13 Type B Washington Quarters for $5 each? Yes, please...

Visited the LCS today. They were lovely enough to do a couple things for me:

1) Let me look at their old double mint sets. One set, a 1957, was just beautifully rainbow toned. Every coin! Another had a royal blue Type B Washington Quarter. Another looked like someone had removed the cents and nickels...because they did not match the toning patterns of the other coins... Too bad they didn't want to sell them. That 1957 would have come home with me!

2) Let me look through their bucket of junk silver quarters. I told them I was looking for Type B's and the two dates I always buy, 1937 S and 1955 D, as well as anything that had good eye appeal. They gave me a price of $5 per coin - as long as I told them if I found anything more valuable. So...I found the following:

*13 Type B Washington Quarters
1956 (2), 1957 (2), 1960 (2), 1961 (1), 1963 (4), 1964 (2)

Now I am only missing the 1962 to have a full set!

*1956 "Double Bar 5" - nice die chip under the top bar of the 5 in the date. Listed in the price guides...not too expensive, though.

*1939, 1944, and 7 attractive 1964 D quarters. the 39 and 44 are prob XF/AU and AU, respectively. They go in the tube!

*1953 and 1958 toners - the 58 is WILD. I'm going to have to take some pictures of it.

 

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What exactly is a type B washington quarter ??

 

A Type B Washington quarter is a business strike that was struck with the reverse die of a proof. They are found on Philadelphia issued business strikes from 1956-64. Certain die markers indicate the type B reverse.

 

The Philadelphia Mint used Proof dies to strike Business Strike quarters (reverse only, the obverse was still struck with BS dies) from 1956-1964. The three main diagnostics are:

Overall design is in higher relief.

The leaf to the left of the arrow tips under the eagle's claws is MUCH more defined.

The leaf will touch the A of DOLLAR.

 

CamaroDMD...got me as I was typing!

 

I love Type B quarters. I have nearly a full set too. I need to get them out again and look at them. Maybe it's time to finish the set. I also have a Type C quarter somewhere.

 

I've just really started looking for them this year, and now I have everything but the 1962. I think I'll try to put together a BU set and a few circ sets...of course, with varieties...you have to take them as they come. Maybe someone here has an extra 62 they want to trade...I have plenty of 1974 D DDO Kennedy Halves...lol

 

WOW WOW WOW! I'm jealous!

 

Ben,
Look here....http://www.washingtontype-b.com/

 

Thanks!

I've visited that site on many occasions - got it bookmarked - they don't have a 1962 for sale, though...lol

 

Here's that 1958 Washington (as promised.) A bit less wild in the photos...but still...for melt (at $5?) Why not!



...too bad it's not MS67.

 

Sorry...but you gotta be faster.

 

Better hurry up and finish that set, Dr. Camaro, DMD (hey, get used to it!!!) Better finish that set off. A '61 attributed Type 'B went just a tiny 'bit' south of $700, and the REAL '63 'B' (Heritage had a bad one, an attributed '63 Type B MS66, however, the coin was not a Type B up for auction...naturally, while I'm still waiting for my refund, another '63 'B' hits the block (according to the cert #'s, they came from the same, missed out on it, naturally) and it damn near hit the exact CU price guide. Could this be what we've been waiting for??? Has the time come for the prices to start to be realistic for these high-grade rarities?

 

Are you positive this is a type B?
Can you point out some things I should look at to tell if it's a type B?

I bought a couple Washingtons today, a 58 and a 59, that I believe are type B's. On the coins I bought, the spacing between the E and S of states seems to be wider than this 58. Also the leaves on this 58 appear a little mushy near the tips.

Other than today I don't have any experience with type B reverses so I would just like some pointers.

I followed the link and studied the info that jacerevone posted but am still unsure on type B's.


Also, do type B reverses carry any sort of premium? Or is this just one of those varieties that's not really a big deal but just cool to own?

 

The 1958 shown in this thread is NOT a Type B. There is a good website here that explains Type B and Type C reverses, and here is a link to my completed set. I have photos of each year plus the Cherrypicker's Guide explanation of the Type B.

I've also just purchased my first Type C reverse (don't have it in hand just yet) but the seller's photos are displayed here.

 

I just realized that and was JUST about to edit my post.
Thanks for the links.
Type B's have really got me interested. Now I'm always going to have my eye out for them. There were at least 2 or 3 more at the LCS today but unfortunately I didn't have enough money for them all.

 

The three points I usually look at are:

1) The leaf to the left of the arrow will be strong
2) There is a leaf that will touch the A of DOLLAR, and is strong
3) The distance between E and S of STATES will be greater

If that helps...the more you look at them, and if you have a good reference point of what UNC and CIRC coins look like, I think you'll get the hang of it.

 

The only problem with the linked page is that it states the 1958 Type is scarcer than the 1962 which is simply not true. IMO, the order s/b:
1956
1962
1961
1964
1957
1959
1960
1958
1963

 

That and the fact that you need to register for an account to read all the info...

 

One of the easiest ways to determine if you have a Type B or not is to buy/get a proof quarter from 56-64. Any one will do. Then just compare the reverses of the proof quarter to your suspected Type B. I personally look at the separation between the E and S in states. Ben gives some other good markers above. If the quarter you are looking at matches the markers of the reverse of the proof quarter then bingo! you have a Type B.