Most Valuable Canadian Quarters: Key Dates & Prices

Introduction: 155 Years of the Canadian Quarter

The Canadian 25-cent piece has been struck continuously since 1870, making it one of the longest-running denominations in Canadian coinage. Over those 155 years, the quarter has gone through six distinct compositional eras, four monarchs (plus the current King), and dozens of design changes — from the simple crowned wreath reverse of Victoria's reign through the iconic caribou that has graced the coin since 1937.

For collectors, the quarter offers a satisfying middle ground: more affordable than silver dollars but with enough genuine rarities to keep the hunt interesting for decades. Several key dates command thousands of dollars in any grade, while others lurk in old collections waiting to be recognized.

This guide covers every major key date, the physical specifications collectors need for authentication, and current market values across the grading spectrum. Whether you are checking an inherited collection or actively pursuing a date set, the data below will help you identify what matters and what it is worth.

Compositional Eras

The Canadian quarter has been struck in five distinct metal compositions. Knowing these eras is essential for authentication, silver content calculation, and understanding why certain dates survive in lower numbers than their mintages suggest. For a deeper look at silver content and melt values, see our Canadian silver coin guide.

Era	Composition	Weight	Diameter	Edge
1870–1910	92.5% silver, 7.5% copper	5.81 g	23.62 mm	Reeded
1911–1919	92.5% silver, 7.5% copper	5.83 g	23.62 mm	Reeded
1920–1967	80% silver, 20% copper	5.83 g	23.62 mm	Reeded
1967–1968	Transition (mixed silver & nickel)	5.83 g / 5.05 g	23.62 / 23.88 mm	Reeded
1969–1999	Pure nickel (99.9%)	5.05–5.07 g	23.88 mm	Reeded
2000–2002	Nickel-plated steel (94% steel core)	4.4 g	23.88 mm	Reeded
2003–present	Copper-plated steel (94% steel core)	4.4 g	23.88 mm	Reeded

The Key Dates

These are the dates that make or break a Canadian quarter collection. Each one commands a significant premium over common dates in equivalent condition. Prices below are in Canadian dollars for problem-free, uncleared examples.

1889 — The Rarest Regular-Issue Quarter

With a mintage of just 66,340, the 1889 quarter is the undisputed key date of the entire Canadian quarter series. To put that number in perspective, most Victorian-era quarters had mintages in the hundreds of thousands or millions. The 1889 had less than a third of the next-lowest date.

These coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London (Canada did not have its own mint until 1908). Survival rates are low because quarters of this era circulated heavily — the 25-cent piece was a practical workhorse denomination in late-19th-century Canada.

Grade	AG-3	VG-8	VF-20	EF-40	MS-60	MS-63	MS-64
Value	$70.70	$189	$994	$1,890	$7,700	$15,000	$25,100

Even in low grades, the 1889 is worth examining carefully. A well-struck AG-3 at $70.70 is affordable for many collectors and anchors a date set. Uncirculated examples are genuinely rare — most surviving pieces grade VG to VF. Any 1889 quarter in EF or better is a significant coin.

1906 Small Crown — The Variety King

The 1906 quarter exists in two obverse varieties: the common Large Crown and the rare Small Crown. The difference is in the size of the crown atop Edward VII's head on the obverse. The Large Crown variety, with a mintage of 1,237,843, is a common coin. The Small Crown is one of the most valuable Canadian quarter varieties at any grade.

The Small Crown die was likely used briefly before being replaced. Exact mintage figures for the variety are unknown, but survival rates suggest it is extremely scarce. Distinguishing the two requires careful comparison — the Small Crown is noticeably smaller and positioned slightly differently relative to the surrounding lettering.

Grade	AG-3	VG-8	VF-20	EF-40	AU-50	MS-62
Value	$834	$2,850	$12,700	$21,200	$31,700	$53,700

The 1906 Small Crown is one of those coins that turns up in old collections because the previous owner did not know the variety existed. If you encounter any 1906 quarter, examine the crown carefully. The difference between a $10 common coin and an $834+ rarity comes down to a few millimetres of die engraving. For more on identifying valuable varieties, see our errors and varieties guide.

1875-H — The Survival Rarity

The 1875-H quarter has a mintage of 1,000,000 — not especially low by Victorian standards. Yet it is one of the most valuable quarters in the entire series. The explanation lies in survival rate rather than mintage. The "H" mintmark indicates production at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England. These coins entered circulation in the mid-1870s and were used hard. Very few survived in collectible condition.

Additionally, many 1875-H quarters were likely melted or worn beyond recognition over the 150+ years since their striking. The combination of age, heavy circulation, and low survival makes this date far rarer than its mintage suggests.

Grade	AG-3	VG-8	VF-20	EF-40	MS-60	MS-63
Value	$266	$756	$2,270	$4,100	$18,300	$41,700

The 1875-H illustrates an important principle in numismatics: mintage does not equal rarity. Survival rate, condition census, and collector demand all play roles. This coin is a textbook example of why checking early dates carefully is always worthwhile.

1936 Dot — The Depression-Era Rarity

The 1936 Dot quarter is one of several Canadian "Dot" varieties from the transition between George V and George VI. When George V died in January 1936, the Royal Canadian Mint needed time to prepare new dies bearing the portrait of George VI. In the interim, the Mint continued using 1936-dated George V dies, adding a small raised dot to indicate 1937 production. The dot appears on the reverse, below the wreath.

The 1936 Dot quarter is more accessible than the legendary 1936 Dot cent and 10-cent (of which only a handful are known), but it remains a significant key date. Varieties also exist with a bar under the date, and a combined dot-and-bar variety.

Grade	AG-3	VG-8	VF-20	EF-40	MS-60	MS-63	MS-65
Value	$15.80	$42.10	$235	$564	$1,510	$3,390	$7,700

1947 Dot — The Post-War Transition

The 1947 Dot quarter has a similar origin story to the 1936 Dot. After India gained independence in 1947, the inscription "ET IND:IMP:" (Emperor of India) had to be removed from Canadian coinage. While new dies were prepared, the Mint continued using 1947-dated dies with a small maple leaf added after the date to indicate 1948 production. However, a separate variety — the 1947 Dot — exists with a dot after the date instead of a maple leaf.

The Dot variety is considerably scarcer than the Maple Leaf variety, and it commands strong premiums in all grades.

Grade	VG-8	F-12	VF-20	EF-40	MS-60	MS-63	MS-65
Value	$72.60	$98.70	$149	$317	$644	$1,380	$4,590

1973 Large Bust (Mule) — Canada's Most Famous Error Quarter

The 1973 Large Bust quarter is one of the most celebrated error coins in Canadian numismatics. In 1973, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a special reverse commemorating the centennial of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The normal 1973 obverse featured a smaller bust of Queen Elizabeth II (the "Small Bust" type introduced that year). However, some coins were struck using the previous year's obverse die — the 1972 "Large Bust" type — paired with the 1973 RCMP reverse.

This die mismatch (known as a "mule") was not caught during production, and an unknown but small number of these coins entered circulation. The Large Bust variety is immediately identifiable: the Queen's portrait is noticeably larger, with the bust extending closer to the rim. The beads around the rim are also farther from the edge on the Large Bust versus the Small Bust.

Grade	VF-20	EF-40	AU-50	MS-60	MS-63	MS-65
Value	$150	$245	$340	$465	$721	$3,060

The 1973 Large Bust quarter is the most realistic "jackpot find" for Canadian coin roll hunters. Because it is a nickel coin that circulated normally, examples occasionally surface in rolls and change jars to this day. Every 1973 quarter you encounter is worth a quick check. For guidance on identifying this and other major error types, see our errors and varieties guide.

Other Key Dates Worth Knowing

Beyond the headliners above, several other dates carry significant premiums. These are coins that a serious date-set collector will need to budget for, though none reach the extremes of the 1906 Small Crown or 1875-H.

Date	Mintage	VG-8	VF-20	EF-40	MS-60	Notes
1872-H	748,000	$69	$225	$706	$4,540	Heaton Mint. Low survival
1887	100,000	$147	$473	$1,280	$7,370	Second-lowest Victorian mintage
1891	120,000	$120	$380	$1,060	$6,000	Scarce in all grades
1893	100,000	$140	$440	$1,190	$7,100	Equal-lowest with 1887
1915	242,382	$38	$170	$615	$4,150	Wartime. Low survival rate
1927	468,096	$25	$97	$345	$2,950	Lowest George V 80% silver

Complete Key Dates Pricing Summary

The table below consolidates the most valuable Canadian quarters sorted by their approximate value in VF-20 condition — the grade where most collectors encounter these coins. This is a practical shopping list for building a key-date set.

Rank	Date / Variety	Mintage	VF-20	MS-60	Era
1	1906 Small Crown	Unknown	$12,700	—	Edward VII
2	1875-H	1,000,000	$2,270	$18,300	Victoria
3	1889	66,340	$994	$7,700	Victoria
4	1887	100,000	$473	$7,370	Victoria
5	1893	100,000	$440	$7,100	Victoria
6	1891	120,000	$380	$6,000	Victoria
7	1936 Dot	—	$235	$1,510	George V
8	1872-H	748,000	$225	$4,540	Victoria
9	1915	242,382	$170	$4,150	George V
10	1973 Large Bust	Unknown	$150	$465	Elizabeth II
11	1947 Dot	—	$149	$644	George VI
12	1927	468,096	$97	$2,950	George V

The Commemorative Quarter Boom

Starting in the late 1990s, the Royal Canadian Mint began issuing commemorative circulation quarters at a pace that would have astonished earlier generations of collectors. The two landmark programs were the Millennium series (1999–2000) and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic quarters.

The Millennium quarter program issued 12 different reverse designs in 1999, each representing a month and a Canadian achievement or value, followed by 12 more in 2000. A total of 24 distinct designs entered circulation. While individually these coins are worth face value in circulated condition, complete sets of all 24 in uncirculated condition command a modest premium.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic series featured 14 different sport-themed reverses issued between 2007 and 2009, including some of the first coloured circulation coins in Canadian history. The coloured versions (featuring red, blue, and green highlights) are particularly popular with casual collectors.

Since then, the Mint has issued commemorative quarters regularly — coloured poppies for Remembrance Day, War of 1812 designs, Canada 150 themes, and more. For most collectors, these modern commemoratives are not significant in terms of value, but they add variety and colour to a collection. The real value proposition is in building complete themed sets, which have greater collector appeal than individual coins.

How to Identify Silver Quarters

One of the most common questions new collectors ask is whether a particular quarter contains silver. Three quick tests will tell you.

The Date Check

This is the simplest and most reliable method:

• 1966 and earlier: Guaranteed silver. 92.5% if dated 1919 or earlier; 80% silver if dated 1920–1966.
• 1967: Mixed. Some are 80% silver, some are 50% silver. Both varieties circulated.
• 1968: Mixed. Ottawa-struck coins are 50% silver; Philadelphia-struck coins are pure nickel. No mintmark distinguishes them — you need the magnet or weight test.
• 1969 and later: No silver. Pure nickel (1969–1999) or plated steel (2000–present).

The Magnet Test

Hold a strong magnet (a rare-earth magnet works best) near the coin. Silver quarters are not magnetic and will not be attracted. Pure nickel quarters are weakly magnetic. Plated steel quarters (2000+) are strongly magnetic. This is a quick field test that works in seconds, though it cannot distinguish between 80% and 50% silver.

The Weight Test

For definitive results, weigh the coin on a precision scale (0.01 g accuracy):

• 5.81–5.83 g: Silver (sterling or 80%)
• 5.05–5.07 g: Pure nickel
• 4.4 g: Plated steel

The weight difference between silver and nickel quarters is substantial enough that even a basic jeweller's scale can distinguish them reliably. For more on silver content, melt values, and which denominations to check, see our comprehensive Canadian silver coin guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Royal Canadian Mint — Official specifications, mintage records, and collector programs
• Coins and Canada — Comprehensive Canadian coin reference, pricing, and variety identification
• Numista — World coin catalog with detailed specifications and collector community data
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — Annual pricing and variety reference (published by Charlton Press)
• Trends: A Guide to Canadian Coin Values — Market pricing supplement published by the Canadian Coin News

Guide compiled for educational purposes by Canadian Coin Heads. This is not financial or investment advice. Coin values fluctuate based on condition, market demand, precious metal prices, and other factors. Prices shown are approximate CAD values based on recent market data and should be verified against current references before making purchasing decisions.