Draped Bust Quarter 1796 - 1807
Draped Bust Quarter 1796 - 1807: identify, compare, and value
Use this page to identify details collectors compare, understand value clues, and check current market examples.
Value Guide Summary
Use this page to understand what this collectible is, what details collectors usually compare, and where to check current market examples.
What collectors look for
Original condition, age, maker marks, materials, completeness, unusual variants, and documented history usually matter most.
How to identify examples
Compare markings, construction details, finish, size, period-correct materials, and known design features before assuming authenticity.
Value clues
Rarity, demand, condition, eye appeal, provenance, and whether similar examples are actively selling can all affect market value.
Red flags
Watch for reproductions, heavy restoration, replaced parts, fantasy pieces, unclear photos, and listings with vague descriptions.
In the modern era, the quarter dollar has solidified its role as a cornerstone of the U.S. coinage system, facilitating everyday commerce with an annual production exceeding one billion. However, during the early years of federal coinage, the quarter remained largely inconspicuous. The United States Mint delayed its introduction until 1796, making it one of the last coins to debut. Even after producing a mere 6,146 examples of the 1796 quarter, the Mint suspended quarter production for nearly a decade.
As noted by numismatic researcher R.W. Julian, quarter dollars were essentially "orphans" in the fledgling nation's monetary landscape. They were scarcely minted and rarely seen in everyday transactions. The public's indifference to this now-essential coin can be attributed to the fact that Americans didn't have a pressing need for it at the time. The Spanish two-reales piece, which circulated widely in the young United States, held the same value as 25 cents, and people tended to favor coins with which they were familiar. Consequently, there was little urgency to mint quarter dollars. In fact, from 1796 to 1814, spanning nearly two decades, the Mint produced quarters for only five years, totaling just over half a million coins. The minimal production of the 1796 quarter appears to have been primarily aimed at establishing the denomination's existence.
The design evolution of U.S. coins was characterized by frequent changes during the nation's formative years. Due to its late introduction, the quarter missed the initial design cycle that featured the Flowing Hair portrait of Miss Liberty, seen on the dollar, half dollar, and half dime. By 1796, the Mint had transitioned to a new Draped Bust depiction of Liberty. While the first silver coins retained a small, naturalistic eagle similar to the one on the Flowing Hair coinage, this feature also changed over time. The 1796 quarter, a one-year type coin, showcased this evolution.
Following the meager mintage of the inaugural U.S. quarter, Mint officials seemed to forget about the denomination. It didn't reappear in the nation's coinage until 1804. By then, the "small eagle" design had given way to a larger heraldic eagle based on the Great Seal of the United States. The Draped Bust image of Liberty remained relatively consistent in both series and was crafted by renowned portraitist Gilbert Stuart, potentially at the request of President George Washington himself. Stuart's model was reportedly Ann Willing Bingham of Philadelphia, a celebrated socialite known for her beauty. The design transitioned to plaster under the hands of artist John Eckstein of Providence, Rhode Island, and coinage dies were executed by Mint Chief Engraver Robert Scot. Stuart, however, disassociated himself from the design due to perceived shortcomings in its execution.