calculator uses up-to-the-minute data to calculate the market price of aftermarket gold based on its weight, purity, and bid price.

Price History of Gold Quarters

Since their original minting in 2016, gold quarter prices have fluctuated according to the spot price of gold bullion. Below, I’ve listed the year-end price history of MS-66/67 condition Standing Liberty Centennial Gold Coins for every year they have been in circulation:

• 2016: $289.78
• 2017: $324.12
• 2018: $320.41
• 2019: $348.25
• 2020: $483.87
• 2021: $438.70
• 2022: $463.50
• 2023: $495.26
• 2024: $588.21

The value of gold quarters has maintained a strong upward trajectory over the past 5-year period. Between 2019 and early 2024, gold quarters have appreciated +47.11%. The appreciation of gold quarters rivals that of the U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 index, which grew by approximately +78.99% in the same period, as depicted by the chart below. The key difference, however, is that gold's price appreciation has remained relatively consistent over the years, whereas the S&P 500 has experienced high volatility in recent years, with rapid and unpredictable price swings from one day to the next. 

Source: Google Market Summary

Are Gold Quarters a Worthwhile Investment in 2024?

Gold quarters are an excellent portfolio diversifier and hedge against instability in the equities market. In April 2024, the price of gold entered all-time high territory by breaking through the critical $2,300 per ounce resistance point. Some analysts are talking about a cup and handle pattern forming in the price of gold which could see a $3,000 price per ounce sooner rather than later.  

The general sentiment among analysts and market watchers is that gold’s bull run will continue through the next 12-to-18-month period. While 2022 saw the price of gold rise and subsequently fall due to hawkish Fed monetary policies, mainstream forecasts put gold’s price ceiling around $2,100 (AuAg ESG ETF) by Q4 2023. This prediction turned out to be true, as that quarter saw gold reach an all-time high of about $2,135. If the Federal Reserve pivots toward a dovish interest rate environment, some industry analysts largely predict “Goldilocks conditions” for the yellow metal in 2024. 

Bank of America analysts have set a price target of $2,200 per ounce for Q4 2024, due in large part to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, supply chain disruptions in the Red Sea, and an interest rate environment that's expected to soon fall. Should these price targets materialize, a gold quarter would be worth $550. 

Gold tends to perform well during times of relative instability and uncertainty. Investors flock to precious metals such as gold to flee the volatility of the stock market during bear markets and recessions, which have a history of retaining their value during economic downturns. 

For example, between October 2007 and March 2009, the length of the recession during the global financial crisis, the price of gold increased +25.5% while the S&P 500 fell by 56.8%. Similarly, the bursting of the dot-com bubble, between March 2000 and October 2002, saw the S&P 500 sink 49% and the price of gold rise by 12.4%. 

History proves that gold is indeed a smart investment for investors looking to hedge against systemic instability and market risk. Amid the economic instability brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and widespread social unrest in the United States, risk-averse investors may want to consider diversifying their portfolio with a gold IRA or 401(k). 

Gold Quarters Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1788 Quarter Value

Many of our readers have recently asked us about the 1788 quarter value, which is officially titled the 1788 Statehood Quarter Dollar. The 1788 Virginia quarter value is approximately 25 cents, or its face value. This coin was minted in 2000 to commemorate the year that Virginia received statehood, and is composed of copper and nickel at a 3:1 ratio. However, it is sometimes misconstrued as a gold coin, which it is not.

The Bottom Line

Gold-plated quarters aren’t valuable, but genuine gold quarters are worth several hundred dollars apiece. Their exact resale value depends on the spot price, which varies day by day. Since its inception in 2016, the Standing Liberty Centennial gold quarter has increased in value by +77.25%, boasting gains that rival the hot yet highly volatile U.S. stock market 

During times of instability such as these, investors should consider gold and gold quarters as safe-haven assets. To get started adding physical gold bullion to your investment portfolio, check out this comprehensive list of IRA-approved gold coins and bars. For a full list of top-ranked gold investment companies for your IRA or 401(k), take a look at our exclusive list of the 10 best gold IRA companies in America.

The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation.