Washington Quarter 1932 - 1998
Washington Quarter 1932 - 1998: identify, compare, and value
Use this page to identify details collectors compare, understand value clues, and check current market examples.
Value Guide Summary
Use this page to understand what this collectible is, what details collectors usually compare, and where to check current market examples.
What collectors look for
Original condition, age, maker marks, materials, completeness, unusual variants, and documented history usually matter most.
How to identify examples
Compare markings, construction details, finish, size, period-correct materials, and known design features before assuming authenticity.
Value clues
Rarity, demand, condition, eye appeal, provenance, and whether similar examples are actively selling can all affect market value.
Red flags
Watch for reproductions, heavy restoration, replaced parts, fantasy pieces, unclear photos, and listings with vague descriptions.
In 1931, the United States grappled with the grim realities of the Great Depression, with soup kitchens, rampant unemployment, and the Dust Bowl casting a shadow over the nation. However, a glimmer of hope awaited in 1932, the bicentennial year of George Washington's birth. The Treasury Department, in collaboration with the Commission of Fine Arts and the Washington Bicentennial Commission, announced a design competition for a half dollar coin to honor the founding father.
The competition's rules specified that designs should draw inspiration from the famous bust of Washington created by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon. This lifelike bust, fashioned from a life-mask obtained at Mount Vernon in 1785, was widely revered. Over 90 entrants submitted nearly 100 designs, ranging from amateurish to impressive. One design, in particular, stood out and earned unanimous approval from the Commission: a submission by Laura Gardin Fraser, renowned for her work on the Oregon Trail commemorative coin and wife of James Earle Fraser, the designer of the Buffalo nickel. Mrs. Fraser's design exuded power and artistic excellence, reminiscent of the golden era of numismatics championed by Theodore Roosevelt.
However, complications arose as Congress decided to shift its attention from changing the half dollar design to altering the quarter, thus bringing an end to the acclaimed Standing Liberty design introduced in 1916. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, a collector of vast wealth and stature, refused to consider Fraser's design, ultimately choosing John Flanagan's proposal. Flanagan's design, although simple, was more suited to a portrait than a medallic art piece, characterized by low relief. Washington's left-facing image dominated the obverse, with LIBERTY above, the date below, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the left. Mintmarks appeared under the wreath on quarters dated 1964 and earlier.