Implementing cryptocurrency payments into a small business venture can have numerous advantages for both the business and its customers. Using cryptocurrencies as a payment method lowers fees, makes transactions faster, and allows anonymous payments.

This article will go over how to implement cryptocurrencies into your small business's day-to-day operations. It goes beyond just making payments with Bitcoin, as there's much more that cryptocurrencies can offer a small business owner. Small businesses should also lean into the unique features the payments provide to the customers, as they need to compete for every potential customer, often against much bigger companies.

Accept Bitcoin Payments

 When small business owners learn to make money with Bitcoin, they usually start by simply providing the same services and goods but allow users to pay for them with crypto. It has many benefits for both the business and the consumer.

Payments made with Bitcoin are faster, safer, and can be made without providing personal information. It also helps small businesses position themselves in the market as a business that is open to crypto users – a younger and more affluent demographic.

Discounts for Crypto Users

One of the ways to implement the use of a new payment option is to link it with a discount. 

The discount can be limited based on the amount that's being transferred, a specific set of products or services, or a one-time payment. It can also be limited to a set time while the business is transitioning to crypto payments.

The cost of these discounts can be offset by the lower cost of transfers that come with using Bitcoin, but also with increased interest and a new customer base. 

It's also important to take into account that the value of cryptocurrencies fluctuates and can affect the discount value.

Crypto in a Physical Location

This option is often overlooked as crypto payments are first and foremost associated with online payments. However, crypto ATMs are a useful feature and a way for businesses based in physical locations to implement them organically.

This allows customers to buy cryptocurrencies with cash or sell their digital assets for fiat currency. As is the case with any other business based on a physical location, the key feature to consider is the location itself. If the company is located in an area where there's a need for this service, it will do well.

 Launching an ICO

 If your business is offering a unique service or a product, one of the ways to finance it and earn money is to create an ICO that will stand for fractal ownership of that product. ICO stands for Initial Coin Offering, and in essence, businesses create their crypto coin that will represent ownership over a certain asset.

This is a complex process, and businesses should go into it only if they've already built a community of users around their business. It should be done with proper legal guidance and based on a solid whitepaper that goes over objectives, technology, tokenomics, roadmap, team members, and legal considerations.

Implement Blockchain Technology

 Blockchain technology can have a lot of uses for a small business. Terms of the contract between a user and a business can be written into the contract. That way, the payments made between them are automated and completed as soon as the set terms are met.

It can be used to automate the process when it comes to agreements and transactions, supply chain management, or digital identity verification. For a small business, streamlining all of these processes reduces the cost of running a company, and for a user, it makes the interaction with the business smoother and faster.

Blockchain-Based Loyalty Programs

 Loyalty programs are based on a simple proposition – the users, clients, and customers who are loyal to a small business are rewarded for it with discounts and special offers. The loyalty program can come in many different forms – businesses often offer points for each purchase a customer makes. These points can later be traded for discounts or access to limited goods or services.

Blockchain can play a role in setting up such a system, as it can automate it and make it more transparent for all the parties involved. Transfers made with blockchain are part of an immutable ledger, and they can be automated to make the loyalty program instant.

Donations Made in Crypto

 Bitcoin can be used to make any payments; otherwise, it can be made with fiat money. 

One of the best ways small businesses can create a meaningful community around their customer base is to take part in charitable efforts and accept donations.

Using cryptocurrencies to make donations comes with the same benefits you would get from making purchases this way. The payments are faster, more secure, and less expensive. Many small businesses also let their users and customers choose the charitable causes the company will donate to.

Paying Suppliers or Employees

 Small businesses haven't started paying their employees in crypto in large numbers, although large companies are already doing so. A good way to implement the use of crypto gradually is for businesses to try to pay a portion of their salaries in fiat money and a portion in Bitcoin.

When it comes to paying suppliers, the practice is more common. It allows the payments to be automated, and blockchain makes supply chain management more transparent and less labour-intensive.

Affiliate Programs 

Affiliate programs are a common marketing technique for small companies. They are used to reward customers and clients that bring in new business. The rewards can come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are usually some form of discount or access to special offers.

An affiliate program can be used to bring in customers who will use cryptocurrencies as a payment option. It's especially useful for businesses that are trying to build up a base of users that commonly use cryptocurrencies. The rewards can be discounts, just as with fiat money, or they can be actual crypto payments.

Educate the Customers

It may seem like a complicated and expensive endeavour, but in the long run, educating potential customers and users about the use of crypto goes a long way. 

The technology is no longer new, and cryptocurrencies have a mainstream appeal. It's just a matter of showing that to your customers.

At the same time, small business owners should make sure that they are educated about the latest developments in crypto. It's important to keep following the industry news and to do so from respectable sources.

Conclusion

 Small businesses can benefit from introducing cryptocurrencies to their day-to-day business practices. There are plenty of users out there, and Bitcoin is now widely used by mainstream financial institutions. Introducing crypto to your business also opens it up to a new set of clients and customers who are used to making payments this way.

There are many ways to do it, starting from introducing it as a payment method, paying salaries and suppliers with crypto, and providing affiliate and marketing programs for those who use it. Businesses can also use blockchain technology to automate payments and make them more transparent.

It will interest you to know that to determine the value of a 1979 quarter, you need to be made aware of factors ranging from coin rarity, coin color, and mint errors, as these have a huge impact in determining how well a coin performs in the coin collectors world.

For this reason and to ensure that you get the highest value for your coin this detailed guide is expertly curated to guide you on ways to determine that 1979 quarter value.

1979 Quarter Value Chart

Here is a breakdown of the 1979 penny price. You’ll find the coin’s grade, variety and their respective prices as determined by PCGS.

We recommend using this coin value checker to help you determine the value of the 1979 no-mint mark quarter in your possession. Also, you need to know that the coin's price will vary depending on the grade, which is determined by its condition.

History of the 1979 Quarter

The first time the U.S. Mint struck the Washington Quarter was in 1932. With its arrival on the scene, the standing Liberty quarter was discontinued.

Although the intention was to create a coin that would be produced for one year alone in honor of the first American president, George Washington, on his 200^th posthumous birthday anniversary, the 1979 quarter would go on to be used till 1998.

The design adopted spanned longer than planned because the design of the 1979 quarter was in every regard preferred to that of the standing liberty quarter, which it replaced.

To determine the design to be featured on this coin, hundreds of artists submitted designs based on the famous Washington bust sculpture created by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon.

After reviewing all the entries by different designers, the Coin Commission chose Laura Gardin Fraser's design. However, when the commission submitted the designs to Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, he refused Fraser’s design.

This led to a controversy about whether Mellon refused this design because he didn't believe a female designer should design such a significant coin or if there was another reason he didn't agree with the selected design.

Fraser’s design eventually lost out as Mellon picked John Flanagan's design. However, her design came back to life when it was issued in 1999 as the 1999 George Washington Commemorative Gold $5 Coin.

Features of the 1979 Quarter

This section paints a mental picture of the physical and distinguishing features of the 1979 quarter.

The Obverse

As stated earlier, the 1979 Washington quarter obverse is based on a pre-existing sculpture of George Washington originally sculpted by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon.

Here, a left-facing image of George Washington takes center stage.

Common phrases you’ll find here include;

• LIBERTY: At the top of this Washington’s image and close to the rim
• IN GOD WE TRUST: To the image’s left is the famous phrase

Finally, the 1979 quarters had their mint location inscribed on the obverse. You’ll find it by the right carrying a “D” or “S” mint mark to signify either the Denver or San Francisco mint. Only Philadelphia minted quarters didn't carry such a mark.

The Reverse

The reverse of the 1979 quarter  is totally different from the obverse, as the American eagle occupies the center of the coin here. The eagle clutches a quiver with its talons; this represents war. It also has an olive branch beneath it, representing peace.

In addition, here are some phrases you'll find on close examination of the coin's reverse.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: At the top of the coin and very close to the rim

E PLURIBUS UNUM: Right above the eagle’s head

QUARTER DOLLAR: At the lower end of the coin

The Edges

The 1979 Washington Quarter features a reeded edge. This means there are 119 carefully carved-out lines around the edge of every coin that defines its appearance.

1979 Quarter Details

In addition to the physical details above, you should also know that this coin is 75% Copper and 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center. The 1979 quarter weighs 5.67 grams and has a melt value of $0.0540.

Finally, this coin holds a face value of $0.25 and comes with a diameter of 24.30 mm and a thickness of 1.95 mm.

Varieties of the 1979 Quarter

Depending on the presence or absence of a mint mark and the mint mark itself, 1979 quarters are divided into three different varieties. These mint marks serve as an indication of where the coin was produced.

1979 No Mint Mark Quarter

First, let's begin with the 1979 quarters from the Philadelphia Mint. These quarters possessed no mint marks and total 515,708,000, making it the highest mintage in the Washington quarter series.

You'll find that this coin variety generally holds a market value higher than its actual face value. A 1979 Philadelphia mint quarter in an MS 64 grade which is more common, is worth $5, while a rarer MS67+ grade is worth as much as $825.

In addition to the above, you should also know that the record for the most expensive 1979 no-mint mark quarter sold is held by an MS68 coin worth $1,440. It was sold by heritage auctions in August 2022.

1979 “D” Mint Mark Quarter

In addition to the Mint at Philadelphia, 1979 quarters were also minted in Denver in large numbers, with a total mintage of 489,789,780. Coins from these two mints bore the same physical features. However, the Denver mint possessed the "D" mint mark, while the Philadelphia mint did not.

Although “D” mint 1979 Washington quarters tend to be a little higher in value than those from Philadelphia, factors like the grade of a particular coin will also help determine the disparity in price when valuing the coin.

A low-grade D mint mark 1979 quarter in okay condition will only sell for $1 or $2; those graded higher, like the MS66, can sell for as much as $34, while an MS67+ grade 1979 quarter can rise to as high as $2,250.

The record sale for this coin currently stands at $1,078.

1979 “S” Proof Quarter

In 1979, the San Francisco mint produced 3,677,175 proof quarters in two known types. One proof was called Type 1, and it possessed a filled “S'' mint mark on the right side of the coin's obverse, while the second was tagged Type 2 and has a clear “S” mint mark.

The Type 2 1979 "S" proof quarters are more sought after than their Type 1 counterpart. This is because they possess a clear "S" mint mark. As seen in the table above, this translates to a slight price disparity between the two types.

1979 Quarter Errors

Error coins are common during production. These errors often affect the coin's value, mostly resulting in an increase in the price. Here we’ve put together known 1979 quarter errors

1979 Quarter Filled D Error

The thought of a mint mark being filled immediately brings to mind the type 1 San Francisco proof quarter and not a Denver mint which is why finding a filled D error is quite interesting.

This error makes the coin one of a kind and is in demand by collectors making it worth double the regular asking price. An error coin of this kind sold for $450 on eBay.

1979 Quarter Triple D error

Due to a die error, the D on a quarter may appear to be tripling. This is not a common error. Quarters with this error tend to have a higher value due to this defect.

On eBay, a 1979 quarter with this error currently stands at $500, making it one of the most valuable 1979 error coins available.

FAQs

On What Side Of The 1979 Quarter Will You Find The Mint Mark?

Philadelphia mints do not have any mint marks on the coin. However, you’ll find marks on the Denver Mint and San Francisco proof coins on the right side of the coin's obverse.

Are The 1979 Washington Quarters Rare Coins?

These quarters are not rare because they have very high mintages from the Philadelphia and Denver mint. However, there are rare error coins among them that are high in value.

Hitting superhero highs this week, the Bitcoin today sits around the $9,900 mark, following strong predictions just weeks ago that it would fly to $10,000 in a matter of weeks. Well, the prophecy has come to fruition and this morning it traded on the CEX exchange at $10,009. What’s the next step?

This week Finance Monthly asked industry experts about the predictions and got their take on the rising value of the golden crypto coin.

Nicholas Gregory, Founder and CEO, CommerceBlock:

Despite being slated by the likes of JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon as a “fraud”, bitcoin bulls have been rewarded for their faith in the cryptocurrency during its stellar rise over the course of this year.

Bitcoin broke the psychological $10,000 barrier overnight and it is fear of a bubble which now drives most of the headlines. But what these articles never make clear is that this is largely irrelevant and some, including myself, would even prefer there to be a correction.

In fact, a correction is badly needed to prevent bitcoin from being the world’s first currency whose value bears no relation to real-world concerns including currency reserves, GDP, trade deficits and economic outlook. If Bitcoin becomes detached from fundamentals, price discovery will be impossible and widespread adoption a distant dream.

But there is one group of people for whom a bubble would make no difference whatsoever.

Savvy business owners are already hedging their positions to cover potential losses. Holding short positions is typical for businesses carrying out international trade in traditional currencies, and it’s no different for Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash or other digital currencies.

This means that fears that market volatility poses a threat to developed economies are misplaced.

The ability to hedge positions and currency risk, already widely used in global markets, rose up in the face of dwindling cynicism about digital currencies in the international business community in 2017. As companies learned more about the real-world benefits of cheap, frictionless international transactions and the blockchain that underpins it all, the crypto industry has been quick to provide bitcoin futures contracts as a way of limiting risk, allowing firms to hold and transmit revenues in bitcoin without feeling over-exposed.

It is the currency speculators of various sizes currently making all the noise. They have monopolised world attention as bitcoin’s price swings have moved them in and out of the black. As in traditional FX markets, there will be as many losers as winners amongst them.

Slowly though, innovative business leaders are wresting the focus of bitcoin away from the speculators and quietly pushing forward the crypto revolution.

Governments have woken up to its growing use, threatening one of the final barriers to its mainstream adoption - tax.

The tax status of bitcoin and other digital currencies in the UK is currently up for review. As it stands, they are not viewed as currencies but as assets subject to capital gains tax.

This puts bitcoin and others at an unfair disadvantage because those holding crypto would have to pay tax if their currency increased in value. Any move by the government to clarify this status would fire the starting gun for companies still sat on the fence.

Critics and politicians need to acknowledge that there is a gulf between the speculators and companies making bitcoin a commercial reality. Only then will the question of damage to the UK economy go away and its potential finally be unleashed.

Joe Pindar, Director of Product Strategy, Gemalto:

With so many new cryptocurrencies being launched on almost a daily basis, there is no doubt that the demand is there, with Bitcoin the prime example. There is a good chance of Bitcoin reaching higher levels, but the truth is the cryptocurrency bubble is going to burst at some point. However like all bubbles, calling the exact time it will go pop is extremely hard.

It reminds me a lot of the dot-com bubble in 1999, which companies like Amazon and Google survived and became essential to our daily lives. Similarly with the convenience and international nature that Bitcoin provides, once the hype has been removed, we will be left with the serious players, and the true value will be established.

My advice is not to jump in head first, but don’t expect cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin just to be an overnight sensation.

Luke Massie, Founder and Managing Director, Vibe Tickets:

The world of cryptocurrency is completely unpredictable, but it’s also one of great potential. Bitcoin has seen a significant surge in the past 12 months, but it definitely hasn’t reached the pinnacle of its popularity. The usability, combined with the economics and technology behind Bitcoin has contributed to the incredible growth we’ve seen over the past year.

At the moment, less than 0.003% of the world’s population own a crypto wallet. With the predicted value of $10,000 by the year’s end, there’s no doubt in my mind that the usability combined with the ‘fear of missing out’ paradigm, the price will sky rocket past $50,000 per Bitcoin.

We’ll also see a rise in popularity across all cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin’s smaller rival, Ether. Although market capitalisation has stabilised over the last six months, it’s very likely that the value will reach $500 in the very near future.

Although cryptocurrency is still perceived as digital gold rather than cash, it is the future. I expect to see all forms of it grow exponentially as more people catch on to its tangibility and value in the real world.

Eleesa Dadiani, Founder, Dadiani Syndicate:

The process of valuing assets in most cases is arbitrary. Whilst there are formulas and processes, in the end it boils down to the opinion of one. For instance, an accountant can view an asset one way, but if that asset happens to be a corporate institution, perhaps the CEO of that institution might have a completely different view of the value. As he has a very different vantage point as to where the company is headed and we see this throughout business all the time.

To look at it from a mathematic rather than behavioural perspective, I propose the following: if we consider the global money supply to be around 100trillion dollars, then I ask myself, could bitcoin achieve 1% of global transactions thus 1% of global money supply? I believe it could easily achieve this within the next 3-5 years at the current rate of growth, probably sooner. We are just at the tip of the iceberg.

It is important to remember the value of money is the value of money. For instance, A marketplace that is worth 10 million dollars, is worth 10 million dollars, so if bitcoin trades at one trillion dollars - 1% of global supply - then its market capitalisation or market is worth one trillion dollars. So now it’s just a question of doing the math.

Bitcoin is currently trading at approximately $10,000, and we know that there will only be a maximum of 21 million coins mined (some are lost in circulation, some cannot be accessed due to users losing keys). So, if we times $10,000 by 21 million, we end up with $210 billion as the current market capitalisation of bitcoin. Now in order to get to one trillion, the price of bitcoin would need to be approximately 4.76x what it is now. 4.76 times $210b is $1t which means bitcoin should be trading at a minimum of $48k – that is my opinion.

Theo Valich, Head of Growth, Datum:

All speculation about the viability of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies are being validated by CME’s announcement of world’s first Cryptocurrency Futures exchange. The cryptocurrency market is primarily being driven by two factors: geopolitical situation and attractiveness to the new generations of consumers: millennials and post-millennials, i.e. Generation Y.

Rise of Bitcoin value is primarily being backed by the global political situation, such as recent turmoil in Catalonia, Zimbabwe or Venezuela. Politically unstable countries are looking more forward to invest in cryptocurrencies than gold or similar assets. Thus, a national cryptocurrency could act as affordable solution to the issuance of state-controlled currency.

On the top end, progressive countries such as UAE and Singapore are either introducing or evaluating government-backed cryptocurrencies such as emCash (Emirates) or Digital Dollar (Singapore). Temasek Holdings, AAA-rated sovereign wealth fund invested in Bitcoin in 2014. Thus, Singapore’s blockchain strategy is not reactive, but a result of multiple years of evaluation.

While speculating on the value of cryptocurrencies is attractive, there’s little doubt that Bitcoin is going to go far beyond $10,000. In fact, a valuation of $25-50,000 might be reached during 2018 (but not on a such fast pace as this year), and future multiplications, or “hard forks” with Bitcoin alternatives such as Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold or “Bitcoin Something” will continue to appear. If you purchased Bitcoin in July, today your portfolio has Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold and Bitcoin Platinum. Thus, a single Bitcoin is already worth more than $10,000.

Cryptocurrencies enable monetary markets to put a value of previously vague, or undefined values. Conventional fiat currencies are not suited for example, to put a value on digital data streams. Thus, so-called coins and tokens such as Datum, Litecoin, Monero or Ripple represent the simplification of future currencies based on their use. You want to become a gold vault? Bitcoin. Become a global bank? Monero. Selling your own data? Datum.

Cryptocurrencies simply represent a new asset class, with the major attractiveness being in value understandable to the new generation of consumers and investors. Millennials and post-millennials want to put a value on their life, and content created.

Ethereum at $1,000 is a matter of months. The true effect of cryptocurrencies is the new value generated. If we really simplify cryptocurrencies to the bone, they are nothing else but “crowd owned” or “crowd issued” bonds / stocks / currency.

Kerim Derhalli, CEO and Founder, Invstr:

With hedge funds and investors continuing to pile in to the volatile cryptocurrency, it seems that it could be rise by hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars in price yet before we see a slowdown. On the one hand, analysts are extremely skeptical of an asset class that gains this much value this quickly, but on the other hand, more and more private funds and investment groups are buying into digital currencies or providing their clients the option to trade them. With it being in finite supply, the exponential rise depends on how much investors are willing to spend, and when that breaking point is.

Much of the industry talk is that the price is giving Bitcoin a new legitimacy, with a market cap now exceeding some major companies across the world. This renewed awareness, along with greater access to it through trading platforms and new trading technology, has meant a surge in interest. However, as with any commodity, currency or other instrument, it remains a risk and there’s no denying Bitcoin’s volatile past. For now, many will just see the huge gains to be made by jumping on the bandwagon – early this year Bitcoin was at just $3,000. Many hedge funds are riding the tidal wave and we’ll see many more joining in the coming months.

Even if this is a major bubble is set to burst, BTC is still considered a legitimate investment vehicle for the time being, especially as it is now being embraced and institutionalized by major banks and exchanges. It’s certainly an exciting area to invest in, but vigilant investors should take a step back and look to it as part of a broad, diversified portfolio.

We would also love to hear Your Thoughts on this, so feel free to comment below and tell us what you think!