How Far Back Can We Go? Sixth Edition! Ended At 1380 Waiting On 1379

1932 -- Weimar Republic, 5 reichsmark:

1932 -- Kingdom of Netherlands, 10 gulden:

1932 -- United States, 10 dollars:

1932 was the first year for my favorite series, the silver Washington quarters.

The Philadelphia mint issue was widely saved and spent and lots of both Uncirculated and well-circulated coins are out there. It's the least expensive of the three mints. You could still buy bank rolls of 1932's every once in awhile well into the 80s. Collectors in 1932 were under the (wrong) impression that the Washington quarter was a one-off design for 1932, so they kept lots of examples as keepsakes and commemoratives.

The San Francisco issue was also hoarded, even in rolls, so there are lots of Uncirculated examples, but many fewer in low grades. Due to a much lower mintage than the Philly issue, it still carries a decent price premium, especially in grades below VF20; most of the San Francisco coins stayed on the west coast, but the east coast and especially New England were the major centers of coin collecting in the US at the time, so their demand for the S-mint coins to fill their cabinets also contributed to the higher prices.

The Denver mint issue was late coming out of the gate due to a long delay in shipping dies from Philadelphia to Denver, where the D mint mark was punched in and the coins were struck; this delay has been attributed in part due to the low need for more quarters in commerce thanks to the market woes.

By the time the Denver mint was gearing up the presses, the Depression was in full force, and mintage was low. The Denver issues that found their way out into circulation tended to stay in circulation, and due to the above factors, relatively few Uncirculated issues were saved, and almost none in bank rolls. This makes the 1932-D a key date for the series in any grade, and it is a very tough coin in grades 63 and above; only the 1936-D is scarcer in grades above 63.

All of the 1932 issues have a very distinct strike and appearance when compared to the 1934 and later issues. The Mint's changes made to the design, mint mark area, rims, and overall relief led to the creation of the 1934 light, medium and heavy motto varieties, and the 1934-D Heavy Motto (itself a very scarce variety in grades above 64.)

Great history - Paralyse - interesting about the diminished coin production, pennies and the gold - sums up the 2 groups at the time - Unemployed and the Plutocrats creaming it! With some brand new quarters thrown in for good measure.





Meanwhile our hard times combination, a 1932 Halfpenny and Penny - both coins would have been commonly in use, maybe scraping up a cup of tea and a bun if you were lucky.

Entirely - Love the South African Halfcrown.

Kruger Grey also designed the New Zealand and Rhodesian Half crowns too and it was probably through him, that any colonial halfcrown coin regardless of its country had to have a shield/coat of arms on it, preferably crowned.


All are Kruger Grey originals - apologies for the wrong year.

Back on topic - my very worn 1932 6d - see you all in 1931

PS NumisRob did you like my Halfcrown - I have a line of halfcrowns back to 1926 and several one offs afterwards. KGV halfcrowns have been my mission lately!

1932 -- Union of South Africa, 1 sovereign:

1932 Washington quarter: