My Wicked Washington Wednesday Coin Adventures

As a lifelong coin collector, I’ve gotta say summer just feels right for treasure hunting, especially with July 4th coming up. This year, I got hooked on George Washington quarters – seems only fitting for our founding father – and man, did I learn some cool stuff along the way.

Metal Detecting Finds: Real Treasures and Fake Alarms

Last month I took my detector through some New England fields and scored a few Washington quarters. My 1961 find still had that wonderful dug-from-the-dirt character. But here’s the kicker: I also pulled up a counterfeit that looked legit at first. That ugly duckling taught me to always double-check finds. A couple tricks that work for me:

• Weigh coins right away – real quarters hover near 5.67 grams. When my scale showed 5.69? Instant suspicion
• Try bending it slightly – if it flexes without that copper core resistance, like that magician’s coin I found, you’ve got trouble

Spotting Fakes: Lessons From the Field

That bendable lightweight quarter was my wake-up call. Now I never leave home without these tools:

• A pocket scale and magnet – genuine clad quarters won’t bend easily or stick hard
• Your own eyes – fakes often have mushy details compared to crisp mint strikes

This routine’s saved me money and headaches more times than I can count.

Grading Washington Quarters: Beauty in the Details

High-grade coins always get my pulse racing, and Washington quarters have some real stunners. Take prooflike examples in MS-66PL – they’re tougher to find than hen’s teeth, just check NGC’s population reports. My raw set from 1932 to 1998 came together through years of swap meet digging, where old-timers would help me track down missing dates. There’s magic in raw coins:

• Prioritize eye appeal over slabs for everyday collecting – each mark tells its own tale
• Watch for prooflike pieces in unexpected places – they pull serious premiums when you find them

Errors and History: Where Stories Live

Washington quarters aren’t just about mint marks – errors can turn common coins into stars. I’ll never forget inspecting what looked like a regular 1965 quarter that just felt “off.” Weight and composition checks revealed it was special. Always give your coins extra attention:

• Hunt for off-center strikes or missing details – the good stuff hides in plain sight
• Savor the history – these quarters carry Washington’s legacy, making them perfect for patriotic displays

My Wicked Washington Wednesdays taught me this hobby mixes heart-pounding finds with careful looking. Whether you’re swinging a detector or searching rolls, keep that curiosity alive and share your discoveries – that’s what makes collecting so darn rewarding!