1937 25C PR67+ Certification #25360191, PCGS #5976

Charles Morgan

The 1937 Washington Quarter Proof

The Washington Quarter underwent several revisions following its 1932 release. Most famously, the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was reworked twice in 1934. Less well known are the changes made in 1937 to accommodate Proof production.

This year marked the birth of the modern Proof production method at the United States Mint. For the first time, Proof dies were specially prepared for that specific purpose rather than being repurposed business-strike dies. Flanagan’s original design precipitated this change because critical details were often lost during the traditional die-polishing process.

To create these dedicated Proof dies, the Mint developed a new master hub featuring reinforced lettering and a lowered field to ensure a crisper strike. Numismatic researcher Herb Hicks discovered this transition, detailing it in the February 1986 issue of The Numismatist in his article, "The Washington Quarter Reverse: A Die-Variety Bonanza."

I am proud to say that Herb and I became friends later in his life. He was a top-tier numismatist whose discriminating eye for minor die details was even admired by the legendary Walter Breen.

Collecting the 1937 Washington Quarter Proof

While the official Mint figure for the 1937 Washington Quarter Proof (#5976) is 5,542 pieces, this number reflects distribution rather than total mintage. At the time, collectors could purchase Proof coins individually or as part of a set. Research by Roger W. Burdette suggests a gross mintage closer to 7,390, with roughly 5,505 net sales after accounting for rejected pieces.

When first struck, all examples exhibited deep mirrored fields and a fully brilliant finish; none are known to exist with Cameo contrast. Nearly 90 years after their issue, most surviving examples have developed some form of patination, ranging from the champagne-gray haze typical of vintage Proofs to, in rarer cases, vivid toning.

PCGS reports over 2,000 grading events for this date, with the majority of examples falling between PCGS PR64 and PCGS PR66. While the issue remains relatively affordable in premium Gem grades, examples in the "Top Pop" grade of PCGS PR68 are highly sought after by Set Registry participants.

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