There are several modern coin programs from the last 20 years that have succeeded in being memorable, collectable, and popular among collectors and numismatists, young and old. A few of those programs were successful due to the groundwork laid around 30 years ago. Authors of Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest United States Modern Coins, Jeff Garrett and Scott Schechter, will examine the coin that would influence many more in the future.
#78 – 1976 Washington Quarter
In late 1973, the United States Mint announced an open contest to choose designs that would be used for the upcoming 200th anniversary of the independence of the United States. Having debated whether it was a worthy event and if commemorative coinage was necessary, the announcement would seek bicentennial designs that initially would pursue all coins from the cent to the dollar redesigned. However, the shift would be made to just the half dollar and dollar and the denominations were used less in commerce. However, one more was up for debate, and it would feature the quarter dollar. Ultimately, it was included in the redesigns.
One of the biggest things to come from the redesign of these coins was that it would be repeated by many programs in the future. Competitions for new coin designs are often held by the Mint. In the 1976 quarter dollar case, the chosen Bicentennial design came from Jack L. Ahr. It features a colonial drummer and a torch surrounded by 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies. The obverse depicts the dual date of 1776-1976. To avoid hoarding, coins were struck before 1975 and released in both 1975 and 1976. Special legislation was also introduced to allow for post-dated coins to circulate.
Overall, there are five different versions of the 1976 Washington Quarter. For circulation, over 800 million pieces were produced and issued from both Denver and Philadelphia using the copper-nickel-clad composition. There were also copper-nickel Proof coins included in the 1975 and 1976 Proof Sets from San Francisco and silver-clad coins from San Franciso in both the Proof and Mint Sets that were sold to collectors in the special 1976 3pc sets. Those special sets also included silver versions of the Bicentennial half dollar and dollar.
The first edition of this publication ranked this coin at #65, moving down seven spots to land at #78 in the fourth edition (2017).