1979-S Type 1 And Type 2 Proof Washington Quarter Differences

PCGS - In 1979, the United States Mint improved the clarity of the "S" mintmark on its proof coins. The changeover to a new "S" mintmark in 1979 was notable, especially as the mintmark punch the Mint brought into 1979 had been in use since 1974. The older punch rendered blobby-looking "S" mintmarks that were hardly distinguishable as an "S" at first glance except to the eyes of individuals who knew what they were looking at.


The 1979-S Type 1 Proof Washington Quarter

So, midway through production of its 1979 proof coinage, the U.S. Mint employed a brand new "S" mintmark punch with more defined details that made it easier to decipher as an "S." All six denominations of proof coins saw the new "S" mintmark, including the 1979-S Proof Washington quarter.


The 1979-S Type 2 Proof Washington quarter has a clearer "S" mintmark than the Type 1

The Type 1 "S" has a silhouette or footprint that loosely resembles the numeral "8" with an S-shaped ridge indicating the spine and serifs of the serpentine letter. Meanwhile, the Type 2 mintmark for 1979 shows a clear spine with more well-defined serifs; there is only minor filling of the space between the ends of the letter and its middle, and two clear holes reveal the field within the top and bottom of the character.

The 1979-S Type 2 proof is somewhat scarcer than the Type 1, though exact mintage figures are not publicly known or available. Generally speaking, pricing between the Type 1 and Type 2 variants is largely identical up through PR69. However, prices for the Type 2 in PR70DCAM are about double those of the Type 1 counterpart; the 1979-S Type I retails for around $30 in PR70DCAM while the 1979-S Type 2 fetches closer to $60 in that same grade.

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