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Draped Bust Quarters
The Mint Act of 1792 authorized several coin denominations, but it wasn’t until 1793 that the U.S. Mint began producing coins, starting with copper Half Cents and Cents. Quarters and Dimes followed later, with the first Quarter struck in 1796.
Early Challenges and Criticisms
Robert Scot, the Mint’s first Chief Engraver, designed many of the early coins, including the Flowing Hair and Draped Bust series. However, Scot's designs, like the Chain Cent and Wreath Cent, faced significant public criticism. To improve public perception, Mint Director Henry DeSaussure commissioned the renowned portrait artist Gilbert Stuart to create a new Miss Liberty design. Stuart, famous for painting George Washington and other Founding Fathers, created a sketch of Miss Liberty based on a patron of his work.
Despite Stuart's artistic prowess, Scot's translation of the sketch into coinage left much to be desired. His Draped Bust design featured Miss Liberty facing right, with "LIBERTY" inscribed above, 8 stars behind her, 7 stars in front, and the date below. The reverse depicted a small eagle with wings spread, perched on a cloud-like cushion within a wreath of palm and olive branches, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircling the design.
The 1796 Small Eagle Quarter
The 1796 quarter, featuring Scot's Small Eagle design, encountered resistance for both its artistic and practical aspects. The eagle was deemed scrawny compared to the robust Spanish 2 Reales coins widely circulated and respected in early America. As a result, only 6,146 1796 quarters were minted, and the denomination was not struck again until 1804.
The Improved Draped Bust Quarter
In 1804, the Mint reintroduced the quarter with significant design improvements. Stuart’s original sketch of Miss Liberty was further refined, and the reverse underwent a dramatic overhaul. The new design featured a more majestic eagle with raised wings, a shield on its breast, arrows in one talon, and an olive branch in the other. Thirteen stars adorned the space between the eagle’s wings, with clouds above them. The obverse of Miss Liberty showed her facing right, framed by “LIBERTY” above, 7 stars behind her, 6 stars in front, and the date below.
This new Draped Bust Quarter design marked a significant improvement over its predecessor, achieving a more balanced and majestic aesthetic. While it still fell short of perfection in the eyes of Mint officials, it remains a cherished piece of early American coinage for collectors today.
Draped Bust Quarter Coins FAQs
The Draped Bust Quarter, minted from 1796 to 1807, features two primary design types on its reverse:
Small Eagle (1796-1797): The initial design of the Draped Bust Quarter featured a small eagle on the reverse, perched on a cloud and surrounded by a wreath. This design was used for only two years and is based on the Great Seal of the United States.
Heraldic Eagle (1804-1807): In 1804, the design was changed to feature a larger, heraldic eagle on the reverse. This eagle design was more spread out, with a shield on its chest, and was surrounded by stars and clouds. Above the eagle is an "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner, and below it are arrows and an olive branch, symbolizing war and peace respectively.
The obverse of both types features the Draped Bust design of Liberty, but it's the reverse designs that distinguish the two types. The gap between 1797 and 1804 without any quarters being minted is notable. When production resumed in 1804, it was with the new Heraldic Eagle design.