That Quarter With Red Paint On It Has Some Interesting History Behind It

There are plenty of odd details hiding in United States currency, and red-painted quarters are one of them.

At first glance, a quarter painted red across first president George Washington’s face can look like a paint stain. In many cases, though, the paint was put there on purpose.

Red-painted quarters, sometimes referred to as “house coins,” were especially common during the mid-20th century. Learn the history behind red quarters, where they were used and why, if they’re worth more than regular quarters, and what collectors should look for before setting one aside.

Why Businesses Painted Quarters Red

Businesses sometimes painted quarters red so workers could pick out company-owned coins after they went through coin-operated machines. Coin collectors often refer to these marked quarters as “house coins” or “shill coins.”

Jukeboxes are among the best-known examples. A bar or restaurant could put a marked quarter into a jukebox to play music. When someone later emptied the machine, the red quarter was easy to spot and return to the business rather than counting it among customer payments.

Arcades and laundry businesses used marked quarters for similar reasons. Workers could use them to test games, washers, or dryers or give a customer another play or cycle after a machine problem.

Red showed up clearly on a quarter, and some historical accounts mention red nail polish as a common way to mark the coins. Businesses didn’t all use the same system, though. Some used other colors, so the paint alone can’t show exactly where a quarter came from.

Are Red-Painted Quarters Worth More Than Regular Quarters?

Red paint usually doesn’t add value to a quarter. Most are still worth 25 cents unless there’s something else unusual about the coin.

The year can make a bigger difference. Washington quarters dated 1964 or earlier were made with 90% silver. Quarters changed to a copper-nickel clad design in 1965, so an older coin may be worth more because of its silver content or because collectors are interested in that particular date, mint mark, or condition.

The paint also shouldn’t be scrubbed off. Cleaning an older coin can damage its surface and lower its value.

A quick look at the date and mint mark can help determine whether the quarter deserves a closer look. If it dates to 1964 or earlier, leaving it as found is usually the safest choice until a coin dealer or grading service can examine it.

For most red quarters, the paint is more useful as a clue to the coin’s past than as a source of added value. The mark may be a leftover from a jukebox, arcade game, washer, or dryer that once took quarters for every use.

Sources

• U.S. Mint, “Quarter”
• U.S. Mint, “Historic Coin Production”
• American Numismatic Association, “Coin Collecting FAQs”
• The E-Sylum, “The Mystery of the Red Quarters”
• APMEX, “Why Are Some Quarters Painted Red?”

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