1960-D Washington Quarter : A Collector’s Guide

1960-D Washington Quarter: The 1960s were a critical time in U.S. coin history. During this time, the U.S. government owned more than 1.8 billion troy ounces of silver, a large portion of which was stored at the West Point Bullion Depository. A large portion of this silver was obtained not from Western mines, but from India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia under lease agreements.

In 1960, the Denver Mint produced 63,000,324 Washington quarters, more than twice as many coins as the Philadelphia Mint produced. The decade also witnessed a boom in quarter dollar production, leading to the decision to phase out the production of 90% silver coins. Although most 1960-D Washington quarters were melted due to their silver content, some high-quality coins are still available to collectors today.

Market Value and Rare Variants of the 1960-D Washington Quarter

Market Value and Notable Coins

Today, high-quality 1960-D Washington quarters are traded on major auction platforms such as GreatCollections and Heritage Auctions. Some of the notable sales are as follows:

  • A coin graded PCGS MS67+ sold for $20,812.50.
  • Another coin graded NGC MS68 sold for $7,031.25.
  • A coin graded PCGS MS67 CAC sold for $2,232.50.

The value of these coins depends on their rarity, toning, and collectible status. Some coins with special toning fetch higher prices than normal coins.

Design of the 1960-D Washington Quarter

Design of the 1960-D Washington Quarter

Obverse

The obverse of this coin was designed by renowned American designer John Flanagan. He modeled it after the bust of George Washington created in 1785 by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.

The obverse features the following:

  • Portrait of George Washington facing left
  • The words LIBERTY above
  • IN GOD WE TRUST below the chin
  • The year 1960 below
  • The designer’s initials JF, which date to 1932

Reverse

The reverse of the coin features an eagle designed by John Flanagan. The eagle’s wings are spread and it is perched on a bundle of arrows. Below it are two olive branches.

The reverse features the following:

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA imprinted at the top
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM (one of many) inscribed
  • Denimation QUARTER DOLLAR imprinted at the bottom
  • D mintmark, indicating that this coin was minted at the Denver Mint

Edge

The edge of the 1960-D Washington quarter is reeded, meaning it has tiny grooves cut into it.

Designer: John Flanagan

John Flanagan was born in New Jersey in 1865. He began his career apprenticed under renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Flanagan’s contributions were not limited to the Washington quarter, but he also created many other important medals and statues. These include the official medal of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and the Verdun Medal.

Technical Features of the 1960-D Washington Quarter

DescriptionDetails
CountryUnited States of America
Year1960
Denomination25 Cents (Quarter Dollar)
MintmarkD (Denver)
Mintage63,000,324
Metal Composition90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight6.25 g
Diameter24.30 mm
EdgeReeded
DesignerJohn Flanagan

Conclusion

The 1960-D Washington Quarter is not only a historic coin, it also represents the end of the era of U.S. silver coins. Silver coins began to decline in circulation in the 1960s, and after 1965, the U.S. government began minting copper-nickel composite coins.

Today, good quality versions of the 1960-D Washington Quarter are considered rare and sell for high prices. For collectors, this coin remains attractive from both a history and investment perspective.

FAQs On 1960-D Washington Quarter

Q. Why is the 1960-D Washington quarter considered rare?

A. The 1960-D Washington quarter is considered rare because most silver coins were melted down and destroyed in the 1960s. However, some of the finest quality coins are preserved by collectors.

Q. What is the highest price a 1960-D Washington quarter has fetched?

A. So far, a coin graded PCGS MS67+ has sold for $20,812.50, the highest price ever.

Q. How much silver is in a 1960-D Washington quarter?

A. This coin contains 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing a total of 6.25 grams.

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