1934-D 25C Medium Motto

Description

# 1934-D Washington Quarter, Medium Motto, PCGS MS67. The 1934-D Washington Quarter represents a significant key date in the Washington Quarter series, particularly in the exceptional grade of MS67. This Medium Motto variety was struck at the Denver Mint during a period of economic hardship when coin production remained severely limited by Great Depression-era demand constraints. The Denver Mint's output of 3,527,200 quarters marked its highest quarter production since 1920, yet the vast majority entered immediate circulation as the economic crisis forced the hoarding of precious metals and the preservation of coins in high grades remained uncommon among the general public. The Medium Motto designation reflects the refined engraving work undertaken in 1934, featuring notably sharper detail than the original 1932 "Light Motto" while maintaining the original letter proportions. Distinguishing characteristics include flat, level tops on most letters, sharp serif terminations on the G and R, and the characteristic asymmetry of the S and T letters. The Denver Mint employed both Medium and Heavy Motto hubs during 1934 production; notably, no Light Motto examples are known for the 1934-D mintmark. This particular example, graded PCGS MS67 (Certificate #54748276), represents an exceptional survivor. With only 3 examples graded higher and just 18 total submissions to PCGS, the 1934-D remains genuinely scarce in high grades—surpassed in rarity only by the 1932-D and 1932-S in MS65 or better. Mint state examples typically exhibit the frosty luster and sharp striking characteristic of Denver Mint quarters from this period. The combination of key-date status, scarcity in Gem condition, and strong market demand positions this coin as a desirable holding for serious Washington Quarter specialists.