1983-P Washington Quarter : History & Value

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
 

Whereas the yr 1982 shocked coin collectors (and most of the people) with the tip of the Susan B. Anthony greenback, transitioning from copper to copper-plated zinc cents, and launching the fashionable commemorative coin collection, 1983 marked enterprise as typical for the United States Mint’s circulating coin program. For the 1983 Washington Quarter, the Mint struck 673,535,000 at Philadelphia and 617,806,446 at Denver.

These cash bear John Flanagan’s 1932 design, however even full strikes lack sharp element because the hubs reached the tip of their service lives. The standard 1983 quarter reveals weak spot within the lettering, particularly the “IN” of IN GOD WE TRUST, and the luster isn’t sturdy, both. Moreover, as is regular for clad cash, a skinny haze of yellow firming is more likely to develop over time. Attractively toned clad cash are uncommon and price pursuing by the specialist collector.

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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens

Within the first version of 100 Biggest U.S. Fashionable Cash, authors Scott Schecter and Jeff Garrett chosen the 1983-P Washington Quarter because the Twenty ninth-greatest fashionable U.S. coin. The coin’s greatness is owed to the truth that it and several other different circulation-strike cash from 1982-’83 weren’t saved in massive portions and weren’t made simply out there to future generations of collectors in Mint Units. This quarter was struck for circulation, positioned into circulation in 1983, and circulated broadly with out concern for its potential future worth. Entrepreneurs with perception into the state of affairs created personal mint units and marketed them to collectors. Even the USA Mint included them in a restricted variety of Memento Units bought at guests’ facilities.

The concept the 1983-P Washington Quarter could be particular didn’t develop till a decade after the coin’s launch. Earlier than third-party grading companies centered their consideration on fashionable cash, the 1983-P was listed in Whitman’s Information Ebook as being price barely greater than clad quarters via 1981 and people who have been struck from 1984 onward. In a typical yr, the Mint would produce upwards of two million annual units, successfully guaranteeing that ample uncirculated cash for every date and mint survived to fulfill demand. With out the units, all uncirculated quarters from 1983 would have needed to have been saved on the time of launch. Cash did get saved, but it surely’s unlikely that the quantity saved exceeds 100,000, even much less so one or two million.

Forty years after its launch, the 1983-P Washington Quarter isn’t steadily encountered in circulation regardless of its mintage of over 670 million items. As a substitute, the extra possible place to come across examples is massive accumulations of cash saved from change, particularly if these change jars have been began within the Nineties. Even in uncooked circulated grades, consumers are prepared to pay $3 to $5 per coin, though one may must record their coin on websites like eBay to see such outcomes.

Most coin collectors sooner or later revenue potential of the 1983-P Washington Quarter hunt down licensed cash in Mint State. To this point, PCGS and NGC each report modest populations of quarters within the grades MS64 and MS65. At a minimal, a Gem MS66 must be the purpose of any collector prepared to pay the additional charge to have a coin licensed. At this grade stage, cash retail for $50 to $60.

Patrons ought to at all times train warning when buying conditionally uncommon cash with low licensed populations, and the 1983-P Washington Quarter, regardless of its inherent curiosity, is not any exception. Public sale costs for Very good Gem 1983-Ps have declined significantly since 2016, when the pop stood at 9 cash, none finer. As of late October 2024, the NGC and PCGS whole MS67 inhabitants has elevated to 53, with six finer – virtually double what it was (24 in MS67, three finer) once we final up to date this profile in March.

High Inhabitants: PCGS MS67+ (3, 10/2024), NGC MS67 (28, 10/2024), and CAC N/A (0:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).

• NGC MS67+ #6279487-007: GreatCollections, March 3, 2024, Lot 1039621 – View; GreatCollections, Could 19, 2024, Lot 1585193 – View.
• PCGS MS67+ #47423852: GreatCollections, August 27, 2023, Lot 1422365 – View.
• NGC MS67+ #6103771-007: GreatCollections, March 12, 2023, Lot 1027482 – View.
• PCGS MS67+ #45496296: GreatCollections, October 30, 2022, Lot 1156000 – View
• NGC MS67 #6805127-058: eBay, October 22, 2024, Lot 365066154340 – $379.99.
• NGC MS67 #6805127-048: eBay, December 20, 2023 – $599.99.
• PCGS MS67 #2730567: Stack’s Bowers, April 12, 2023, Lot 91579 – $504. Struck from worn dies. Scratch throughout UM of UNUM.
• NGC MS67 #1960641-005: “The Brian Loncar Assortment, Half II,” Heritage Auctions, June 7, 2014, Lot 8137 – $1,410; “The Mile Excessive Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2017, Lot 9512 – $1,762.50; Heritage Auctions, February 1, 2022, Lot 21312 – $456. Clad rose hue. Discoloration is current excessive on the cheek. Planchet scratches beneath the ribbon. On the reverse, there’s a darkish spot above the arrow suggestions.
• NGC MS67 #6080936-017: Heritage Auctions, December 22, 2020, Lot 27322 – $360.
• PCGS M67 #25605007: “Charlie O’s Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, June 18, 2019, Lot 25543 – $276.
• PCGS MS67 #25632568: GreatCollections, March 6, 2016, Lot 327520 – View; “The jwb1040 Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, February 26, 2018, Lot 7856 – $552. Marks on Washington’s cheek and neck. Marks on eagle’s breast. Mark on the eagle’s proper wing.
• NGC MS67 #2132905-008: Heritage Auctions, February 19, 2017, Lot 7529 – $998.75. Hit on I of IN. Marks on each of the eagle’s legs.

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1983-P Washington Quarter Design

Obverse:

Designed by American sculptor John Flanagan, the obverse of the 1983-P Washington Quarter is predicated on a bust of Founding Father George Washington created by the neoclassical French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1785. Flanagan’s design differs from the unique bust in a number of methods, resembling a barely completely different head form and several other curls of hair that aren’t on the bust; for comparability, Houdon’s bust may be considered on the late president’s Virginia property, Mount Vernon. Beneath the left-facing effigy’s chin is the nationwide motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The legend LIBERTY runs alongside the highest of the coin’s subject, and the date 1983 is beneath. In small letters, Flanagan’s initials JF may be discovered above the “7” in 1997 on the base of the bust, and the P mintmark is to the fitting of Washington’s hair tie.

Reverse:

Flanagan’s reverse is dominated by a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings and a left-facing head. The eagle is perched on a neat bundle of arrows with two intertwined olive branches beneath. The 2 important inscriptions above the eagle may be learn: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Lastly, at six o’clock on the design, the denomination is written out as QUARTER DOLLAR.

Edge:

The sting of the 1983-P Washington quarter is reeded.

Coin Specs

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