United States Twenty-Five Cents or Quarter Dollar

(1796 - Date)

Authorized in1792, this denomination was not issued untill four years later.  The first coinage, dated 1796, follows the pattern of the early half dimes and dimes by the absence of a mark of value.  In 1804 the value "25c" was added to the reverse.  Figures were used untill 1838, when the term QUAR. DOL. appeared.  It was not untill 1892 that the value was spelled out entirely.

Draped Bust (1796 - 1807)

The entire Draped Bust Quarter Dollar series saw really low mintages.  The first year of issue (1796) only saw a mintage of 6,146, and no more were minted again untill 1804 when there again were only another 6,738 pieces made.  Like the half-dime and the dime the first issues reverse bare a somewhat scrawny eagle with wings extended (pictured below), called the "Small Eagle" reverse.  Later the reversed was changed to the second type (pictured above) call the "Heraldic Eagle" reverse used from 1804 to 1807.

1796 Draped Bust "Small Eagle Reverse"

Capped Bust (1815 - 1837)

No quarter dollars were struck between 1808 and 1814.  Mintage of the quarter dollar resumed again in 1815 with the introduction of the Caped Bust design.

Seated Liberty (1838 - 1891)

From 1853 to 1855, arrow hears were placed on either side of the date to signify a reduction in the weight of the coin.  In 1866, the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to the reverse of the Quarter Dollar.  From 1873 to 1874, arrowheads were again added next to the date, this time to signify the adoption of the metric system by Mint officials.

1866 Seated Liberty reverse with the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" added above the eagle.

Barber (1892 - 1916)

In 1892 Charles Barber introduced this new design for the quarter.  The profile is that of liberty wearing a freedman's cap.  This became known as the "Barber Type" one of the few American types that took on the Designer's name.

Standing Liberty (1916 - 1930)

The Standing Liberty design appeared in 1916, featuring a classic figure in a long, flowing dress, carrying a shield in one hand and a olive branch in the other.  In 1916 amd 1917. Liberty appeared bare-breasted; from 1917 to 1930, she was given a cover-up of chain mail.

Washington (1932 - 1998)

This type was intended to be a commemorative issue marking the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.  John Flanagan, a New York sculptor, was the designer; his initials, JF can be found at the base of Washington's neck.  The mint mark is on the reverse below the wreath till 1964.  The Washington Quarter was coined in silver 1932 - 1964 and starting in 1965 to present the practice of clad coining is used. In 1968 the mint mark is moved to the obverse below the date.

In October of 1973, the Treasury announced an open contest for the selection of suitable designs for the bicentennial reverses of the quarter, half dollar, and dollar, with $5000 to be awarded to each winner.  The design above was selected for the "Bicentennial" quarter.  Other than the duel dating "1776-1976" the obverse remained unchanged.  These coins were struck for circulation during the years of 1975 and 1976. 

Statehood (1999 - 2008 ?)

The United States Mint 50 State Quarter Program begun in 1999 will produce a series of 50 quarter dollar coins with special designs honoring each state.  Five different designs are being issued each year from 1999 through 2008.  States are being commemorated in the order of their entrance into statehood.  This program is credited with creating millions of new coin collectors.  The statehood quarters bare a modified obverse design and moved the date to the bottom of the reverse.

• 1999 Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut
• 2000 Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina,  New Hampshire, Virginia
• 2001 New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky
• 2002 Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi
• 2003 Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Arkansas
• 2004 Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin
• 2005 California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia
• 2006 Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota
• 2007 Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah
• 2008 Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii

Other legislation may extend the program to include, Puerto Rico & Washington D.C., though so far the bills submitted to congress have been uccessful.  After the program ends in 2008, the design of 1932 to 1998 is reported to supposedly resume.  I would expect that the modified obverse of the Statehood Quarter program combined with a modified but similar version of the old reverse will be the new quarter design when the program ends.

Look for and check out my Identification Guides on other U.S. coinage denominations.  Have fun and enjoy the hobby of coin collecting.