A Comprehensive Guide to the USD Quarter

The USD quarter is one of the most widely used coins in the United States. It's worth 25 cents and is made of a copper-plated zinc composition.

The design on the quarter has changed over the years, with a new design being released every five years. This is due to the 50 State Quarters Program, which aimed to feature all 50 states on the quarter.

Each state had its own unique design, reflecting its history, landmarks, or notable figures. The program was a huge success, with all 50 states being featured between 1999 and 2008.

The history of the USD quarter is a fascinating story that spans over two centuries. The first quarters were made in 1796 by the U.S. Mint and were made of silver.

People had to know the size and weight of a silver coin to know how much it was worth, as they didn't show the value on the coin. To tell the difference between a silver quarter and a silver dollar, they knew the dollar weighed four times as much.

In 1804, the Mint marked the quarter with "25c", meaning 25 cents, making it the first silver coin to show the value.

The first quarter designs showed a figure symbolizing liberty on the obverse, and the reverse included a bald eagle, our national bird.

The Mint stopped making quarters with silver in 1965, and today's quarters are "clad", which means coated with a copper and nickel outer covering.

George Washington appeared on the obverse of the quarter in 1932 for the 200th anniversary of his birth. Since then, the Mint has used many different reverse designs.

Here are some notable reverse designs:

The Washington quarter has a rich history. It was originally designed by sculptor John Flanagan and issued from 1932 to 1998.

The original version of the coin depicted George Washington facing left, with "Liberty" above the head, the date below, and "In God We Trust" in the left field. The reverse showed an eagle with wings outspread perched on a bundle of arrows framed below by two olive branches.

The Washington quarter was minted in 0.2204 oz. (6.25 g) of 90% fine silver until 1964, when the composition changed due to rising silver prices.

Here's a breakdown of the different versions of the Washington quarter:

As of 2011, it cost 11.14 cents to produce each coin.

The Washington quarter has a rich history, with its design and composition changing over the years. The original version, issued from 1932 to 1998, was designed by sculptor John Flanagan.

The obverse of the original quarter depicted George Washington facing left, with "Liberty" above the head, the date below, and "In God We Trust" in the left field. The reverse showed an eagle with wings outspread perched on a bundle of arrows framed below by two olive branches.

The Washington quarter was minted in 0.2204 oz. (6.25 g) of 90% fine silver until 1964, when rising silver prices led to a change in composition. The new composition, known as the "Johnson Sandwich", was a cupronickel-clad-copper alloy.

Here are the different types of Washington quarters that have been issued over the years:

Commemorative and bullion issue Washington quarters have also been produced, including the United States Bicentennial coinage quarter in clad & 40% silver, 1975–1976.

The copper-nickel clad Washington quarter was first issued in 1965, and the Denver mintmark was added in 1968. This marked a significant change for the series.

If you're interested in collecting clad Washington quarters, you're in luck because there are few examples that are valued as highly as the silver series. However, certain extraordinary dates or variations can be highly prized.

Deep cameo versions of proofs from 1965 to 1971 and 1981 Type 2 are highly valued due to their scarcity. These coins are a great challenge to find in high grade.

If you're looking for high grade examples of quarters from certain years of the 1980s, such as 1981-1987, be prepared for a challenge. High circulation rates have made it difficult to find these coins in high grade.

1982 and 1983 are particularly difficult years to find mint state examples, as no mint sets were produced. This scarcity makes these coins even more valuable.

Any coin from 1981 to 1994 graded in MS67 is worth upwards of $1000. This is a significant amount of money, making these coins a great investment for serious collectors.

The mint mark on the coin is currently located on the obverse at the bottom right hemisphere under the supposed date. This can be a great help when identifying coins.

Here's a breakdown of the mint marks used on Washington quarters:

These mint marks can help you identify the specific coin you're collecting.

The 2021 Washington Quarter saw a significant design change, reverting to Flanagan's original obverse design.

This design was paired with a new reverse rendition of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776.

In October 2019, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) met to consider designs, with the final choice made by Mnuchin.

The successful design was announced on December 25, 2020, by Benjamin Sowards as sculpted by Michael Gaudioso.

This quarter was released into circulation on April 5, 2021, and was minted until the end of 2021.

The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 established new series of quarters for the next decade, but the 2021 quarter design was a one-year change.

The Houdon bust, sculpted in 1785, has had a lasting impact on the design of the US quarter. This iconic image, created by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, has been used as the basis for many portraits of Washington on coins and medals.

The Houdon bust was used as the basis for the portrait of Washington on the commemorative Lafayette dollar dated 1900 and on the Sesquicentennial half dollar of 1926. It's still the most common representation of Washington on coins and medals.

In 1932, artist Flanagan adapted the Houdon bust for the quarter, but his version differed in some particulars, such as the shape of the head and the presence of a roll of hair.

The designs of US quarters before 1932 are a fascinating topic. The choice of a quarter-dollar denomination originated from the Spanish milled dollar, which was divided into eight wedge-shaped segments, giving rise to the name "piece of eight".

The first quarter was minted in 1796, and its design has undergone significant changes over the years. Six designs, five regular and one commemorative, have been issued until 1930.

Here are the designs that were issued between 1796 and 1930:

Some notable examples of these designs include the Capped Bust quarter from 1822, the Liberty Seated quarter with arrows and rays from 1853, the Barber quarter from 1914, the Type 1 Standing Liberty Quarter with bare breast from 1917, and the Standing Liberty quarter from 1924.

In 1785, the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon was commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly to sculpt a bust of Washington.

Houdon's work was so influential that it became the basis for many subsequent portraits of Washington, including the 1786 "Washington Before Boston" medal engraved by Pierre Simon DuViviers.

The Houdon bust was used as the portrait of Washington on the commemorative Lafayette dollar dated 1900 and on the Sesquicentennial half dollar of 1926.

A bust at Mount Vernon today testifies to Houdon's visit, where he took a life mask of Washington's face and created a number of sculptural settings.

The Houdon bust was the most common representation of Washington on coins and medals, according to coin dealer and numismatic historian Q. David Bowers.

Flanagan's adaptation of the Houdon bust for the quarter differed in some particulars, such as the shape of the head and the presence of a roll of hair.

Art historian Cornelius Vermeule preferred a different version of Washington's portrait, suggesting that the Houdon image may have been too idealized for modern tastes.

The eagle on the reverse side of a quarter dollar coin is quite striking, standing on a shaft of arrows with a wreath comprised of two olive sprays beneath it.

The wreath is made up of olive sprays, a symbol of peace and harmony. The eagle's wings are spread wide, giving the impression of strength and freedom.

The face value of the coin, "QUARTER DOLLAR", is displayed prominently on the reverse side, along with the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". This motto translates to "Out of Many One", reflecting the country's motto and the unity of its people.

The lettering on the reverse side is a key element of the design, with the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "E PLURIBUS", and "UNUM" arranged in a clear and concise manner.

The Mint's production of coins rapidly depleted the Treasury's stock of silver, prompting a change in composition.

By early June 1965, a dollar in silver coin contained 93.3 cents' worth of it at market prices, making the change necessary.

President Lyndon Johnson announced plans to eliminate silver from the dime and quarter in favor of a clad composition.

The half dollar was changed from 90% silver to 40% in 1965.

The Coinage Act of 1965 allowed the Mint to transition from striking 1964-dated silver quarters to striking 1965-dated clad quarters.

New clad quarters were struck without mint marks in 1965-1967, regardless of the mint of origin.

Philadelphia continued to issue coins without mint marks until 1980.

The San Francisco Mint struck quarters only for collectors from 1968, mostly proof coins.

The US Territories and DC quarters were a significant addition to the state quarters program. They were authorized in 2007 and were minted in 2009.

The House of Representatives passed a bill extending the state quarter program to include the District of Columbia and the five inhabited US territories. This bill was signed into legislation by President George W. Bush on December 27, 2007.

The program included quarters for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These quarters maintained the Washington obverse but had unique reverses.

The typeface used in the state quarter series, including the US Territories and DC quarters, is generally derived from Albertus.

The America the Beautiful quarters program was a 12-year effort that began in 2010 and ended in 2021, featuring a natural or historic site for each state and territory.

Each of the 56 coins depicted a National Park Service site or national forest, one per jurisdiction. The program was a result of the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008.

The coins were issued five per year, with the first circulation-quality quarters being struck at the San Francisco Mint since 1954, in 2012.

The 50 State coins were a huge hit, with each state getting its own unique quarter. The program began in 1999 and ran until 2009.

The design of the coins varied slightly from state to state, but was generally based on the Albertus typeface. The typeface was used for the state quarter series, adding a touch of personality to each coin.

The program was so popular that it was extended by a year, from 2008 to 2009, to include the District of Columbia and the five inhabited U.S. territories. This allowed more states to be featured and made the program even more exciting.

The coins were designed to be a circulating commemorative series, similar to the quarters Canada had struck for its provinces. The idea was to create a series of coins that would be used in everyday transactions, making them a fun and unique way to spend money.

Each state's design was selected by the Treasury Secretary, who would choose from recommendations made by the state's governor. This ensured that each coin was a true representation of its state.

The coins were a huge success, with the Mint selling collector's versions in proof, including pieces struck in .900 silver. The Mint also sold a large number of numismatic items, including rolls and bags of coins, collector's maps, and other items designed to encourage coin collecting among the general public.

The America the Beautiful quarters program was a 12-year initiative that began in 2010 and ended in 2021, featuring a natural or historic site for each state and territory.

Each of the 56 coins depicted a National Park Service site or national forest, one per jurisdiction, and were issued five per year. The program was part of the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008, which was signed into law by President Bush on December 23, 2008.

The coins were available in circulating pieces, collector's versions, and bullion pieces with 5 troy ounces (160 g) of silver. The bullion pieces were struck with the quarter's design.

The first circulation-quality quarters were struck at the San Francisco Mint since 1954, and were sold only at a premium in bags and rolls. This was announced by the Mint in May 2012.

In 2019, the silver version of the quarter was struck in .999 silver, marking a permanent change from the previous .900.

The American Women Quarters Program is a series of coins that will be issued from 2022 to 2025. Each year, up to five new reverse designs will be featured, showcasing the accomplishments and contributions made by women to American history and development.

These coins will be a great way to learn about the many talented women who have shaped our country. The obverse design of the coins features Laura Gardin Fraser's portrait of George Washington, which was originally intended for the first Washington quarter in 1932.

The program will highlight the diverse fields in which women have made significant contributions, and it's exciting to think about all the women who will be featured.

The United States quarter is a fascinating coin with a rich history. The issuer of the quarter is the United States.

The quarter has been in circulation since 1965 and was minted until 1998. It's a standard circulation coin, which means it's used for everyday transactions.

The quarter is made of copper-nickel clad copper, giving it a unique composition. It weighs 5.67 grams and has a diameter of 24.26 mm.

The quarter is a round coin with a milled edge and is aligned with the coin's orientation. It's a distinctive shape that's easily recognizable.

Here's a breakdown of the quarter's specifications:

The quarter has a rich history and has been an important part of American currency for centuries.