The Washington quarter began as a 1932 bicentennial design, changed from silver to clad in 1965, and carried a special Bicentennial reverse in 1975–1976.

This page covers the classic eagle-reverse Washington quarters through 1998; later multi-design quarter programs have their own guides.

Core specifications

Issue period
1932–1998
Catalog mints
3
Reported catalog mintage
41,408,076,001
Composition
Varies by type
Diameter
24.3 mm
Weight
Varies by type

A commemorative idea becomes a permanent quarter

John Flanagan's Washington portrait was selected for the 1932 bicentennial and remained after the anniversary, turning a temporary concept into a durable circulation design.

Silver ended after 1964, copper-nickel clad coinage began in 1965, and the dual-dated Bicentennial reverse interrupted the regular eagle before the design resumed.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Washington faces left with LIBERTY above and IN GOD WE TRUST at left. Date and mint-mark placement change across the long series.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

The regular reverse shows an eagle above a bundle of arrows; the Bicentennial type shows a colonial drummer and victory torch.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998; 22,885,054,934. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
  • D — Denver: 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998; 18,231,718,351. Confirm the D mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
  • S — San Francisco: 1932, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998; 291,302,716. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.

Representative issues that explain the series

Separate silver, clad, and Bicentennial types first. The 1932-D and 1932-S are date-set keys, while doubled dies and high-grade modern pieces form specialist paths.

  • 1932 P — 5,404,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1932 D — 436,800. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1932 S — 408,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1964 P — 564,341,347. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1965 P — 1,819,717,540. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1976 S — 7,059,099. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 14 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 14 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

1932 P Washington Quarter1932 D Washington Quarter1932 S Washington Quarter1934 P Washington Quarter - All Varieties1934 P Washington Quarter - Doubled Die1934 P Washington Quarter - Light Motto1934 P Washington Quarter - Medium Motto1934 P Washington Quarter - Heavy Motto1934 D Washington Quarter1935 P Washington Quarter1935 D Washington Quarter1935 S Washington Quarter1936 P Washington Quarter1936 D Washington Quarter1936 S Washington Quarter1937 P Washington Quarter1937 D Washington Quarter1937 S Washington Quarter1938 P Washington Quarter1938 S Washington Quarter1939 P Washington Quarter1939 D Washington Quarter1939 S Washington Quarter1940 P Washington Quarter1940 D Washington Quarter1940 S Washington Quarter1941 P Washington Quarter1941 D Washington Quarter1941 S Washington Quarter1942 P Washington Quarter1942 D Washington Quarter1942 S Washington Quarter1943 P Washington Quarter1943 D Washington Quarter1943 S Washington Quarter1944 P Washington Quarter1944 D Washington Quarter1944 S Washington Quarter1945 P Washington Quarter1945 D Washington Quarter1945 S Washington Quarter1946 P Washington Quarter1946 D Washington Quarter1946 S Washington Quarter1947 P Washington Quarter1947 D Washington Quarter1947 S Washington Quarter1948 P Washington Quarter1948 D Washington Quarter1948 S Washington Quarter1949 P Washington Quarter1949 D Washington Quarter1950 P Washington Quarter1950 D Washington Quarter1950 S Washington Quarter1951 P Washington Quarter1951 D Washington Quarter1951 S Washington Quarter1952 P Washington Quarter1952 D Washington Quarter1952 S Washington Quarter1953 P Washington Quarter1953 D Washington Quarter1953 S Washington Quarter1954 P Washington Quarter1954 D Washington Quarter1954 S Washington Quarter1955 P Washington Quarter1955 D Washington Quarter1956 P Washington Quarter1956 D Washington Quarter1957 P Washington Quarter1957 D Washington Quarter1958 P Washington Quarter1958 D Washington Quarter1959 P Washington Quarter1959 D Washington Quarter1960 P Washington Quarter1960 D Washington Quarter1961 P Washington Quarter1961 D Washington Quarter1962 P Washington Quarter1962 D Washington Quarter1963 P Washington Quarter1963 D Washington Quarter1964 P Washington Quarter1964 D Washington Quarter1965 P Washington Quarter1966 P Washington Quarter1967 P Washington Quarter1968 P Washington Quarter1968 D Washington Quarter1968 S Washington Quarter1969 P Washington Quarter1969 D Washington Quarter1969 S Washington Quarter1970 P Washington Quarter1970 D Washington Quarter1970 S Washington Quarter1971 P Washington Quarter1971 D Washington Quarter1971 S Washington Quarter1972 P Washington Quarter1972 D Washington Quarter1972 S Washington Quarter1973 P Washington Quarter1973 D Washington Quarter1973 S Washington Quarter1974 P Washington Quarter1974 D Washington Quarter1974 S Washington Quarter1976 P Washington Quarter1976 D Washington Quarter1976 S Washington Quarter1977 P Washington Quarter1977 D Washington Quarter1977 S Washington Quarter1978 P Washington Quarter1978 D Washington Quarter1978 S Washington Quarter1979 P Washington Quarter1979 D Washington Quarter1979 S Washington Quarter - All Varieties1979 S Washington Quarter - Type 1 - Filled S1979 S Washington Quarter - Type 2 - Clear S1980 P Washington Quarter1980 D Washington Quarter1980 S Washington Quarter1981 P Washington Quarter1981 D Washington Quarter1981 S Washington Quarter - All Varieties1981 S Washington Quarter - Type 1 - Filled S1981 S Washington Quarter - Type 2 - Clear S1982 P Washington Quarter1982 D Washington Quarter1982 S Washington Quarter1983 P Washington Quarter1983 D Washington Quarter1983 S Washington Quarter1984 P Washington Quarter1984 D Washington Quarter1984 S Washington Quarter1985 P Washington Quarter1985 D Washington Quarter1985 S Washington Quarter1986 P Washington Quarter1986 D Washington Quarter1986 S Washington Quarter1987 P Washington Quarter1987 D Washington Quarter1987 S Washington Quarter1988 P Washington Quarter1988 D Washington Quarter1988 S Washington Quarter1989 P Washington Quarter1989 D Washington Quarter1989 S Washington Quarter1990 P Washington Quarter1990 D Washington Quarter1990 S Washington Quarter1991 P Washington Quarter1991 D Washington Quarter1991 S Washington Quarter1992 P Washington Quarter1992 D Washington Quarter1992 S Washington Quarter1993 P Washington Quarter1993 D Washington Quarter1993 S Washington Quarter1994 P Washington Quarter1994 D Washington Quarter1994 S Washington Quarter1995 P Washington Quarter1995 D Washington Quarter1995 S Washington Quarter1996 P Washington Quarter1996 D Washington Quarter1996 S Washington Quarter1997 P Washington Quarter1997 D Washington Quarter1997 S Washington Quarter1998 P Washington Quarter1998 D Washington Quarter1998 S Washington Quarter

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
  • Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 184 issue records, 14 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. Quarter: Washington Design — United States Mint
  2. Washington Quarter category reference — PCGS CoinFacts