1939-S Washington Quarter

Congress authorized the Washington Quarter in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The Treasury originally planned a temporary commemorative, but the design proved popular and replaced the Standing Liberty Quarter permanently. Sculptor John Flanagan won a competition to design the coin, beating out 99 other entries. His design features a profile of Washington on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. The series contains 90% silver until 1964. In 1965, the Mint switched to a copper-nickel clad composition due to rising silver prices. The 1932-1964 silver run includes two major key dates: the 1932-D and 1932-S. These coins have mintages of only 436,800 and 408,000 respectively, making them the most valuable pieces in the set.

Start your collection with common dates from the 1940s and 1950s, which you can find in almost any local coin shop for near their silver melt value. Focus on finding coins with full, sharp details on the eagle's breast feathers, as these areas wear down quickly in circulation. Avoid coins with heavy scratches or cleanings, as these damage the value significantly. Watch for the 1932-D and 1932-S, as their high value makes them targets for counterfeiters adding fake mint marks to common 1932 Philadelphia issues.

This series includes key dates — check individual coin pages for rarity details.