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Washington quarters: 1964 silver, 1976 drums, and the statehood pile
Washington quarters start in 1932. 1932-D and 1932-S are the keys. 90% silver through 1964, then clad. 1976 is the Bicentennial drummer. 1999–2008 state quarters are common. A 1964 Washington is junk silver, not a state quarter.
A Washington quarter is the 25-cent piece with Washington, first struck in 1932 for the 200th birthday, then the regular quarter from 1934 on (no 1933 quarters). John Flanagan’s bust is the one people know. Where is the mint mark?
Three metal-and-design piles
- 1932–1964: 90% silver. Common dates are junk. 1932-D and 1932-S are the keys. 1932-P is better than a 1964, not a 1932-D.
- 1965 on: copper-nickel clad. Face, or a little over in a huge bag.
- 1976: Bicentennial reverse (drummer). Clad in change. 40% silver in the collector sets. Proof set vs mint set.
- 1999–2008 states, 2009 DC/territories, 2010–2021 America the Beautiful, later programs: circulating commemorative quarters. Most are face. A few silver proofs and low-mintage S issues are collected.
What a shop pays
1964 and earlier: silver bid. Clad: face. Statehood silver proofs: silver plus a little. Do not count a 2000 Maryland as a 1964. 90% silver. Don’t clean.
Extra history
Washington replaced Standing Liberty. The 1965 clad change is the same story as the dime and half. Why 1965 changed pocket change.
People also ask
Is a 1965 quarter silver? No.
Is a 1976 quarter rare? No. They made a lot.
Are state quarters worth money? Most spend as 25 cents. Silver proofs and a few S-mint issues are the exception.
More on the coin and money library.
A bag of “state quarters” is almost always clad. We spot-check dates: anything 1964 and earlier comes out for the silver pile. 1965–1998 clad with no story stays face. 1976 drums are still clad unless they came from a silver set.
1932-D and 1932-S fakes exist (added mint marks). We look at the D/S and the rest of the coin. How shops check authenticity.
Standing Liberty in the same bag is a different 90% quarter. Sort portraits first.