West Point Quarter Value: Your Expert Guide to Hunting the Rare "W" Mint Mark

If you‘re an avid coin collector or just getting started in the hobby, you may have come across a mysterious quarter with a "W" mint mark and wondered about its significance and value. Quarters with the "W" mint mark were struck at the famous West Point Mint, but only in limited quantities as special issues in 2019 and 2020.

In this expert guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about West Point quarters, from their history and design to their rarity and value. Plus I‘ll give you my top tips for hunting down these treasured coins to add to your collection. Let‘s get started!

A Brief History of the West Point Mint and Circulating "W" Quarters

The West Point Mint in New York has a fascinating history dating back to 1937 when it was first established as a bullion depository. It mainly produced gold and silver commemorative coins until finally gaining official status as a branch of the U.S. Mint in 1988.

While West Point is known for striking American Gold and Silver Eagles and other premium coins, it made history in 2019 by releasing its very first circulating quarters with the "W" mint mark. This was part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program showcasing national parks and sites around the United States.

Only 2 million of each of the five 2019-W quarter designs were minted, a tiny fraction compared to the output of the main Philadelphia and Denver Mints. This made them instant rarities for collectors to chase after. In 2020, the tradition continued with another five "W" quarter designs, again with mintages of just 2 million each.

Some of the 2020-W quarters even featured a special "V75" privy mark alongside the "W" to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. This added another exciting variety for collectors to seek out.

The 2019-W and 2020-W America the Beautiful Quarter Designs

Here‘s a complete list of the 2019-W and 2020-W America the Beautiful Quarters with their designs and inspirations:

2019-W Quarters

1. Lowell National Historical Park, Massachusetts – features a mill girl working a power loom with the city in the background
2. American Memorial Park, Northern Mariana Islands – depicts a woman in traditional dress resting her hand on a plaque to honor those who died in WWII
3. War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam – shows American soldiers fighting in the WWII battle to recapture Guam
4. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas – has symbols for the missions‘ communities with arches, a bell, lion, wheat, and river
5. Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, Idaho – portrays a person in a drift boat floating down a rugged river surrounded by trees and mountains

2020-W Quarters

1. National Park of American Samoa – features a Samoan fruit bat mother with her pup hanging upside down to increase awareness for this endangered species
2. Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut – depicts an artist painting outside the farm with the inscription "A National Park for Art"
3. Salt River Bay National Historical Park, U.S. Virgin Islands – shows mangrove trees in various stages of growth to highlight their ecological importance
4. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont – portrays a young girl planting a Norway spruce seedling to represent forest conservation
5. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas – features a two Regal Fritillary butterflies pollinating big bluestem grass in the tallgrass prairie

Tips and Tricks for Finding W Mint Mark Quarters in Circulation

With only 2 million of each design released, the 2019-W and 2020-W quarters can be quite challenging to find in everyday change. However, with some persistence and strategy, you can increase your odds of tracking them down. Here are my expert tips:

1. Use cash whenever possible to get change back, increasing your pool of quarters to search through. Get cash back when making purchases too.

2. Visit your bank and buy rolls of quarters to search through at home. You can also ask if they have any loose quarters you can exchange for or buy.

3. Check places that deal in a lot of quarters like vending machines, car washes, and laundromats. Arcade change machines are especially promising sources.

4. Inspect any quarters you receive before spending them. Get in the habit of always checking your change for W mint marks or any other interesting coins.

5. Recruit friends and family to be on the lookout for W quarters too. The more people searching, the better your chances of finding one.

Values and Most Sought After West Point Quarters

As with all coins, the value of a West Point quarter depends heavily on its condition and grade. A heavily worn or damaged example may only fetch around $10 while pristine, high-grade specimens certified by NGC or PCGS can sell for hundreds of dollars.

First Day of Issue coins and those with special designations like "First W Quarter Released" from the major grading services are also highly prized by registry set collectors. For example, the very first 2019-W Lowell quarter found and graded by PCGS sold for over $10,000!

Of the 2020 issues, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller W quarters with the "V75" privy mark have proven extremely popular due to their striking design and anniversary tie-in. Quality examples of these regularly bring $500-$1,000.

Keep an eye out for varieties as well like the 2019-W American Memorial Park quarters missing the "W" mint mark. Any unusual or error W quarters can command a significant premium.

FAQs About W Quarters

To round out your knowledge, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about these special modern quarters:

Q: What does the "W" mint mark mean?
A: The "W" indicates the coin was struck at the West Point Mint facility in New York which normally only produces commemorative and bullion coins.

Q: How rare are W quarters?
A: With a mintage of only 2 million for each design, W quarters are very scarce compared to the billions of quarters produced by the Philadelphia and Denver Mints each year.

Q: What is the most valuable W quarter?
A: The first 2019-W Lowell quarter found and graded MS68 by PCGS with a special "First Day of Issue" designation sold for $10,200 in 2020, the highest price yet paid for a W quarter.

Q: What‘s the meaning of the "V75" mark on some 2020-W quarters?
A: This is a privy mark added to the design to honor the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in WWII in 2020. Not all 2020-W quarters have the "V75" mark.

Q: Are W quarters still being made after 2020?
A: No, the West Point Mint only produced circulating quarters in 2019 and 2020 for the America the Beautiful series. It‘s unknown if they will strike any other circulating coins in the future.

Start Your Treasure Hunt Today!

I hope you‘ve enjoyed this comprehensive guide to West Point quarters and feel inspired to start your own search for these amazing pieces of numismatic history. While they can be challenging to find, the thrill of the hunt and finally discovering one in change is an incredible feeling.

Share this article with your fellow collectors and invite them to join you on the quest for W quarters. If you have any additional tips or experiences to share, I‘d love to hear about them in the comments below. Thanks for reading and best of luck with your treasure hunting!