Recently, I (half jokingly) made a post calling myself an "unsophisticated numismatist" because I don't seem to find the minor doubled dies or little variations very interesting...which is overall true. However, the more I thought about it...the more I realized that is not 100% true...as there is one coin that has peaked my interest in a less than macroscopic way. I have always loved the Washington Quarter (32-98)...and several years ago I became interested in the Type B reverse coins produced from 1956-1964. For those of you who don't know...the business strike Washington Quarter produced in silver from 1932-1964 for the most part had a single reverse...referred commonly as Type A (or as RDV-001). The first proof issue, 1936, had the same reverse. But, beginning in 1937 and continuing through 1964 (the end of the Philadelphia minted proofs), the proofs had an altered reverse which has commonly become known as Type B (RDV-002). However, for reasons I don't totally know, beginning in 1956, Type B reverses began appearing on a small number of business strike coins. I have always assumed these were refurbished proof reverse dies but I don't know for sure. Anyway, those were used in smallish numbers through 1964 on business strike coins...resulting in two reverse varieties from 1956-64 for Philadelphia minted business strike coins. As the coin transitioned into clad, a variety of other reverse varieties were used through the early 1970s. Based on what I have read; RDV-003 (Type C), RDV-004 (Type D), RDV-005 (Type E), RDV-006 (Type F), RDV-008 (Type M, aka Type G), and RDV-009 (Type H) were all used on coins minted from 1964-1972...different combinations of reverses in different years. I have been studying this...because the Washington Quarter is my favorite modern series and I would like to put together a fairly complete set (again, not gonna do DDOs, DDRs, RPMs for now)...but I want to include these various reverse varieties because I think it would be a fun hunt. I found some great information about them here: http://heartlandcoinclub.com/links.html#link14 In the document from that site, it notes that RDV-009 was used on all 1973-1974 coins and RDV-010 was the Bicentennial reverse for 1975-76. So, not much to hunt for in those years. But, then it gets a little less informative and I haven't been able to find any really strong references for RDV-011 and later. That document states that RDV-011 on all 1977-1980 quarters (except the 1980-S proof) and that RDV-012 was used on all 1980-1985 quarters. So, I would assume that there is a 1980-P, 1980-D RDV-011 variety and a 1980-P, 1980-D RDV-012 variety. Does anyone here know if that has been confirmed at this point? Also, does anyone have any references for images of these types? The document then goes on to say that RDV-013 was used for all coins 1986 (including proofs) and that RDV-014 was all coins (including proofs) 1986-98. So, that leads me to believe that 1986-P/D/S exists as RDV-013 and RDV-014. Again, same questions. Has anyone confirmed this and does anyone here know the diagnostics to differentiate the later reverse varieties. I think this would be a fun project for me. I doubt it would break the bank but I would get to search and cherry pick the right coins.
As I understand it...3-9 were due to the changes from silver to clad and difficulties that came with it. RDV-010 was for the bicentennial quarter. I can't find much information after that for why additional changes were made.
I'm curious to know if these changes are significant or if they are just nit-picking that has gone overboard. ~ Chris
It the link I posted, there is a .pdf that goes over all the details through RDV-009. I would say that some are more apparent than others but they are somewhat nit-picky. I would say this. Type B quarters from 56-64 and pretty widely collected and the 64-D Type C is also fairly popular.
Actually, I think I found what I was looking for. Variety Vista has a very complete listing it looks like which answers my questions: http://www.varietyvista.com/09a WQ Vol 1/Reverse Design Varieties.htm
I know I’m in a different thread/forum but I’m new and this is pretty dang confusing. But anyway in the last month I come across 3 2019 West Point quarters. I read about them on different sites. Are they still sought after or are they thing of the past
If you got dup Wash's from 32 - 64 in ++ Grade, I'd suggest getting with user jake1932, if interested in trading. He will do you right trading
