1952 Type 1 and Type 2 Washingtons

Bodin

I noticed this morning that the "LIBERTY" in 1952 quarters looks different from 1953s
What caught my eye was that I have a 1952 that appears to have the 1953 lettering.
What is MOST noticeable is the thickness of the bottom of the "L", the size of the inside of the bottom hoop of the "B", the thickness of the "E" as well as the slant of the middle prong of the "E", and the thickness of the top bar of the "T".
Has this been noted?
Am I crazy?




Here are 2 1952 S coins. Notice the lettering differences I pointed out above.

Bodin

Bueller? Bueller?

georgiacop50

Interesting!

IrishMikey

James Wiles lists on the CONECA/Variety Vista web site an ODV-005 and an ODV-006 for the 1951-1952 quarters.

He lists the ODV-006 as "thin letters" which corresponds to your first image.

I could find no mention of which is more common.

Hope this helps.

cmerlo1

Very cool. I also like the look of that second '52-S...

kaz

Neat observation. I really like the look of those coins!~

ProofArtworkonCircs

The late great Bill Edwards wrote on these years ago. 1951 and 1952 each come both ways. He first noticed the differences in 1968.

IN GOD WE TRUST is most interesting on one variety.

It shows signs of doubling on the bottoms of the letters G, O and E.
N has a dimple in the center of it. This does not show up on proofs due to polishing or on worn coins.
The upper left of R has a bite take out of it to accommodate the cross bar of the adjacent T.
The center top point of W sticks up above the end points.
This is what he called variety I.

If the listed characteristics are missing, it is variety II.
The thinner center bars of BER of LIBERTY indicate variety II.
The letters of 1951 variety II are more bold than 1952 variety II.

1952 S variety I was estimated to be a mintage of 1,000,000.
1952 P Variety II was estimated at 8,000,000, but tough to find.
1951 Variety II proof may not exist. All other combinations do.

ProofArtworkonCircs

Here are Bill Edward's estimated mintages:

1951 P var I 34,500,000
1951 P var II 8,500,000
1951 D var I 28,000,000
1951 D var II 7,000,000
1951 S var I 7,000,000
1951 S var II 2,000,000
1951 Proof var I 57,500
1951 Proof var II ?

1952 P var I 31,000,000
1952 P var II 8,000,000
1952 D var I 35,000,000
1952 D var II 15,000,000
1952 S var I 1,000,000
1952 S var II 13,000,000
1952 Proof var I 41,000
1952 Proof var II 41,000

sparky64

Great info ProofArtworkonC...

ricko

Interesting... I was not aware of this....I must pull out my quarters and see if I have

any ...Cheers, RickO

ProofArtworkonCircs

I was rereading Bill's piece before refiling it.
I was surprised to see that the thin BER of LIBERTY applies to 1952 type II ONLY.
1951 type II, 1951 type I and 1952 type I match in that area.
Bill also noted minor differences in the 5 of the date and the end of Washington's queue.

I guess we have to rely on IN GOD WE TRUST for the 1951's.

kranky

Cool, had not heard of these before!

cladking

It's simply remarkable how much of this type of thing exists and people just aren't noticing it.



A very similar thing exists on 1985-P quarters with the biggest difference being the distance between the E of LIBERTY and Washington's head. On ~.75% of the mintage this distance is much greater. These don't appear in mint sets.



There are such things that do appear in mint sets from the type "b" reverse silvers to 1981-P quarters with a type "d" reverse.