We’re pleased to present part eight in our educational numismatics series exploring the history and highlights of American coinage. This installment will journey through one of the most widely collected denominations—the quarter dollar. From early Draped Bust issues to modern statehood quarters, let’s uncover the intrigue of the United States quarter dollar coins minted over the last 200+ years.
The Origins of American Quarters
The quarter dollar was initially authorized alongside other silver coins in the Coinage Act of 1792. Though 25-cent fractional paper note proposals circulated for years, regular quarter dollar production did not commence until 1796 under the newly formed United States Mint.
The first Draped Bust design by Robert Scot brought an iconic depiction of Liberty wearing a mob cap and draped bustline. This artistic motif continued through 1807 until replaced by John Reich’s Capped Bust version featuring Liberty in a capped bust profile. Christian Gobrecht later upgraded the series with greater detail through his Seated Liberty concept of the late 1830s. This new design ran for over 60 years across several subtype adjustments.
Quarters briefly disappeared from 1892-1915 before the advent of the iconic Standing Liberty Quarter by sculptor Hermon A. MacNeil. His Liberty design is considered one of the most beautiful American coins ever produced.
Washington Quarters and the 50 Statehood Program
John Flanagan’s Washington Quarter design kicked off one of numismatics’ most collected series upon its launch in 1932. The Washington obverse paired with an eagle reverse continued through 1998 until the inception of the 50 State Quarters program. This 10-year initiative saw unique reverse designs honoring each state’s history, culture, and heritage.
Combined with igniting widespread interest in coin collecting as a hobby, the 50 State quarter program generated over $6 billion in revenue for the U.S. Mint. Alongside business strike circulation issues, special editions like silver proof, silver bullion, and satin finish quarters heightened appeal for collectors seeking diversity. With nearly 70 different Washington and statehood designs released since 1932, building complete date/mint sets or type collections provides endless possibilities.
Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties
While no Great Depression-era quarters match the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1916-D Mercury dime, several challenging dates keep the series interesting for specialists. Early rarities include the 1796 Draped Bust, 1823/2 Capped Bust, and 1916 Standing Liberty issues. The 1950-D Washington quarter is also frequently sought in high grades.
Die varietals like the 1827 curled base 2 Capped Bust, 1900 and 1916 Barber doubled dies, the 1937-D 3-legged Buffalo nickel and the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Washington issue also draw collector premiums. The 1964-D Washington Quarter struck on a 90% silver planchet is another fascinating error coin. We also suggest keeping an eye out for 1968-S proof quarters, which were unofficially released into circulation.
Building Your Own Quarter Collection
With so many different types, varieties, and Mint issues to choose from, quarter collectors enjoy diverse options for assembling their own sets. One popular approach is collecting by type: grabbing one high-grade example of each major design like Seated Liberty or Washington. Others seek to build full date and mintmark runs of a long series like Washington quarters from 1932-1998.
The Statehood quarter series from 1999-2008 also provides a fun collection to complete either through circulation finds or certified specimens. Those with bigger budgets can also consider adding in twenty-cent pieces from the 1870s.
The Future of Quarters
The U.S. Mint continues to innovate with the quarter denomination, keeping this series fresh for new generations. The America the Beautiful series, launched in 2010, depicts national parks and sites through 2021. Special editions like satin finish and silver quarters add diversity. And 2022 will kick off the American Women Quarters program honoring impactful women throughout history. With so much past and future to explore, quarter collecting will remain a cornerstone of the hobby for decades to come.
Visit the CV Coins and Collectables website to explore the many possibilities in quarters and other denominations. Our experienced staff looks forward to helping guide you on an exciting numismatic journey!
Check out the other parts in this series:
- Part 1: An Intro to Collecting Coins and Other Currency
- Part 2: Half Cents and Large Cents
- Part 3: Proof and Mint Sets & Commemoratives
- Part 4: Indian and Lincoln Cents
- Part 5: The Forgotten Coins: A Look at Two Cent and Three Cent Pieces
- Part 6: Silver Eagles and Commemoratives
- Part 7: Dimes and 20-Cent Pieces
- Welcome to Numismatics – Part 8: Quarters