The 1979 Washington Quarter: Value, Errors & What Yours Is Worth

The Doubled Die Obverse occurs during the hubbing process, when the working die receives two or more impressions from the master hub at slightly different angles or offsets. This was unintentional — a result of mechanical inconsistency on the mint press, most likely during the preparation of working dies used across the high-volume 1979 production run.

On a genuine DDO, look for clearly separated, raised secondary images on the word LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. The doubling must be distinct and three-dimensional — not the flat, shelf-like "smear" of machine doubling, which is a strike artifact that adds no value. A 10× loupe is essential for confident identification.

Strong, well-separated examples in uncirculated grades can reach the mid-hundreds to over $1,000. Collectors cross-reference known die varieties on VarietyVista.com, which lists specific die variety numbers (e.g., CONECA classification) for confirmed 1979 DDO dies. Circulated examples with visible doubling typically sell in the $75–$300 range depending on the degree of separation and overall eye appeal.

A clipped planchet error occurs during the blank (planchet) punching stage, when the die cuts too close to a previously punched hole in the metal strip. The result is a curved — or sometimes straight — bite taken out of the coin's rim, leaving a crescent-shaped void in the final coin. Single clips and compound (double) clips both occur on 1979 Washington quarters.

On a single curved clip, one area of the coin's edge will have a smooth, concave curve where metal is missing. On a double-clip example, two separate curved voids appear at different points around the rim. The Blakesley Effect — a weak or flat area in the design directly opposite the clip — is a diagnostic tool collectors use to confirm authenticity, since the planchet's metal flows abnormally during striking when a section is missing.

A confirmed double curved clip example from the Philadelphia Mint, graded MS-65, sold for $500 at auction — a figure corroborated by multiple sources. Single curved clips in circulated grades start around $20–$60, rising to $100–$200 in uncirculated condition. Compound clips and dramatic examples command the highest premiums. All examples benefit significantly from professional authentication, as edge damage can superficially resemble genuine clips.

An off-center strike happens when the planchet is not properly seated in the collar ring beneath the dies at the moment of striking. The result is a coin where part of the design is missing, replaced by a blank crescent of unstruck metal along one edge. The percentage off-center — how far the design has shifted — directly affects collectibility and value.

For 1979 quarters, the sweet spot for maximum collector interest is 20–50% off-center, and the date must be clearly visible on the coin. A 5% off-center example is barely noticeable and brings only modest premiums; a 50%+ example with a clearly struck, readable date can reach $200–$300 or more. Wider off-center percentages that eliminate the date entirely are generally less desirable, since attribution becomes impossible.

The 1979 quarter sees a relatively wide variety of off-center percentages in the market, partly because the high mintage provides more raw material for these random production errors. Circulated off-center examples start around $30–$50, while well-centered (within the struck area) uncirculated examples attract serious bidding from error coin specialists. Submit to PCGS or NGC for authentication and encapsulation before selling any example above $75.

A wrong planchet error occurs when a blank intended for a different denomination inadvertently enters the quarter press and receives the Washington quarter die impression. For 1979, the most documented example is a quarter struck on a Jefferson nickel planchet — a blank that is both smaller in diameter and lighter than a standard quarter planchet. These errors require the Jefferson nickel blank to have somehow entered the quarter feeder system undetected.

The visual result is striking: the coin looks like a quarter but is noticeably smaller and lighter. Design elements near the rim will be cut off or weak because the nickel blank doesn't extend to the full quarter diameter. The metal color may also appear slightly different under direct light, reflecting the different nickel alloy composition of the blank versus a standard clad quarter planchet.

A confirmed 1979 quarter struck on a Jefferson nickel planchet sold for $184 in Extra Fine (XF) grade at Heritage Auctions — a sale corroborated by coinvalueapp.com. Higher-grade examples with strong eye appeal can exceed $500. The easiest first check is weight: a standard 1979 quarter is 5.67 grams; a nickel planchet is approximately 5.0 grams. Wrong planchet errors are among the most commonly counterfeited, so professional authentication from PCGS or NGC is essential before any sale.

A broadstrike occurs when the coin is struck outside of the retaining collar ring that normally constrains the metal as it flows under the die. Without the collar's limiting wall, the metal spreads outward freely during the strike, producing a coin that is wider and thinner than normal and lacks the characteristic reeded (ridged) edge of a standard Washington quarter. The design itself is fully struck, but it extends further toward the now-absent rim.

On a genuine broadstrike, the coin will measure noticeably wider than the standard 24.3mm diameter — often 25–27mm or more. The edge will be entirely smooth or only faintly rimmed, with no reeding whatsoever. It is critical to distinguish a genuine broadstrike from a coin with a smooth edge caused by heavy circulation wear. A circulated worn quarter will still measure 24.3mm and maintain normal thickness; a broadstrike is both wider and proportionally thinner.

Values for 1979 Washington quarter broadstrikes depend on strike quality and overall centering. Well-struck, fully centered examples in uncirculated condition attract the most interest from error collectors, typically fetching $75–$200 at auction. Circulated examples start around $30–$50. An important reference note: the smooth-edge quarters commonly found after vending machine use are not broadstrikes — the correct visual test is measuring diameter and thickness, not just feeling the edge for reeding.