Bicentennial Quarter Values & Mintages

Grading tips

Check the drummer's hand and drum and Washington's hair. Only uncirculated, high-grade or silver examples carry premiums.

How the drummer boy design was chosen

In October 1973 Congress authorized special designs for the quarter, half dollar and dollar to mark the 200th anniversary of American independence. The Treasury opened the competition to the public rather than leaving it to Mint engravers. The winners were announced in 1974: Jack L. Ahr for the quarter, Seth G. Huntington for the half dollar with Independence Hall and Dennis R. Williams for the dollar with the Liberty Bell over the Moon.

Ahr's reverse shows a colonial militia drummer in a tricorn hat, with a victory torch at upper left ringed by thirteen stars for the original colonies. It was the first change to the quarter's reverse since the Washington quarter began in 1932. John Flanagan's obverse portrait was kept, with the date changed to read 1776-1976.

Why no quarters are dated 1975

The Mint began striking the Bicentennial coins in 1975 so that enough would be in circulation for the anniversary. All quarters made in 1975 and 1976 carry the dual date, which is why there is no quarter, half dollar or dollar dated 1975. Coins said to be dated 1975 are either fakes or misread dates. In 1977 the familiar eagle reverse returned and stayed until the state quarter program of 1999.

Silver and clad collector versions

San Francisco struck three kinds of Bicentennial quarter for collectors. Clad proofs went into the regular annual proof sets. Uncirculated and proof coins in 40% silver clad were sold in special three-coin sets with the matching half dollar and dollar. The silver sets were sold in large numbers and many were later broken up, so loose silver S quarters are common.

You can tell a silver S quarter from a clad S quarter without testing equipment. The silver coin weighs about 5.75 grams against 5.67 grams for clad. Its edge looks mostly silver rather than showing a bright copper band, because its core is a copper-silver alloy instead of pure copper. Proofs have mirror fields. Uncirculated silver coins have a satin luster and were never released into circulation, though some ended up there.

Myths about Bicentennial quarters

Because the dual date looks special, many people assume Bicentennial quarters are rare. Billions were struck for circulation and they are still found in change. A Philadelphia or Denver coin without an error is worth face value unless it is in exceptional uncirculated condition. Rumors of a valuable Type 2 Bicentennial quarter are a mix-up with another coin. The Type 1 and Type 2 lettering varieties of 1976 belong to the Eisenhower dollar, not the quarter.

Building a Bicentennial quarter set

A complete collection is short: the Philadelphia and Denver circulation coins, the clad S proof and the silver S uncirculated and proof coins. Many collectors expand it into a full Bicentennial set with the half dollar and dollar in each version. For circulation coins, look for strong luster and few marks across Washington's cheek and the drummer's coat. Error coins such as off-center strikes and clipped planchets are also popular, since the large mintage produced many of them.

Frequently asked questions