Capped Bust Quarter 1815—1838

The Capped Bust Quarter is a historical coin that was minted by the United States from 1815 to 1838. It features a design of Lady Liberty on the obverse (front) and an eagle on the reverse (back). The Capped Bust Quarter went through a few design variations during its production years.

The Capped Bust Quarter was introduced following the discontinuation of the Draped Bust Quarter design. It was designed by John Reich, who was the Assistant Engraver at the United States Mint at the time. The obverse of the coin features a right-facing bust of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, which was a symbol of freedom. The words "LIBERTY" and the year of issue are inscribed around the image.

The reverse of the early Capped Bust Quarters (1815-1828) features an eagle with spread wings and a shield on its chest. The eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in its talons, symbolizing peace and preparedness for war. Above the eagle are the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," and below it is the denomination "25 C." indicating a value of 25 cents.

In 1831, the design of the Capped Bust Quarter underwent a modification. The new design, known as the "Reduced Diameter" type, featured a smaller diameter and a slightly altered appearance. The diameter was reduced from 27 mm to 24.3 mm, making it closer in size to the modern quarter. The design elements remained the same, but the lettering was slightly modified, and the eagle's position on the reverse was adjusted.

The Capped Bust Quarter was minted in various locations, including Philadelphia (no mint mark), New Orleans (O mint mark), and later, in smaller quantities, at the branch mints in Charlotte (C), Dahlonega (D), and San Francisco (S).

The production of the Capped Bust Quarter ceased in 1838 when it was replaced by the Seated Liberty design. Over the years, the Capped Bust Quarter has become a popular collector's item due to its historical significance and limited availability.

Today, Capped Bust Quarters are highly sought after by coin collectors and numismatists. The value of these coins can vary depending on their condition, rarity, and demand. Well-preserved specimens and coins with low mintages tend to command higher prices in the numismatic market.

 

Key Dates

1815: The 1815 Capped Bust Quarter is considered a key date in the series. It has a low mintage of only 89,235 coins, making it highly scarce and valuable.

1822: The 1822 Capped Bust Quarter is another significant key date. It has a mintage of only 52,000 coins, making it quite rare and highly sought after by collectors.

1823: The 1823 Capped Bust Quarter is also a notable key date. It has a mintage of 182,234 coins, which is relatively low compared to other dates in the series.

1827: The 1827 Capped Bust Quarter is considered a semi-key date. It has a mintage of 4,000 coins, making it quite scarce and desirable among collectors.

1831: The 1831 Capped Bust Quarter is significant due to the design modification known as the "Reduced Diameter" type. It has a mintage of 398,000 coins, which is relatively low compared to other dates in the series.

1834-1838: The later years of the Capped Bust Quarter series, from 1834 to 1838, are generally considered to be more accessible in terms of mintage numbers. However, certain varieties within these years, such as overdates or variations in the position of the letters, may still be sought after by collectors.