Historical Context

The Washington Quarter was introduced in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Designed by John Flanagan, it replaced the Standing Liberty Quarter and featured Washington’s profile on the obverse. The design has remained largely unchanged since its introduction, making it one of the longest-running coin designs in U.S. history.

Composition and Silver Content

From 1932 to 1964, Washington Quarters were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.25 grams. Each coin contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. After 1964, the composition changed to copper-nickel clad, making pre-1965 quarters valuable for their silver content.

Investment and Collectibility

Pre-1965 Washington Quarters are among the most popular junk silver coins for investors due to their wide availability and recognizable design. Key dates for collectors include the 1932-D and 1932-S, which had lower mintages. Common date quarters in circulated condition trade primarily for their silver melt value.