Wicked Washington Wednesday: My Coin Collecting Adventures and Tips

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, I’ve been sifting through my Washington quarters collection—nothing gets me in the patriotic spirit like ‘Wicked Washington Wednesday.’ What better way to honor our first president than through coins? I’ve pulled together some favorite discoveries and hard-earned lessons from my years collecting.

Kicking Off with Washington Treasures

Summer means coin hunting season for me, and my metal detector’s turned up some keepers. Like that 1961 quarter I spotted gleaming in a New England field—common date, sure, but finding it right on the surface gave me that collector’s rush! Then there’s my 1943 wartime silver quarter. Holding that always takes me back to history class. When building a Washington set, I lean toward dates like these—they’re affordable but packed with stories.

Metal Detecting Finds and Authenticity Checks

While metal detecting’s a thrill, I’ve learned the hard way about fakes. Once dug up a modern quarter that felt wrong—weighed 5.69 grams instead of 5.67, and bent like cheap tin. Turned out to be a counterfeit missing its copper core. Here’s what I always do now:

• Weigh everything: A $10 scale saved me—real quarters hit 5.67 grams
• Test the bend: Genuine silver or clad won’t fold like paper
• Study the details: Sloppy strikes or weird colors? Probably fake

These tricks have saved me from magician coins and lazy counterfeits more times than I can count.

Graded Coins and Building Sets

That Washington quarter I got graded NGC MS-66PL? Still one of my proudest finds. Proof-likes in top condition are rare birds—that mirror finish shows every flaw. For my raw set (1932-1998), I keep them exactly as found. Nothing beats the hunt—back in the day, swap meets were gold mines for filling holes. Nowadays, I tell new collectors to hit local clubs or online forums. You’ll learn more trading over coffee than any textbook.

Error Coins and Market Observations

Thought I’d scored a sweet error coin once—a 1965 quarter with odd markings. Weight and bend tests proved it counterfeit. Goes to show: always verify before celebrating! Market-wise, uncirculated 1930s-40s quarters are red-hot, but fakes flood in behind demand. My rule? Buy from trusted sources, and grade anything valuable. Saw a ’32-S go for four figures recently—authenticity matters.

Tracking down these quarters has only deepened my love for America’s story in silver. If this sparks your interest, pull out that old collection—I’d love to see your wicked finds! Happy hunting, and early Independence Day!