Quarter (U.S. coin)
The quarter is 1/4th of a United States dollar or 25 cents. It is also referred to as two bits because two bits of a divided Spanish silver piece (pieces of eight) made up 1/4th of that coin. The quarter has been produced since 1796.
The following types have been produced:
- 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 (regular, silver) 1932-1964
- Washington (regular, clad) 1965-1974; 1977-1998
- Washington Bicentennial 1975-1976 (all were dated 1976)
- Washington (statehood, clad) 1999-present
The current clad version is cupro-nickel (8.33% Ni and the balance Cu), weighs 5.670 g, diameter 24.26 mm, width 1.75 mm with a reeded edge. 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 Flannagan. 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 Statehood Quarter 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 Congress acts to extend the Statehood Quarter program or changes the design.
