Obverse:
The obverse features a left-facing bust of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The inscriptions include “LIBERTY” above the portrait, “IN GOD WE TRUST” to the left, and the date 1972 below.

Reverse:
The reverse depicts a heraldic bald eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a bundle of arrows, symbolizing strength and readiness to defend the nation. Olive branches beneath the eagle represent peace. The inscriptions read “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

Specifications:

• Composition: Copper-nickel clad (copper core)

• Weight: 5.67 g

• Diameter: 24.26 mm

• Edge: Reeded

• Mint mark: None (Philadelphia issue, if no mint mark present)

• Alignment: Coin (180°)

Historical Insight:
In 1972, the United States was experiencing significant social and political change, with the Vietnam War ongoing and major shifts in domestic policy. Coins from this period reflect a stable monetary design that had become deeply familiar to the American public.

Collecting Note:
While common in circulation, the 1972 Washington Quarter is a representative example of pre–State Quarters U.S. coinage. Such coins are often collected as type pieces or as part of chronological sets documenting everyday American currency before the major design changes of the late 1990s.