1959 Washington Quarter FS-901 Type B Reverse – PCGS MS66 (67/5), Only 5 Finer

1959 Washington Quarter , Type B Reverse graded way back in 2022 by PCGS as PCGS MS66. 67 coins at this grade with only 5 finer of which 4 are MS66+ and a single MS67

This coin came from an original roll of 1959 quarters I acquired years ago. I caved into the temptation of breaking it up and eventually sent the best 10 coins into PCGS for grading. Of those 10, 7 graded MS65, 2 graded MS64 and this was the lone MS66

The Type B Reverse resulted from dies intended for Proof streikes being used on business strikes. The Type B Reverse issues spanned from 1956 through 1964. There are far fewer 1964 Type B Reverse than 1956. With each year in fact, starting with 1956, the most common year in terms of the population of Type B Reverses, with passing year the Type B Reverse got scarcer and scarcer. The 1959 is right in the middle of the 9 year span in terms of scarcity.

Identifying the Type B Reverse: The die markers are easy to spot. On the reverse, start with the ES in STATES. On the normal die, the serifs on the right side of the E touch the left side of the S whereas on the Type B Reverse, the two letters have full separation with no contact. . If you look at the vine below the branch the eagle is perhched on, the leavers extending from the vine touch the letters. The leaf touching the A in DOLLAR is very thick and of high relief on the Type B Reverse and on the standard business strike die, it is much less defined and in low relief.