1932 Washington Quarter
Circulation strike struck at the Philadelphia Mint · 5,404,000 made
- Mintage
- 5,404,000
- 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 Washington Quarter worth?
It's scarcer than a typical date, so even circulated examples sell above face and above their metal value. The best uncirculated coins are where the money is.
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.
Quick answers
- Is the 1932 Washington Quarter rare?
- Somewhat. 5,404,000 were made, fewer than most dates, so collectors treat it as a semi-key.
- Is the 1932 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. No mint mark means Philadelphia.
- Which Philadelphia dates near 1932 are scarcer?
- None. Within five years either side, no Philadelphia issue had a smaller mintage than the 1932.
- How many 1932 Washington Quarter coins were made?
- 5,404,000.
What to check on your 1932
- There's no mint mark on this one, so the date and condition are what matter.
- 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.
The story of the 1932
1932 was the first year of the Washington Quarter. Philadelphia struck 5,404,000 of them. After that, Philadelphia didn't make another until 1934.
It was the big producer of the year, well ahead of 1932-S (408,000) and 1932-D (436,800). In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1936-D (5,374,000) and the 1947-S (5,532,000).
Of the 64 Washington Quarters Philadelphia struck between 1932 and 1998, this is the scarcest. Within the 1930s it's 9th smallest of 19, between the 1936-D (5.4 million) and the 1935-S (5.7 million).
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 | Philadelphia Mint |
| Mint mark | None |
| Strike type | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 5,404,000 |
| 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.