History of the U.S Quarter

President George Washington had once declared that no real person should be depicted on a United States coin. This rule was broken in 1909 with the striking of the new Lincoln penny, when the image of the 16th president replaced that of the long-standing Indian maiden designed by James B. Longacre. Eventually Washington himself was immortalized in coin: the 1932 quarter dollar, minted for the bicentennial of Washington's birth. The Washington quarter was originally intended as a temporary issue, but, kind of like ad hoc taxes, this particular coin remained with us, although after 1964 silver was no longer used in its composition.
Although Washington's image on the front of the quarter has remained inviolate for nigh 80 years, the reverse has featured numerous different scenes and series, in accordance with commemorative issues struck by the U.S. Mint. These numismatic initiatives have resulted in reverse reliefs commemorating the 50 states (1999-2008), U.S. territories (2008), and national parks (2010)  (U.S. Mint).
To reiterate, no one has tampered with Washington's venerable profile on the front of the U.S. quarter for decades, but the words and numerals surrounding him have been repositioned. In comparing, for example, a 1965 quarter one notices that LIBERTY is emblazoned above George's head, and beneath him the year of issue. IN GOD WE TRUST is to the president's left, slightly below his chin. The indication of denomination (an unavoidable rhyme) sits demurely beneath the magnificent eagle on the reverse.
The 2010 quarter -part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, has UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and QUARTER DOLLAR across the top and bottom of the coin respectively, with LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST flanking the late commander-in-chief. The flip side shows an image of Oregon's Mount Hood.
The nation's bicentennial in 1976 exploded with fanfare as celebrations rang out, monuments and memorials were dedicated, and coins were struck which indicated the country's celebratory mood. Like the Eisenhower and Kennedy half-dollars, the Washington quarter got a partial makeover, with a depiction on the reverse of a patriotic drummer in Colonial garb. Above the drummer's right arm is a victory torch encircled by 13 stars, one star for each original colony. Beneath that is the familiar Latin motto E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One). This design was conceived by Jack L. Ahr, whose entry was selected in a contest held by the U.S. Treasury Department. 35 years later, the bicentennial quarter has remained a popular issue with collectors and the general public. Approximately 1.7 billion of these quarters were minted (U.S. Coin Values Advisor).
An earlier commemorative 25-cent piece was the Isabella quarter, struck in 1893 for the World's Columbian Exposition. The obverse featured a likeness of the 15th-century Spanish queen, who with her husband Ferdinand, financed the famous voyage of Italian sailor Christopher Columbus in 1492. On the reverse was a kneeling woman holding a spindle in her right hand and a distaff in her left. Designed by Charles Barber, fewer than 25,000 of these coins were minted, the silver for which was acquired by melting older coins.
The U.S. quarter dollar commenced its coinage career in 1796, four years after the opening of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From that time until 1916, the quarter followed a similar obverse design as its sister coin, the dime (formerly spelled "disme)," with the Draped Bust (1796-1807), Capped Bust (1815-1838), Seated Liberty (1838-1891) and Barber (1892-1916) varieties. (The astute reader will note the eight-year hiatus in mintage). The Draped and Capped Busts were variations of Lady Liberty, who in 1838 transformed into a full body -instead of just a bust- sitting on a large rock, against which rested a Liberty shield.
Prior to quarters, and in fact, United States coins in general, foreign coinage was used throughout the burgeoning republic. Particularly prevalent were Spanish coins like the real (pronounced "re-AL)," worth about 12 and a half cents. Spain's two-real coin became the basis for the U.S. quarter, worth two "bits." The first American quarter, the Draped Bust, was designed by Robert Scot, whose credits include the Flowing Hair silver dollar (1794-1795), and the Liberty Cap Right (1794) and Draped Bust half-cents (1800-1808).

© December 17, 2011 by Allan M. Heller

Works Cited

Guth, Ron. Coin Collecting For Dummies©. New York: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2001. Print.
United States Mint. Web. 16 Dec. 2011.
U.S. Coin Values Advisor. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.
Massey, J. Earl. America's Money: the story of our coins & currency. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1968. Print.
"Queen Isabella Quarter." Your-Rare-Coin-Collecting-Guide.com. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.
Photo caption: Diverse reverses: A 1965, 1976 and 2010 quarter.