The Draped Bust Quarter is a United States coin that was minted from 1796 to 1807. It features a design with Lady Liberty on the obverse (front) and an eagle on the reverse (back). The Draped Bust Quarter is part of a series of coins known as the Draped Bust coinage, which includes the Draped Bust Half Dollar and the Draped Bust Dollar.
The Draped Bust design was created by renowned artist Gilbert Stuart, who is famous for his portrait of George Washington that appears on the one-dollar bill. The design features a bust of Lady Liberty, her hair flowing down and tied with a ribbon. She is wearing a gown with drapery that gives the design its name. The reverse of the coin depicts a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings and a shield on its chest.
The Draped Bust Quarter was first minted in 1796, with a mintage of only 6,146 coins. These early issues are highly sought after by collectors and can command high prices. The following year, in 1797, a small eagle was added to the reverse of the coin to comply with a law that required all U.S. coins to have an eagle. These coins, known as the Draped Bust Small Eagle Quarters, have a lower mintage and are even scarcer than the 1796 issues.
In 1804, the design of the Draped Bust Quarter was modified. The bust of Liberty was changed to a more mature-looking depiction, and the reverse design was altered as well. The new reverse design featured a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast and arrows and an olive branch in its talons.
The Draped Bust Quarter continued to be minted until 1807, with various mintage numbers each year. The final year of production, 1807, saw a substantial mintage of 165,000 coins, making it one of the more available issues of the series.
Today, Draped Bust Quarters are highly prized by collectors due to their historical significance, limited mintage numbers, and beautiful design. The rarity and condition of these coins can affect their value in the numismatic market, with some specimens commanding high prices at auction or in private sales.
Key Dates
1796: The inaugural year of the Draped Bust Quarter series, and also the rarest and most valuable date in the series. Only 6,146 coins were minted, making it extremely scarce. It is a highly sought-after coin among collectors, and examples in good condition can command significant prices.
1804: The 1804 Draped Bust Quarter is another important key date in the series. It has a low mintage of just 6,738 coins, which contributes to its rarity. Like the 1796 issue, it is highly desirable and sought after by collectors.
1807: While not as rare as the previous two key dates, the 1807 Draped Bust Quarter is still considered a significant coin in the series. It has a higher mintage of 165,000 coins, but it is the last year of the series, making it popular among collectors seeking to complete a set.
Other dates in the Draped Bust Quarter series, such as the 1797 Small Eagle variety and the 1806 and 1805 issues, are also considered desirable and relatively scarce, although not as rare as the key dates mentioned above.
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