Top-grade 1968-S SMS quarters have sold for well over $1,000 in gem condition, while common circulated examples are worth face value. The difference is mint mark, grade, and knowing about the key error varieties that collectors actively chase.
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Go to the Calculator →The 1968-S Special Mint Set quarter is the rarest regular-issue 1968 quarter by mintage. Check yours against these four diagnostic points.
For a thorough illustrated in-depth 1968 quarter identification guide and reference covering all varieties in detail, see that resource alongside the table below.
| Variety | Worn (G–AG) | Circulated (VG–EF) | Uncirculated (MS-60–64) | Gem (MS-65+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-P (No Mint Mark) | $0.25 | $0.25–$1 | $2–$12 | $20–$60 |
| 1968-D | $0.25 | $0.25–$1 | $2–$15 | $25–$80 |
| 1968-S SMS ⭐ | N/A (not circulated) | $3–$8 | $15–$40 | $60–$500+ |
| 1968-P DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) | $10–$25 | $25–$75 | $75–$200 | $200–$500+ |
| 1968-D RPM (Repunched Mint Mark) | $5–$15 | $15–$40 | $40–$100 | $100–$250+ |
| 1968 Off-Center Strike (50%+) 🔴 | $30–$60 | $60–$150 | $150–$350+ | $300–$600+ |
| 1968 Broadstrike (No Collar) | $15–$30 | $30–$80 | $80–$200 | $200–$400+ |
⭐ = signature variety (highest collector demand) | 🔴 = rarest error type | Values based on auction data and published price guides; individual results vary by grade, eye appeal, and market timing.
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The 1968 Washington Quarter was produced at three mints with high-speed mechanical presses, and that production volume created opportunities for die preparation errors, strike anomalies, and planchet irregularities that now command significant collector premiums. Below are the five most important error varieties, ranked by collector interest and documented market value. Each entry covers what the error is, how to identify it, and what drives its premium.
The doubled die obverse occurs when a working die receives two or more misaligned impressions from the hub during the hubbing process. On the 1968 quarter, hub doubling produced a secondary shifted image on key design elements — most visibly on the word LIBERTY and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse (heads) side.
To identify the DDO, use a 10× loupe and examine the letters of LIBERTY carefully. Genuine hub doubling shows a separate, rounded secondary image offset from the primary letters — not a flat shelf or smear. The date numerals and Washington's portrait features may also exhibit doubling in stronger specimens. This is distinct from machine doubling (also called "strike doubling" or "shelf doubling"), which adds no premium.
Collector demand for confirmed hub doubling on Washington Quarters is strong. In circulated condition, even modest examples with clearly visible doubling sell for significant multiples over face value. Gem uncirculated specimens with strong, spread doubling attract the highest premiums, often outperforming generic MS-65 examples by a factor of five or more.
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not properly centered between the dies at the moment of striking. The result is a coin where the design is shifted to one side, leaving a corresponding crescent of unstruck, blank planchet on the opposite side. These errors escaped quality control at the mint before being released into circulation.
Off-center 1968 quarters are measured by the percentage of shift. A 5% off-center piece shows only a slight rim irregularity, while a 50%+ off-center coin has a large crescent of blank metal. The most desirable examples are those struck 40–60% off-center where the complete date (1968) remains fully visible within the struck portion — this combination of dramatic error and readable date drives the highest collector premiums.
Values increase substantially with the degree of offset. Minor off-centers (under 10%) attract modest premiums; dramatic examples at 40–70% with the date visible are actively sought by error specialists. Gem uncirculated off-center strikes from this era can reach several hundred dollars in competitive auction settings, as they represent a combination of production error and preserved original surfaces.
A broadstrike occurs when the collar die — the ring that normally constrains the planchet during striking and forms the reeded edge — fails to engage properly or is absent entirely. Without the collar's restraint, the metal flows outward in all directions under the press's force, creating a coin with a larger than normal diameter, a flattened or absent rim, and no reeding on the edge.
On a 1968 broadstrike quarter, the design appears complete but spread wider than normal. The coin's diameter is measurably larger than the standard 24.3 mm, and the edge is smooth or nearly smooth rather than reeded. The lack of a rim causes the lettering near the edge (LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse) to appear wider, flatter, and often partially weak or spread outward.
Broadstrikes on Washington Quarters from this era are collected as classic strike errors. Uncirculated broadstrikes command strong premiums because they show the full spread of the error with original luster intact. In gem uncirculated condition, well-preserved broadstrikes can reach $200–$400+, making them accessible yet desirable acquisitions for error collectors at every level.
The repunched mint mark (RPM) occurs when the mint mark was applied to the working die by hand more than once, with the second or subsequent punch slightly misaligned from the first. In 1968, the mint mark on Washington Quarters was applied to the obverse die by hand punch — a labor-intensive process that created RPM varieties when punching was imprecise or required correction.
On the 1968-D RPM, a secondary "D" is visible adjacent to, overlapping, or tilted relative to the primary "D" mint mark behind Washington's neck. Under a 10× loupe or stereo microscope, you can see the secondary impression as a partial or complete additional letter outline. The position (north, south, east, or west of primary) varies by die, and some RPM varieties show multiple secondary punches.
RPMs on 1968-D Washington Quarters are catalogued by specialists and represent one of the more accessible varieties for new collectors — the error is detectable with basic magnification and doesn't require expensive authentication to confirm. In gem uncirculated condition, strong RPM varieties with bold secondary mintmarks command meaningful premiums and are regularly sought by variety specialists building Washington Quarter collections by die variety.
The doubled die reverse is produced by the same hub-to-die hubbing process as the DDO, but the misalignment occurs on the reverse (tails) die instead. On the 1968 Washington Quarter reverse, hub doubling manifests as a secondary shifted image on the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the eagle's breast and wing feathers, or the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR. Like all true hub doubling, it is present on every coin struck by that die.
Identifying a 1968 DDR requires a 10× loupe focused on the reverse lettering. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is typically the most diagnostic area — look for rounded, separated secondary letter images displaced to the north, south, or rotated slightly from the primary inscription. Doubling in the eagle's feather details may also be visible under magnification, though lettering doubling is generally easier to confirm without specialized equipment.
The 1968 DDR is less widely known than the DDO among general collectors, making it something of a hidden gem for variety specialists. Well-documented DDR examples carry solid premiums, particularly in uncirculated grades where the original surfaces preserve the doubled details most clearly. Collectors building complete Washington Quarter doubled die sets actively seek confirmed 1968-P and 1968-D reverse doubling varieties for their registry sets.
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Calculate My Coin's Value →Three mints produced 1968 Washington Quarters, with dramatically different mintage figures — and survival rates that directly affect collector availability today.
| Mint | Mint Mark | Mintage (Approx.) | Type | Relative Scarcity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | None | ~220,731,500 | Circulation Strike | Very Common |
| Denver | D | ~101,534,000 | Circulation Strike | Common |
| San Francisco | S | ~3,041,506 | Special Mint Set (SMS) | Scarce (collector issue) |
| Total | — | ~325,307,006 | All types combined | — |
Condition is the single biggest driver of value for common-date 1968 quarters. Here's how to identify each grade level.
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Different venues suit different coin values. Match your coin to the right marketplace for the best result.
Professional grading by PCGS or NGC makes sense when your coin may be worth $75 or more in a holder. Grading fees start around $25–$40 per coin at economy service, so calculate whether the premium a certified coin earns over a raw example covers the cost. For gem 1968-S SMS quarters, dramatic error coins, or potential high-grade MS-67+ examples, certification almost always adds net value and provides authentication that protects both buyer and seller.
Answers drawn from current market data and numismatic research.
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