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1941 Washington Silver Quarter

Obverse and reverse of a 1941 silver United States Washington quarter with circulated wear. - view 1
1/3

Estimated value

$5 - $8

Rarity

Common(2/10)

Category

Rare Coins & Currency

Brand

United States Mint

Era

1941

Origin

United States

Artist / Creator

John Flanagan

Authenticity

Very High(92%)
22

1941 WASHINGTON SILVER QUARTER: IDENTIFICATION

A 90% silver Washington Quarter dated 1941. The obverse features the left-facing profile of George Washington, based on the 1785 bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The reverse displays a spread-winged eagle perched on a bundle of arrows with olive branches below. This specific example shows circulated wear consistent with a 'Fine' to 'Very Fine' grade, with distinct flattening on the hair curls above the ear and the eagle's breast feathers.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

American Neoclassicism1930s-1940s

The use of the Houdon bust reflects the 20th-century trend of returning to 18th-century Enlightenment-era portraiture for national identity.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •The 'Silver Stack' practice where modern collectors hoard pre-1965 coinage for its intrinsic precious metal value.

Meaning Through Time

1941

Practical currency representing a significant amount of purchasing power during the late Depression era.

Modern Day

A 'junk silver' bullion asset primarily valued for its 90% silver content rather than numismatic rarity.

NUMISMATIC HISTORY

Designed by John Flanagan and first issued in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth, this series replaced the Standing Liberty quarter. The 1941 issue was produced during a period of high economic activity just prior to the United States' full entry into World War II ...
Designed by John Flanagan and first issued in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth, this series replaced the Standing Liberty quarter. The 1941 issue was produced during a period of high economic activity just prior to the United States' full entry into World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of that year. The Philadelphia Mint produced 79,032,000 quarters in 1941, making it a relatively common date in the series.

NUMISMATIC NOTES

1

The 1941 Philadelphia issue had the highest mintage of any Washington quarter produced between 1932 and 1944, totaling over 79 million strikes.

2

Prior to 1965, US quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, containing approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver.

SCARCITY

Common20-40%
CommonLegendary

Older mass-produced items still widely available. Easy to find on eBay, antique malls, and estate sales in large quantities.

Typical Characteristics

  • Mass produced historically
  • High survival rate
  • Readily available everywhere

Confidence Factors

  • Common date with extremely high mintage makes forgery unlikely
How does authenticity detection work?

NUMISMATIST'S ASSESSMENT

Numismatist

Numismatic Specialist

The coin is a well-known, high-mintage type. The images provide sufficient detail to verify the date, mint (or lack thereof), and circulation wear levels.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Date 1941 is clearly struck and shows correct font for the Philadelphia Mint issues.
  • 2Lack of mint mark on the reverse (above 'QUARTER DOLLAR') indicates production in Philadelphia.
  • 3Correct relief height for a pre-1964 silver strike, unlike modern lower-relief copper-nickel clad coins.
  • 4Circulation wear follows typical patterns for the Washington series, specifically on the ear and breast feathers.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check for the 1941-S or 1941-D mint marks if any other coins are present, though this specific coin is a 'P'.

CONDITION & GRADE

F-12 to VF-20

Grading breakdown

Wear is evident on Washington's hair and the eagle's wing tips; however, all major lettering and the date are bold and clear, which is diagnostic for a Fine grade on the Sheldon Scale.

Condition

The coin exhibits moderate, even wear. Hairlines on the obverse are visible but smoothed at the highest points. The eagle's breast on the reverse is flattened. The rim remains mostly intact with some minor softening.

NUMISMATIC VALUATION

$5 - $8

Updated: Sep 3, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated '1941 US quarter' - visible date and design confirm this exactly.
  • User stated 'Minor wear' - visual evidence shows circulation consistent with a mid-grade circulated coin.

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