Numismatic

1974-S Washington Quarter Gem Proof

---

In 1974, the San Francisco Mint produced a striking version of the classic Washington Quarter, rendered in a brilliant proof finish. This series originally began in 1932 to mark two centuries since the birth of George Washington, taking the place of the previous Standing Liberty design. While the very first issues of this design debuted in August of 1932, the physical makeup of these coins underwent a major transformation decades later. Following the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, the composition of the quarter shifted away from silver. This 1974-S specimen features that modern composition, consisting of a copper core clad in a cupronickel alloy. The obverse displays the familiar left-facing portrait of George Washington, accompanied by the inscriptions of liberty and the national motto, while the reverse features the traditional eagle design alongside the country's name and the denomination.