1935-D 25C MS64 Certification #45004630, PCGS #5798

Charles Morgan

The 1935-D Washington Quarter

During the initial years of the Washington Quarter’s production, the United States Mint struggled with the execution of the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. The original 1932 design did not strike up well; the thin lettering lacked depth, causing it to wear off the dies prematurely and appear faint on circulating coins.

Efforts to remediate this flaw led to several hub adjustments between 1934 and 1936. Collectors now categorize these by the visual "weight" of the font: the "Light Motto" (the 1932 original), the "Medium Motto" (the 1934/35 transition), and the definitive "Heavy Motto" which became the standard by 1936.

The 1935-D Washington Quarter (#5798) is particularly significant as it utilized dies derived from the "Medium Motto" hub. While the lettering remains more elegant and slim compared to the robust 1936 issues, the motto on the 1935-D is notably sharper and more defined than the "soft" strikes characteristic of the 1932 debut.

Collecting the 1935-D Washington Quarter

In 1935, the United States Mint resumed robust production across all three facilities to meet the demands of a recovering economy:

• Philadelphia: 35,484,000
• Denver: 5,780,000
• San Francisco: 5,660,000 

For the Denver Mint, the 1935-D marked its second Washington Quarter release (the first since the iconic 1932-D key date) and its highest quarter output since the release of the 1918-D Standing Liberty Quarter (#5722).

The 1935-D is notably tougher to secure in Gem condition than the 1935-S. This is an impressive distinction because the 1935-S (#5799) is widely regarded as the second most difficult S-Mint Washington Quarter to find in Gem, trailing only the 1932-S (#5792). Within the PCGS Set Registry, collectors face fierce competition for any 1935-D graded PCGS MS67 or finer. To date, our grading room has not encountered an example that meets the stringent requirements for an MS68 grade. Consequently, the hunt continues for that single coin that might stand head and shoulders above all others.

 

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David Hall

The 1935-D is a semi-key date in the Washington quarter series. Gems are scarce, but often available. In Gem condition, of the Denver mints, only the 1932-D (of course), 1934-D and 1936-D are harder to find. Strike is usually not a problem and white luster Gems can be found if you look around.