Quarter (United States coin)

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Quarter Dollar (United States)
Value:	0.25 U.S. dollar
Mass:	5.670 g (0.182 troy oz)
Diameter:	24.26 mm (0.955 in)
Thickness:	1.75 mm (0.069 in)
Edge:	119 reeds
Composition:	91.67% Cu 8.33% Ni
Years of Minting:	1999–2008
Catalog Number:	-
Obverse
Image:2006 Quarter Proof.png
Design:	George Washington
Designer:	John Flanagan (1932 version) / William Cousins (modification to Flanagan's design)
Design Date:	1999
Reverse
Image:USQuarter1a.jpg
Design:	Eagle
Designer:	John Flanagan
Design Date:	1932

A quarter is a coin worth one-quarter of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796, and is the highest denomination US coin commonly in circulation.

It is sometimes referred to as two bits because two bits of a Spanish piece of eight coin, which was often used in the early years of the United States, made up a quarter of that coin's value.

1 List of designs
2 Current design
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] List of designs

Silver quarters
- Draped Bust, Small Eagle 1796
- Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle 1804–1807
- Capped Bust (Large Size), With Motto 1815–1828
- Capped Bust (Small Size), No Motto 1831–1838
- Seated Liberty, No Motto 1838–1865
- Seated Liberty, No Motto 1866–1891
- Barber 1892–1916
- Standing Liberty (Type 1) 1916–1917
- Standing Liberty (Type 2) 1917–1930
- Washington 1932–1964, 1992–present (Proof Only)
- Washington Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all were dated 1776-1976) (40% Silver-clad Proof, not intended for circulation)
- Washington Statehood special silver quarters
Copper-nickel quarters
- Washington 1965–1974, 1977–1998
- Washington Bicentennial 1975–1976 (all were dated 1776-1976)
- Washington statehood 1999–present

Image:1796 Draped Bust Small Eagle Quarter.png

[edit] Current design

The current clad version is cupronickel (8.33% Ni and the balance Cu), weighs 5.670 grams (0.182 troy oz), diameter 0.955 inches (24.26 mm), width 1.75 millimeters (0.069 in) with a reeded edge. Owing to the introduction of the clad quarter in 1965, it was occasionally called a "Johnson Sandwich," after Lyndon B. Johnson, U.S. President at the time. It costs 4.29 cents to produce each coin. Before 1965, quarters contained 90% silver, 10% copper, although very early quarters through 1828 were slightly larger and thinner.

The current regular issue coin is the Washington quarter (showing George Washington) on the obverse, and an eagle on the reverse. The Washington quarter was designed by John Flanagan. It was initially issued as a circulating commemorative, but was made a regular issue coin in 1934.

Image:New York quarter, reverse side, 2001.jpg

The regular Washington quarter's production is temporarily suspended during the State Quarters program. In 1999, the Statehood Quarter program of circulating commemorative quarters began; these have a modified Washington obverse and a different reverse for each state. The standard Washington quarter is scheduled for return in 2009, unless the U.S. Congress acts to extend the Statehood Quarter program or changes the design.