1776-1976 Bicentennial Washington Quarter

This item is a United States Bicentennial Quarter, minted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American independence. The obverse features the left-facing profile of George Washington, and instead of a single date, it bears the dual date '1776-1976' at the bottom. The coin is composed of a copper-nickel clad over a pure copper core, resulting in a silvery-white exterior appearance. This specific specimen exhibits significant environmental toning and surface contamination; there is a notable yellowish-brown stain overlapping the letters 'L' and 'I' in 'LIBERTY' and extending onto Washington's forehead. The overall surface displays a dull, greyish patina with varied splotches of darker oxidation, suggesting it has spent time in circulation or a damp environment. Significant wear is visible on the high points of Washington's hair and facial features, indicating a grade in the circulated range. Small nicks and contact marks are present across the fields. While over 1.6 billion were struck for circulation, the unique dual dating and the Colonial Drummer reverse (not shown but characteristic of this issue) make it a popularly collected piece of American numismatic history.

I have examined the provided description and image of this 1776-1976 Bicentennial Washington Quarter. The specimen is a standard copper-nickel clad circulation strike, not the 40% silver variant minted in San Francisco. My assessment confirms the coin is in 'Circulated' condition, likely grading between Fine and Very Fine. The surfaces show significant environmental damage, specifically yellowish-brown oxidation and heavy toning that obscures the design. This level of surface contamination and wear deeply impacts the numismatic appeal. From a market perspective, over 1.6 billion of these quarters were produced for the bicentennial celebration. Due to this massive mintage, circulated examples without Mint State luster or rare errors carry no premium over face value. Comparables for this condition are found in common 'pocket change' or bulk coin lots, where they trade at $0.25. While the dual-date design is historically significant, it is not rare. Factors negatively impacting value include the lack of 'S' mint mark (indicating it is not a silver proof) and the presence of significant contact marks and unsightly staining. Please note that while the design appears authentic, a full authentication would require physical weighing and edge inspection to rule out counterfeit clad layering, though such forgeries are rare for this denomination. A definitive grade could only be assigned by an in-person examination by a third-party grading service like PCGS or NGC, although the cost of such grading would far exceed the coin's market value.