How to Identify the George V Twenty-Five Cents (silver)

What It Is

This quarter was struck for Canada from 1911 through 1936, covering the reign of King George V, and continues the maple wreath design used on the denomination since 1870.

Obverse Design

The obverse shows King George V facing left. Like the five-cent and ten-cent coins of the same year, the 1911 quarter belongs to the famous "Godless" set, with a legend omitting "DEI GRATIA"; this was corrected on coins dated 1912 onward.

Reverse Design

The reverse continues the wreath of maple leaves surrounding "25 CENTS" and the date.

Size, Weight, Metal & Edge

The coin was struck in .925 sterling silver from 1911 through 1919, then reduced to .800 fine silver starting in 1920, matching the broader change applied across Canadian silver coinage that year. It measures about 23.88mm in diameter and weighs roughly 5.81 grams, with a reeded edge maintained throughout.

Mint Marks

Coins from this period were produced at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa and generally carry no mintmark.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Checking the 1911 legend for the presence or absence of "DEI GRATIA" identifies the Godless variety versus a later, corrected strike. This coin is distinguished from the earlier Victoria and Edward VII quarters by its portrait style, and from later Canadian quarters by the continued use of the maple wreath reverse, which was eventually replaced by different designs in later reigns. Because the fineness change in 1920 applies here as it does to the dime and five-cent pieces of the same years, a coin's exact date is useful context even though the silver content itself cannot be judged by eye.

Judging Condition

Examine George V's hair and laurel detail on the obverse, and the wreath's ribbon and leaf veins on the reverse, for signs of flattening from wear. Because the quarter is larger and thicker than the dime and five-cent pieces of the same design family, it can sometimes retain sharper detail after similar amounts of circulation.

Authenticity Red Flags

Given decades of heavy circulation for many dates in this series, watch for coins that have been cleaned or polished to appear better than their actual grade. Verify weight and diameter against known specifications for any coin suspected of being altered, and examine the 1911 legend area closely for signs of tampering given the collector interest in the Godless variety. As with the matching dime and five-cent pieces of the same years, a coin's overall wear should look consistent everywhere; localized sharpness in just one small area of the design is a common sign of alteration.