My favorite modern coin is the Washington Quarter and I am VERY SLOWLY working on a set which includes the various Reverse Die Varieties (RDVs). Trouble is, I am struggling in my identification. I was hoping I could get a little help with a couple examples. I would love your opinions on these. Here are a pair of coins from my collection. I think both are RDV-005, but I am not sure. These are a 1966 SMS and a 1967 SMS. These coins are known to exist with RDV-004 and RDV-005 reverses (additionally, it is thought that RDV-003 might exist as well but as far as I am aware have never been confirmed). RDV-004 and RDV-005 are both common for these coins...and as far as I am aware neither carry a value premium. 1966 SMS 1967 SMS Thanks!!!
No. I am focusing my modern US collecting on Washingtons. I picked these up super cheap a while back.
Is there a link you can provide to a site that describes/shows the varieties? I assume you have a reference but can't quite make a positive ID based on the reference.
Here are best references I know of. The more I look at it now...the more I think the 1966 is a RDV-004. http://www.varietyvista.com/09a WQ Vol 1/Reverse Design Varieties.htm http://www.heartlandcoinclub.com/Do...n Varieties (RDV) From A to H, and Beyond.pdf
I briefly looked at RDV-004 and -005. I can't tell. I do think both of your coins are the same variety though, so there you go. My amateur canine opinion.
The diagnostic that I am seeing the most obvious difference here is the RDV-004 has a distinct feather on top of the Eagle's head and the RDV-005 does not. It looks to me like the 1966 has the feather and the 1967 does not. Then again, I am new at this.
I'll have to take another, longer look when I get more time. I'm newer at this! Thanks for posting the question.
I find these really interesting because a lot of the chaos corresponded to the switch from silver to clad. From 1932-1964...there were really only two reverse die types. There was the business strike reverse (RDV-001), also known as "Type A" and the proof reverse (RDV-002), also known as "Type B." From 1932-1955, the RDV-001 reverse was used on all business strikes and the 1936 proof while the RDV-002 reverse was used on all proofs beginning in 1937. 1956 is where it first begins to get interesting as a number of Philadelphia struck some business strike coins with the proof reverse die. From 1956-1964, Philadelphia struck business strikes exist with both reverses...with the RDV-002 reverse being more desirable. When the switch to clad came in 1965, the reverse was redone to increase sharpness resulting in the RDV-003 reverse. However, a small number of 1964-D quarters were struck using this die type resulting in the scarce "Type C" quarter. Between 1965 and 1972 there were 5 different reverse die types sprinkled across the years. For example, the 1969-D is known to exist with the RDV-004, 005, 006, 007, and 008 reverses. This 7 year run was really where the action was. Beginning in 1973, things settled down. While 7 new die varieties were made between 1973-1998, generally they were separate by years...so no mid-year varieties. The only exception to this was 1980...the 1980 and 1980-D do exist with both the RDV-011 and RDV-012 reverses (the 1980-S Proof is only RDV-012). In total, 15 reverse die types were used during the 1932-1998 Washington Quarter run. Interesting, there are some obverse die varieties as well but far fewer. Although there were 20 different obverse die types for the 32-98 Washington Quarter, nearly all design changes happened between years. Only a few exceptions occurred. The most well known involves the motto of which there are 3 types. There is a "light" (ODV-001), "medium" (ODV-002), and "heavy" (ODV-003) motto type. In 1934, all 3 designs were used resulting in a variety so well know the Red Book lists it. The only other mid-year obverse die varieties in this series came in 1951 and 1952. The ODV-005 was used on all issues from 1947-1955. However, there was a modified obverse die (known as ODV-006) mixed in for business strikes 1951-1952 and for the 1952 proof.
So, I superimposed both coins on top of each other in photoshop and am convinced that they are both the same die type. Based on the shape and size of EPU and the location of the leaf below and to the right of the arrowheads, I've concluded that both appear to be RDV-004. The photo of the 1967 appears to be lacking the feather on top of the head but when I look at other photos with different lighting I am convinced it is there. So, it must be RDV-004.
That's is probably the easiest diagnostic of the "Type A" vs. "Type B" quarters RDV-001 and RDV-002). It only applies to 1956-1964 Philadelphia minted quarters. The so called "Type C" quarters (RDV-003) are only confirmed to exist on 1964-D, 1965 and 1967 business strike quarters.
