1981-P Washington Quarter BU

This 1981-P Washington Quarter BU is a well-preserved example from the later years of the classic Washington quarter series. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, it represents a coin that was once a familiar part of everyday American commerce during the late 20th century. In Brilliant Uncirculated condition, it offers the cleaner surfaces, sharper detail, and stronger overall eye appeal collectors look for when adding a nicer clad quarter to a set.  

The Washington quarter was first introduced in 1932 to honor the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Designed by John Flanagan, the series became one of the most enduring designs in U.S. coinage and remained the standard circulating quarter design for decades. By 1981, the quarter had long since moved into the modern clad era, with regular-issue pieces struck in copper-nickel over a pure copper core rather than silver. Coins from this period connect collectors to the long-running Washington quarter design before the major reverse changes that would come much later.  

Collectors continue to enjoy Washington quarters because they are affordable, familiar, and easy to collect by date and mint. A Brilliant Uncirculated 1981-P is especially appealing for collectors who want a clean Philadelphia example with stronger original eye appeal than a coin that spent time in circulation. Coins like this work well in a Washington quarter album, a late-20th-century type set, or a broader date-and-mint collection. The final sentence is an inference based on the coin’s date, mint, and BU condition.  

Specifications & Mintage

Denomination: Twenty-Five Cents

Series: Washington Quarter

Designer: John Flanagan

Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center

Weight: 5.67 grams

Diameter: 24.30 mm

Edge: Reeded

Mint: Philadelphia

Mintage: 601,716,000

Years of Issue: 1932–1998

Reverse Type: Eagle Reverse  

Item Details

This listing includes one 1981-P Washington Quarter in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. The coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and features the classic eagle reverse used throughout the original Washington quarter series. Please review the photos carefully for the overall appearance and quality of the exact coin you will receive.  

Whether you are building a complete Washington quarter set, adding a Philadelphia issue to your date-and-mint collection, or simply looking for a nice modern U.S. quarter in BU condition, this 1981-P Washington Quarter BU makes a meaningful addition.