page_title: Washington quarter
section_title: Silver strikings (1932–1964)
hierarchical_section_title: Washington quarter / Production / Silver strikings (1932–1964)
caption_attribution_description: English: Progression of Washington Quarter Obverse Designs, 1932–present
context_page_description: The Washington quarter is the present quarter dollar or 25-cent piece issued by the United States Mint. The coin was first struck in 1932; the original version was designed by sculptor John Flanagan.
  As the United States prepared to celebrate the 1932 bicentennial of the birth of its first president, George Washington, members of the bicentennial committee established by Congress sought a Washington half dollar. They wanted to displace for that year only the regular issue Walking Liberty half dollar; instead Congress permanently replaced the Standing Liberty quarter, requiring that a depiction of Washington appear on the obverse of the new coin. The committee had engaged sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser to design a commemorative medal, and wanted her to adapt her design for the quarter. Although Fraser's work was supported by the Commission of Fine Arts and its chairman, Charles W. Moore, Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon chose a design by Flanagan, and Mellon's successor, Ogden L. Mills, refused to disturb the decision.
context_section_description: In early July 1932, newspapers announced that the Washington quarter was being struck and would be issued at the end of the month, once there were sufficient pieces for a nationwide distribution.  They stressed that the new quarter was not a commemorative.
  The quarter was released into circulation on August 1, 1932.  There was no great need for the coins in commerce; despite that, it was announced that six million pieces would be struck in honor of the Washington bicentennial.  The coins were generally well received, though the reverse prompted discussion as to whether a bald eagle was depicted, or some other sort of eagle.  An eagle expert consulted by The New York Times concluded it was a bald eagle.
  About 6.2 million quarters were struck in 1932, of which 5.4 million were coined at the Philadelphia mint. Production runs of just over 400,000 each occurred at the Denver and San Francisco mints; these are still the low mintages of the series.  The small mintage of the 1932 Denver piece meant that few were available to be hoarded by coin dealers, leading to present-day scarcity in mint state or uncirculated condition; the mint marks on the 1932-D and 1932-S have been counterfeited.  No quarters were struck at any mint in 1933,  as there was an oversupply caused by the 1932 issue.
  Unlike many earlier coins, the Washington quarter struck exceptionally well, bringing out its full details.  This sharpness is possible because the designs of both sides were spread out, with no points of high relief.  Nevertheless, the Mint repeatedly adjusted the design.  In the first three years of striking (1932, 1934 and 1935), three different varieties of the obverse are known.  They are generally called after the appearance of "IN GOD WE TRUST", to the left of Washington's head: the Light Motto, Medium Motto, and Heavy Motto.  Only the first was used in 1932.  All three were used on the 1934 Philadelphia strikes, though only the latter two on the 1934 Denver Mint coins.  In 1935 only the Medium Motto was used at all three mints. However, the Heavy Motto apparently proved most satisfactory to the Mint as beginning in 1936 only pieces of that variety were struck at all sites.
  For unknown reasons, the original reverse hub was used only in 1932; a new hub was used when coining resumed in 1934.  The original style had a high rim around the reverse design, protecting it from wear so well that 1932 quarters in lower grade generally are about equally worn on either side.  In later years, with a lowered rim, circulated silver pieces tend to be more worn on the reverse.
  The fine-tuning of the design continued through the end of silver production with pieces dated 1964.  During that time, the obverse was modified six times.  One revision, in 1944, left Flanagan's initials, on the cutoff of the bust, distorted; this was adjusted the following year. Beginning in 1937, and continuing until the end of silver circulation production with pieces dated 1964, a very slightly different reverse was used for proof coins, as opposed to circulation pieces.  This is most evident in examining the letters "es" in "States" which almost touch on circulation strikes, and display a separation on proofs.
  The piece was struck in numbers exceeding 100 million in some years through 1964.  The San Francisco Mint ceased striking coins after 1955; it struck no quarters that year or in 1949.
caption: The five Washington quarter obverses: as a silver version, a clad version, the Bicentennial version, the version struck from 1999 to 2009, and the present version struck since 2010.
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