Washington Quarter 1932—1998

The Washington Quarter is a United States coin that has been in circulation since 1932. It features the portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States, on the obverse (front) side of the coin. The Washington Quarter has a diameter of 24.26 mm (0.955 inches) and is made of a combination of copper (91.67%) and nickel (8.33%).

The Washington Quarter was introduced in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. It replaced the Standing Liberty Quarter and became the official circulating quarter-dollar coin of the United States.

The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan, a sculptor from New York. The obverse side features the bust of George Washington facing left, with the inscriptions "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" surrounding the portrait. The reverse side depicts an eagle with wings spread, perched on a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "QUARTER DOLLAR," and the mint mark appear on the reverse side.

From 1932 to 1964, Washington Quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins are highly sought after by collectors for their silver content. In 1965, due to a silver shortage, the composition was changed to a copper-nickel clad, which is the same composition used in today's quarters.

The Washington Quarter continues to be minted and circulated today. While the design on the reverse side changes periodically, George Washington's portrait on the obverse side remains constant.

Throughout its history, the Washington Quarter has become a popular collectible coin, with various editions and minting errors sought after by collectors. It remains an iconic symbol of American currency and a tribute to the country's first president, George Washington.

Key Dates

1932-D: The 1932-D Washington Quarter is considered a key date in the series. It was the first year of issue for the Washington Quarter and was minted in Denver. It has a lower mintage compared to other years, making it highly sought after by collectors.

1932-S: The 1932-S Washington Quarter is another key date in the series. It was minted in San Francisco and has a lower mintage similar to the 1932-D. Like the 1932-D, the 1932-S is highly valued by collectors.

1937-D: The 1937-D Washington Quarter is notable because it features an error known as the "Three-Legged Buffalo" variety. Due to an over-polishing of the die, the buffalo on the reverse side of the coin appears to have only three legs. This variety is highly sought after by collectors.

1950-D: The 1950-D Washington Quarter is considered a semi-key date. It has a relatively lower mintage compared to other years, making it more scarce and desirable among collectors.

1982-P and 1983-P: The 1982-P and 1983-P Washington Quarters are of interest to collectors because they were minted with different compositions. These two years were transitional periods when the composition changed from 90% silver to the copper-nickel clad composition used today. The 1982-P quarters were produced in both silver and clad versions, while the 1983-P quarters were only produced in the clad composition for circulation.