1940 Washington Quarter

[CarlWohlforth]

The rims are square. The strike is sharp. The coin is brilliant, more so than the photos suggest.

[19Lyds]

While the coin may have sharp square rims, the fields just dopn;t have that Proof quality to them.
Additionally, the reverse is the business strike reverse (Type A).

Here's a 1940 Proof (not mine):



The Type B reverse appears to have begun in 1937 and while its possible that a "proof" coin ended up with the Type A Business Strike Reverse, I have not heard of any.

[Bubblehead]

 

Well, realizing that my eyes are nearing 68 years old, I personally cannot see
any difference in the two examples.  The toning of Carl's coin appears to
camouflage the shiny "proof" fields of the second example.  Otherwise, looking
at several points of comparison, the "ES" distance, the leaves touching, or not
touching, etc., all appear very, very, similar.

But, what do I know?   

[19Lyds]

Some Visuals:

Type A on the left, Type B on the right.


Type A on the left, Type B on the right.


Most noticeable is the Leaf above the arrow tips.

Here's a side by side as best I can do:



And lastly a little larger version of the proof: