Washington Quarter
Few people realize it, but if it hadn’t been for Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon the Washington Quarter could have designed for a woman named Laura Gardin Fraser. When the idea first came up for a coin to commemorate Washington’s 200th birthday, a competition was held to find the best 
design for a half dollar bearing the first President’s likeness. Instead when congress decided that Washington’s likeness should appear on the quarter in celebration of his birthday secretary Andrew Mellon chose John Flanagan to create the design that would appear on the quarter and that design remain today.
Front of Washington Quarter
Flanagan designed the Washington quarter so that Washington’s bust predominantly appears on the front of the coin. Washington faces the left with LIBERTY written above his head. At the bottom of the coin is the date. IN GOD WE TRUST is too the left with the designs initial at the base of the neck.
Reverse Side of the Washington Quarter
On the Reverse side of the Washington Quarter is a spread winged Heraldic eagle UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is at the top of the quarter and under that is E PLURIBUS UNUN. Below the eagle is a wreath with QUARTER DOLLAR appearing at the bottom of the quarter. The mint marks appear below the wreath from 1932 though 1964.
From 1968 on the mintmark appear right of Washington’s braid.
Modifications to the Washington Quarter
There have been so many different changes to the Washington Quarter over the years. Here are some of the changes.
- In 1965 the quarter itself changed from 90% silver to a sandwich metal of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a copper core.
- 1975 Jack Ahr’s Drummer boy design appeared on the reverse side of the quarter. With the dual date 1776-1976 on the front of the coin.
- In 1977 the original design on the coin returned.
- From 1999 to 2008- The Washington quarter changed 5 times per year as each of the 50 states were commemorated on the reverse side of the quarter and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA was removed from the reverse side of the quarter and added to the front.
- 2008 to present day- Reverse side of the quarter commemorated other American jurisdictions followed by the National Park service. This series know as the American Beautiful Series will continue until 2021.
- In 1999- The bust of Washington was reduced in size.
- In 2010 The bust was made larger once again.
Washington quarters have been issued every year except 1933. These coins are extremely popular with collectors by date and mint.