Draped Bust Quarter
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Spanning 1796 to 1807, the Draped Bust Quarter catalog contains 6 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1796 Draped Bust Quarter at just 6,146 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1804 Draped Bust Quarter at up to $260,000 in top grade.
Draped Bust Quarter Mintage by Year
Peak 221KCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Draped Bust Quarter
The Draped Bust Quarter is a historical United States silver coin minted from 1796 to 1807. This iconic coin features a portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse with a draped cloth around her shoulders and the words “Liberty” and the date. The reverse is decorated with an eagle within a wreath.
In 1791, the US Mint began minting silver coins and the first silver coins available were the half dimes, half dollars, and dimes. These silver coins were issued with a variant of designs, including the Flowing Hair and draped bust varieties. In 1796, the US Mint introduced a new design, the Draped Bust, which is the first design to feature a portrait of Lady Liberty. The portrait of Lady Liberty was designed by Robert Scot and depicts a young bust of Liberty with her hair elegantly tied up under a cloth draped around her shoulders. She is facing right with the words “Liberty” inscribed above her head and the date of the coin’s minting underneath.
The reverse side of the Draped Bust Quarter features an eagle within a wreath. This design was most likely based off the Great Seal of the United States and was meant to honor the courage and strength of the federal government. The eagle is grasping a branch of laurel and an olive branch at its feet, symbolizing the government’s ability to choose peace or declare war. Inscriptions on the reverse include “United States of America,” “Quarter Dollar,” and the year the coin was minted.
The Draped Bust Quarter is a historic coin, and is highly sought after by collectors due to its iconic design and historical significance. While the coins were originally struck with a silver composition of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper, many specimens have been altered and plated in a variety of different metals. Today, uncirculated specimens of these coins can fetch prices in the thousands of dollars.
Overall, the Draped Bust Quarter is a classic and iconic piece of US numismatic history. It is an important and highly sought-after coin that provides the opportunity to own a piece of the past.
Most-collected Draped Bust Quarter coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Draped Bust Quarter coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Draped Bust Quarter minted?
- The Draped Bust Quarter was minted by United States from 1796 to 1807.
- How many Draped Bust Quarter coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 561,045 Draped Bust Quarter coins were struck.
- What is the Draped Bust Quarter made of?
- The Draped Bust Quarter is made of silver (.8924) (.1076 copper), weighs 6.74 grams, and measures 27.5 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Draped Bust Quarter worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $260,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.