Washington Quarter

United States · 1997

A standard circulated United States Washington quarter featuring George Washington on the obverse and the traditional heraldic eagle on the reverse.

Country: United States
Year: 1997
Denomination: 25 Cents (Quarter Dollar)
Metal: Cupro-Nickel clad (91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel over a pure copper core)

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified September 17, 2026More united states coins →

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Overview

A standard circulated United States Washington quarter featuring George Washington on the obverse and the traditional heraldic eagle on the reverse.

Historical significance

Introduced in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth, this iconic design by John Flanagan became a staple of American commerce and remains one of the most widely recognized circulating coin designs.

Obverse (front)

Features the left-facing profile portrait of George Washington, inscribed with the word 'LIBERTY' along the top rim, the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' to the left, and the year of issue '1997' at the bottom. Designed by John Flanagan.

Reverse (back)

Features a heraldic bald eagle with its wings displayed, clutching a bundle of arrows and an olive branch, encircled by the inscriptions 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', 'E PLURIBUS UNUM', and the denomination 'QUARTER DOLLAR'. Designed by John Flanagan.

Estimated value

$0.25 (face value) in circulated condition; up to $2-$5 in uncirculated mint state grades.

What drives this coin's value

Overall preservation, presence of mint luster, absence of heavy scratches or gouges, and specific high-grade certification.

Grade assessment

About Uncirculated to Mint State (AU/MS) with minor bag marks typical of everyday commerce.

Mintage & rarity

Common; hundreds of millions were produced across Philadelphia and Denver mints for circulation.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Check the weight, diameter, and edge reeding. Modern circulating cupro-nickel quarters are rarely counterfeited for circulation use due to their low face value, but verify lack of casting seams.

Notable varieties & errors

Look for rare doubled die obverse/reverse errors or mint errors such as off-center strikes, though most regular issues carry only face value.

Similar coins

State Quarters (1998-2009) and modern America the Beautiful quarters, which share the same obverse portrait but feature varying commemorative reverse designs.

Care & preservation

Handle by the edges using clean cotton gloves to avoid transferring skin oils. Store in a cool, dry place in archival-safe holders (such as PVC-free flips or capsules). Never clean the coin, as harsh cleaning or polishing severely damages its collector value.