History of the Silver Washington Quarter
The Washington quarter began as a one-year commemorative for the bicentennial of Washington’s birth in 1932 and simply never left. Every quarter struck through 1964 is 90% silver, containing 0.1808 troy ounces — which puts a hard metal floor under even the most worn example.
Two first-year branch mint issues, the 1932-D and 1932-S, dominate the series with mintages around 400,000 each. Beyond the keys, the silver series is largely a bullion-plus market in circulated grades, with strong premiums reserved for gem uncirculated coins and a handful of doubled dies.
The silver Washington quarter was struck from 1932 to 1964 in silver in 90% silver, 10% copper. The design is the work of John Flanagan. Each coin weighs 6.25 grams. Production took place at Philadelphia, Denver (D) and San Francisco (S).
How much is a silver Washington quarter worth?
Like every collectible coin, the value of a silver Washington quarter comes down to grade, rarity and demand. The ranges below are approximate retail prices collectors pay for problem-free examples — coins that have been cleaned, scratched or holed usually trade well below these figures.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time. CoinVault Pro combines Numista catalog data with real eBay sold prices for every coin it recognizes, so you can see what buyers are actually paying this month — not what a book claimed years ago.
- Common dates, circulated: $5–$7 (silver value)
- Common dates, uncirculated: $8–$15
- MS-65 common dates: $25–$50
- 1932-D / 1932-S, Good: $75–$150
How to identify a genuine Silver Washington Quarter
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the silver Washington quarter, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- Any quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver — check for the solid silver edge.
- Mint marks appear on the reverse below the eagle through 1964.
- 1932-D and 1932-S mint marks are faked onto Philadelphia coins; genuine placement and shape are well documented.
- The 1943-S and 1950-D/S over-mint-marks are popular varieties.
Check your silver Washington quarter with CoinVault Pro
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