Washington Quarter, Clad (1965-1998) : History and Value.
The 1965-1998 Washington Quarter is part of the U.S. Mint's clad coinage series, introduced in 1965 after silver was removed from most U.S. coins. These quarters feature a copper-nickel alloy rather than the silver composition used previously.
Features George Washington, the first president of the United States, designed by John Flanagan. The bust of Washington has remained unchanged since the coin was first introduced in 1932.
The quarters were produced in a clad composition: 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. The clad structure means the coin is composed of layers of nickel and copper, making it more affordable to mint compared to earlier silver coins.
In 1965, the U.S. Mint switched to clad coinage for most circulating coins due to the rising cost of silver. This was the beginning of the clad quarter series. The transition marked the end of the silver Washington quarters (pre-1964).
Although they are common, certain years and mintmarks are of more interest to collectors. For example, the 1970-D and 1979-P are popular among those seeking higher-quality specimens or specific minting errors.
1976 Bicentennial Quarters: This design features a drummer boy on the reverse and is highly popular. It was released as part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations, making it a collector’s favorite.
Silver Proof Sets (1992-1998): Starting in 1992, the U.S. Mint began issuing silver proof sets, which include Washington Quarters made with a higher percentage of silver (90%). These have higher value compared to the copper-nickel clad versions.
The value of Washington Quarters from this period largely depends on their condition. Coins graded as MS65 or higher are more valuable.