1941 Washington Quarter

With the United States entering World War II late in the year and the economy roaring out of the Great Depression, production of 1941 Washington quarters was up significantly over any of the previous years in the series. Over 100 million Washington quarters were struck in 1941 across the three mints operating then – Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Dramatic increases in the mintage of Washington quarters, as well as other coin series in production at the time, helped to flood circulation with many new coins and began to crowd out the presence of older coin designs still in circulation at the time.

Here’s a breakdown of the mintages and values of 1941 Washington quarters:

• 1941, 79,032,000 minted; $7

• 1941 proof, 15,287; $300

• 1941-D, 16,714,800; $10

• 1941-S, 16,080,000; $8

*Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely Fine, unless otherwise noted.

While all regular-issue 1941 Washington quarters are considered common, there is a little added challenge for series aficionados in the 1941-S quarter, which was struck in both small and large mintmark varieties. While neither variety is worth markedly more than the other at the present, it does keep numismatists on their toes. The 1941 proof Washington quarter is included in few collections, but makes a beautiful addition in any all-inclusive Washington quarter series run.