A novice silver Washington question.

direwolf1972

I collect SHQ's in proof because its the only set I can reasonably hope to complete. That said I'm not much of a Washington expert.

I picked up this quarter from a local dealer a little while back just because the color was interesting and it was only 8 bucks. The 2x2 its in says its a proof. I have no idea how to determine if a 50's quarter is proof or not. I suspect it isn't but would like to know at either rate.

TomB

It looks like a proof coin from the image. Proofs of this era will have mirrored fields and likely will have mirrored devices, too, which may be covered in a bit of haze or toning. Business strike coins of this era typically have good luster, ample evident flow lines and often have die cracks that travel through the top of Washington's skull or through the eagle's beak. They are very easy to tell apart.

19Lyds

It has the proof reverse and a proof look to it which tells me the coin is in fact a proof.

For the Proof Reverese, or what is known as the Type B reverse, the leaf at the end of the arrows the eagle is clutching rises above the arrows. Additionally, there is always good clear separation between the E & S of STATES. Lastly, the leaves avobe the A and first KL in DOLLAR are well defined and actually touch those letters.

A good search to be on at this point in time are those quarters that have been struck as business strikes with the Type B reverse. Currently the years 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 are readily obtainable via cherrypicking with the 1956 being the more difficult one to locate.

direwolf1972

Many thanks for the information.