A quarter is a coin worth one-fourth of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796, and is the largest coin in common circulation.

It is sometimes referred to as two bits because two bits of a Spanish piece of eight coin, which was often used in the early years of the United States, made up a fourth of that coin's value.

List of designs

• Silver quarters
  • Draped Bust, Small Eagle 1796
  • Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle 1804–1807
  • Capped Bust (Large) 1815–1828
  • Capped Bust (Small) 1831–1838
  • Seated Liberty (various subtypes) 1838–1891
  • Barber 1892–1916
  • Standing Liberty (Type 1) 1916–1917
  • Standing Liberty (Type 2) 1917–1930
  • Washington 1932–1964 (was minted several years after 1964 with date frozen)
    • 1992–present (since 1992 silver proofs only for collectors struck at the San Francisco Mint)
  • Washington Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all were dated 1776-1976) (San Francisco Mint, not intended for circulation) (40% clad)

• Copper-nickel quarters
  • Washington 1965–1974, 1977–1998
  • Washington Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all were dated 1776-1976)
  • Washington statehood 1999–present

    Current design

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    The current clad version is cupronickel (8.33% Ni and the balance Cu), weighs 5.670 g, diameter 24.26 mm, width 1.75 mm with a reeded edge. Owing to the introduction of the clad quarter in 1965, it was occasionally called a "Johnson Sandwich," after Lyndon B. Johnson, U.S. President at the time. It costs 4.29 cents to produce each coin. Before 1965, quarters contained 90% silver, 10% copper, although very early quarters through 1828 were slightly larger and thinner.

    The current regular issue coin is the Washington quarter (showing George Washington) on the obverse, and an eagle on the reverse. The Washington quarter was designed by John Flanagan. It was initially issued as a circulating commemorative, but was made a regular issue coin in 1934.

    The regular Washington quarter's production is temporarily suspended during the State Quarters program. In 1999, the Statehood Quarter program of circulating commemorative quarters began; these have a modified Washington obverse and a different reverse for each state. The standard Washington quarter is scheduled for return in 2009, unless the U.S. Congress acts to extend the Statehood Quarter program or changes the design.

    See also

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    • 50 State Quarters (current quarter release of five states per year)
    • United States bicentennial coinage
    • United States Mint coin production

    External links

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    • Official specifications
    • http://www.acoin.com/regularissue/regular25c.htm

    
    

    Coins of the United States | George Washington