1932-S Washington Quarter
Circulation strike struck at the San Francisco Mint · 408,000 made
- Mintage
- 408,000
- Metal
- 90% silver, 10% copper
- Weight
- 6.25 g
- Diameter
- 24.26 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 1932-S Washington Quarter worth?
This is one of the dates collectors hunt for. A genuine 1932-S is valuable in any condition, even well worn. That's exactly why fakes and altered coins turn up so often.
What would make yours worth more:
- Uncirculated condition with full original luster
- A die variety or minting error
- Certification by PCGS or NGC, which buyers expect for scarce dates
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
The 1932-S is the other key Washington quarter, with only 408,000 struck.
Quick answers
- Is the 1932-S Washington Quarter rare?
- Yes. Only 408,000 were made, the lowest of any regular Washington Quarter.
- Is the 1932-S Washington Quarter silver?
- Yes. It's 90% silver, 10% copper and holds 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver.
- Where is the mint mark on a 1932 Washington Quarter?
- On the reverse, below the wreath. On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
- Which San Francisco dates near 1932 are scarcer?
- None. Within five years either side, no San Francisco issue had a smaller mintage than the 1932-S.
- How many 1932-S Washington Quarter coins were made?
- 408,000.
What to check on your 1932-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 1932-D (436,800 made).
- Check the date and mint mark under magnification for tooling or added letters. Scarce dates are the ones forgers alter.
- Don't clean it. Cleaning leaves fine scratches and an unnatural shine that collectors avoid.
- Judge the grade under good light. Wear starts on the hair above Washington's ear and on the eagle's breast feathers.
Never clean it. Collectors pay strong premiums for original surfaces and natural toning on a date like this. A cleaned coin can lose half its value or more. Low-mintage dates attract altered and counterfeit coins. Check that the mint mark and date have not been tooled or added, or buy one already certified by PCGS or NGC.
The story of the 1932-S
1932 was the first year of the Washington Quarter. San Francisco struck 408,000 of them. After that, San Francisco didn't make another until 1935.
The other mints made far more that year: 1932 alone came to 5.4 million, roughly 13 for every 1932-S. If you're checking a pile of 1932 coins, the S is the one to look for. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1937-S (1,652,000) and the 1939-S (2,628,000).
Of the 20 Washington Quarters San Francisco struck between 1932 and 1954, this is the scarcest. No Washington Quarter of the 1930s had a smaller run.
It also marks a change of metal: 1932 is the first year of the Washington Quarter in 90% silver, 10% copper, which lasted until 1964.
A bicentennial tribute becomes permanent (1932 to 1940)
The Washington quarter was introduced in 1932 for the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. John Flanagan's portrait is based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's bust, while the eagle reverse carries the mint mark below the wreath. Philadelphia struck 5.4 million, but Denver and San Francisco made only 436,800 and 408,000. Those two branch mint coins are the keys of the series.
No quarters were struck in 1933 during the Depression. The 1934 Philadelphia coins come with light and heavy motto styles, plus a doubled die obverse with strong doubling in IN GOD WE TRUST. Other scarce dates include the 1936-D, 1937-S and 1938-S. Denver made no quarters in 1938. Proof quarters were offered again from 1936. A 1937 doubled die obverse is another recognized variety of the period.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 1932
The Washington quarter was introduced to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The Denver and San Francisco quarters of 1932 had small mintages and are the key dates of the series.
How to recognize it
John Flanagan's portrait shows George Washington facing left with LIBERTY above, IN GOD WE TRUST to the left and the date below. The reverse shows an eagle standing on a bundle of arrows above two olive branches, with QUARTER DOLLAR along the bottom. The mint mark was below the wreath on the reverse until 1964 and on the obverse behind Washington's hair from 1968.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Washington Quarter (1932–1998) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1932 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 408,000 |
| Face value | 25¢ |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight | 6.25 grams |
| Diameter | 24.26 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Silver content | 0.1808 troy oz (5.625 g) |
| Designer | John Flanagan |
Other 1932 Washington Quarter issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 Washington Quarter | 5,404,000 | Circulation strike | 0.1808 oz |
| 1932-D Washington Quarter | 436,800 | Circulation strike | 0.1808 oz |
| 1932-S Washington Quarter | 408,000 | Circulation strike | 0.1808 oz |
Mintage: Washington quarter mintage figures (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.