1966 Washington Quarter. MS-68+ (PCGS).An exquisite example irrespective of date, pristine-looking surfaces are adorned in vivid multicolored peripheral toning that has a target-like distribution from the rims to the centers. The most varied colors are seen when the coin is observed with the aid of direct lighting. Fully struck, lustrous and exceptionally well preserved, we doubt this coins equal exists in an early date circulation strike quarter produced in the new copper-nickel clad composition.<p>Introduced in 1965, these new quarters were the then-latest step in the affects of rising precious metal values on U.S. coinage. But whereas in 1853 rising silver prices required only a reduction in the weight of these coins to keep their bullion value below face value, the Coinage Act of 1965 had to take the drastic step of removing silver from the quarter (and dime) entirely. The replacement "clad" quarters feature an outer layer of copper-nickel (75%-25%) bonded to an inner core of pure copper. Mintages continued to rise from the already substantial levels achieved during the early 1960s, and the second-year 1966 "clad" issue was produced to the extent of 821,101,500 pieces. These are hardly rare in an absolute sense, but its commonness both then and now actually worked against the issue in that it created no incentive to preserve specimens with the utmost in numismatic care. A unique exception to this norm, and the single finest certified example, this extraordinary PCGS MS-68+ is eagerly awaiting inclusion in the finest Washington quarter collection on the PCGS Set Registry.PCGS# 5879. NGC ID: 246X.PCGS Population: 1; 0 finer.From Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of May 2023, lot 3901.
