The provided context offers specific information regarding the value of a 1943 Washington silver quarter. One of the sources, a YouTube link, is irrelevant as it only contains boilerplate footer text. However, the information from the Littleton Coin Company provides a direct example of a coin's retail value.
According to the product listing from this retailer, a 1943-S Washington silver quarter in "Good" condition is priced at $38.50. It is crucial to note that this value is specific to a coin with the "S" mint mark, indicating it was produced at the San Francisco Mint, and is in a relatively low grade of preservation ("Good").
The value of any 1943 silver quarter depends on several key factors. The mint mark is significant; quarters were minted in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S), and their relative rarity can affect their value. The most critical factor is the coin's condition, or grade. A coin in uncirculated condition will be worth substantially more than one in "Good" condition, which shows significant wear.
Furthermore, all Washington quarters minted between 1932 and 1964 are composed of 90% silver. This gives them an intrinsic melt value based on the current market price of silver. However, their numismatic or collector value, as seen in the $38.50 retail price, is often significantly higher than their melt value due to demand from collectors. The source notes that many of these silver coins were melted down when silver prices were high, reducing the available supply and increasing their scarcity for collectors today.
