1983-P Quarter - Is This A Spitting Eagle?

Again better pictures are a must on this forum for us to help you out fully. This looks like a scratch ( PMD) to be only. They do have a VAM'd Morgan that has the spitting eagle. Haven't heard of a variety like this for a Washington quarter though.

It might be a clash mark. There could be some areas that could have been affected in that area? Here is an overlay:

I don't know know what you have for sure but it looks like a clash mark from Washington's throat to me -- though it does not conform perfectly with overlays I saw a few weeks ago or those Coop provides here. Funny thing is that the so-called Spitting Eagle clash was the subject of a series of comical exchanges among the CONECA Board members a few weeks ago.

NGC sent out a press release on this coin in July 2013 and they still have a story on it on their web site.

Here is what they wrote:

"NGC RECOGNIZES "SPITTING EAGLE" 1983-P QUARTERSPosted on 7/22/2013
NGC will attribute the "Spitting Eagle" variety of 1983-P Washington quarters.

SARASOTA, Fla. (July 22, 2013) — Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has announced that it will now attribute the "Spitting Eagle" variety of 1983-P Washington quarters. The variety is identified by a die crack—a raised line caused by the deterioration of a coining die—near the mouth of the eagle on the reverse. Its location makes it appear that the eagle is spitting.

This variety is reminiscent of the famous 1891-CC VAM-4 Spitting Eagle Morgan dollar, which features a small die defect near the eagle's mouth. The 1891-CC Spitting Eagle is listed in the Top 100 Morgan dollar Varieties.
Die cracks are seldom seen on modern US coins because improved production practices have led to greater uniformity of coins from a particular date and mint. These varieties are popular with many modern coin collectors who seek examples of these anomalies. The similar "Speared Bison" 2005-D Jefferson nickel, for example, is ranked 80 in the 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins.The 1983-P Spitting Eagle Washington quarter will appear in the online NGC Census and VarietyPlus® attribution catalog beginning on July 23."

Here is an image of that "rare bird"

Click Image To Enlarge

Submitted by Anthony Fanger MSNS Spring Convention 2014