1978-S Washington Quarter — PCGS PR70DCAM
A Flawless Proof from the San Francisco Mint
This is the 1978-S Proof Washington Quarter, certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) in the flawless PR70 Deep Cameo (DCAM) grade — the highest possible grade a proof coin can achieve. The PCGS number for this issue is 96012.
The PR70DCAM Designation
A PR70 grade signifies a coin with no visible imperfections under 5x magnification, representing the absolute pinnacle of modern coin preservation. The DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation indicates exceptional visual contrast: the frosted design elements stand out boldly against deeply mirrored, reflective fields — the hallmark of the finest proof coins.
As noted by PCGS expert Jaime Hernandez, the 1978-S Proof Washington Quarter is "very common up to about PR69 Deep Cameo," but perfect PR70 Deep Cameo examples are "somewhat scarce". He further notes that while examples exist in this condition, "there are hundreds if not thousands of coins remaining in this condition".
Specifications
| PCGS # | 96012 |
| Year | 1978 |
| Mint | San Francisco (S mintmark) |
| Denomination | 25 Cents (Quarter Dollar) |
| Grade | PR70DCAM |
| Designer | John Flanagan |
| Composition | Clad: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center |
| Weight | 5.67 grams |
| Diameter | 24.30 millimeters |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Mintage | 3,127,781 |
Rarity & Collectibility
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Pop Higher | 0 (no coins graded above PR70) |
| Pop Lower | 12,457 examples graded below PR70 |
Design
The obverse features John Flanagan's classic left-facing portrait of George Washington, adapted from Jean-Antoine Houdon's sculpture, with the inscriptions "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the date. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with wings fully extended, clutching a bundle of arrows and an olive branch, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" at the top periphery and "QUARTER DOLLAR" at the bottom
