1909 United States 1/4 Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar brings anywhere from $5.63 to $60.76, and its metal content alone is worth $5.63 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1909 United States 1/4 Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $5.63 |
| Good (G-4) | $5.63 to $6.75 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $5.63 to $6.95 |
| Fine (F-12) | $5.63 to $7.29 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $5.63 to $7.76 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $6.22 to $8.78 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $7.65 to $10.80 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $10.52 to $14.85 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $16.74 to $23.63 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $43.04 to $60.76 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar starts around $5.63. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $60.76. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1909 United States 1/4 Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1909
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 5.327 g
- Diameter
- 24 mm
- Silver content
- 0.15414 troy oz
Why there is no letter on this coin
The 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1909, that is exactly as it should be.
Why the 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar is worth money
Every 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar contains 0.1541 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $5.63. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1909 United States 1/4 Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
****** IN GOD WE TRUST ******* (date)
Liberty head r.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; QUARTER DOLLAR
heraldic eagle, motto on ribbon and stars above
Measured 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar specimens
7 physically measured 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5.327 g, 24 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #1 | - | - | - | Breen.4199 |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.4202 |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.4203 |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.4199 |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #6 | - | - | - | - |
| 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar #7 | 5.327 g | 24 mm | 6 h | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1909 United States 1/4 Dollar is valued between $5.63 and $60.76 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.