1934-D Washington Quarter
Circulation strike struck at the Denver Mint · 3,527,200 made
- Mintage
- 3,527,200
- 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 1934-D Washington Quarter worth?
Collectors pay a real premium for this date, worn or not, because far fewer were made than usual. Uncirculated pieces go much higher.
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 1934-D Washington Quarter rare?
- Somewhat. 3,527,200 were made, fewer than most dates, so collectors treat it as a semi-key.
- Is the 1934-D 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 1934 Washington Quarter?
- On the reverse, below the wreath. On this coin the mark is D, for Denver.
- Which Denver dates near 1934 are scarcer?
- The 1932-D at 436,800. So the 1934-D is on the scarcer side for those years.
- How many 1934-D Washington Quarter coins were made?
- 3,527,200.
What to check on your 1934-D
- Make sure the mint mark really is a D. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 1934 (32 million made).
- 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 1934-D
Denver hadn't struck the Washington Quarter since 1932. When it came back in 1934, it made 3,527,200. The next year it made 5.8 million (1935-D).
The other mint made far more that year: 1934 alone came to 32 million, roughly 9 for every 1934-D. If you're checking a pile of 1934 coins, the D is the one to look for. In the whole series, its mintage sits closest to the 1936-S (3,828,000) and the 1955-D (3,182,400).
Denver struck the Washington Quarter in 60 issues between 1932 and 1998. By mintage this one lands in the scarcer half, while the key for that mint is the 1932-D (436,800). Within the 1930s it's 6th smallest of 19, between the 1938-S (2.8 million) and the 1936-S (3.8 million).
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 1934
The Gold Reserve Act transferred gold to the Treasury and the official price of gold was raised soon after. Silver dollar production resumed briefly with Peace dollars.
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 | 1934 |
| Mint | Denver Mint |
| Mint mark | "D" |
| Strike type | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 3,527,200 |
| 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 1934 Washington Quarter issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 Washington Quarter | 31,912,052 | Circulation strike | 0.1808 oz |
| 1934-D Washington Quarter | 3,527,200 | 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.