By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
The 2021 Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter was a one-year type of the Washington Quarter issued by the United States Mint as a stopgap between multi-year, multi-coin programs. The last America the Beautiful Quarter came out earlier that year, and the first American Women Quarter would come out in January 2022.
The Mint unveiled the design on Christmas in 2020, the 244th anniversary of George Washington’s crossing of the icy Delaware River in 1776 to take the Hessian mercenaries stationed in Trenton, New Jersey, by surprise. Benjamin Sowards, a Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer, created the reverse, and Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso sculpted it. John Flanagan’s iconic Washington effigy was restored to the obverse after having been sharpened and resized for the 50 State Quarters Program over 20 years prior.
Denver struck over one billion circulating business strike 2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarters, a mintage about 170 million pieces higher than the Philadelphia issue.
How Much Is the 2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter Worth?
The 2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter is a common coin frequently traded on eBay. Due to its low value, even in its highest grades, this issue is not normally handled by major auction companies.
As of April 2025, NGC recorded 17 coins graded MS69, with one selling on eBayt for $400 on August 9, 2024. More recently, a PCGS MS68 coin, one of 207 graded by the company, sold for $439.95 on eBay.
Raw quarters in Mint State grades typically sell for $1 or $2, typical for uncertified modern quarters of recent issue.
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2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
Top Population: PCGS MS69 (2, 10/2025), NGC MS69 (17, 10/2025), and CAC MS66 (1 10/2025).
- NGC MS69: eBay, August 9, 2024 – $400.
- PCGS MS68 #49693415: eBay, February 21, 2025 – $439.95. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67+ #47987390: eBay. January 20, 2025 – $79.95. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, October 9, 2025 – $27.47. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, September 25, 2025 – $27.57. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, September 2, 2025 – $24.72. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, August 23, 2025 – $43.95. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, August 19, 2025 – $43.95. Buy It Now.
- PCGS MS67: eBay, August 9, 2024 – $40. First Day of Issue label.
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Design
Obverse:
The obverse features John Flanagan’s famous effigy of President George Washington, facing left. Inside a flat rim is the word LIBERTY clockwise at the top and the date 2021 at the bottom. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is placed to the lower left in front of Washington’s face, the words arranged in two lines. The P mintmark for Philadelphia is at the end of Washington’s ponytail or queue, and Flanagan’s initials JF are on the right side of the base of Washington’s neck.
Reverse:
General Washington faces right, saber drawn, as he commands his troops through the overnight crossing of the icy Delaware River. In the background is a boat filled with Continental Army soldiers. Inscriptions include CROSSING THE DELAWARE, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR.
Edge:
The edge of the 2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter is reeded.
Designers
American sculptor John Flanagan’s work in the medallic and metal arts ranks him as one of the best artists of his generation. For generations of coin collectors, he is most famous for his Washington Quarter design (View Designer’s Profile).
AIP artist Benjamin Sowards studied at Brigham Young University and Laguna College of Art and Design. He is known for his portraiture and fully painted book illustrations – including the Leven Thumps series of young adult fantasy novels. He has taught as Director of the Illustration Program at Southern Utah University since 2001.
Former Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso joined the United States Mint in 2009, having worked at the Willet Hauser stained glass studio in Minnesota. He studied at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the New York Academy Graduate School of Figurative Art in New York City, and the Repin Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Gaudioso retired from the Mint in 2020.
Coin Specifications
| Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter | |
| Year of Issue: | 2021 |
| Mintmark | D (Denver) |
| Mintage: | 1,169,400,000 |
| Alloy: | Outer layers of .750 copper, .250 nickel bonded to pure copper core |
| Weight: | 5.67 g |
| Diameter: | 24.30 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | John Flanagan |
| REV Designer: | Benjamin Sowards | Michael Gaudioso |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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The post 2021-D Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter : A Collector’s Guide appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.
