1796 Draped Bust Quarter
Base
About This Coin
The 1796 Draped Bust Quarter is a United States quarter from the Draped Bust Quarters 1796-1807 series — the first year of the series. In 1796, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 6,146. This represents the lowest annual mintage in the entire series, below the series median of 121,394. The obverse features Liberty facing right with draped bust and ribbon-bound hair, designed after a Gilbert Stuart portrait and the reverse displays a small, naturalistic eagle perched on a palm branch within a wreath (1796) or a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM (1804-1807). First year of the U.S. quarter. Only 6,146 struck with the small eagle reverse, making the 1796 a one-year type and a highly prized rarity. Struck in 89.2% silver, 10.8% copper, weighing 6.74 grams, 27.5 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Across its variants, estimated values range from $14K to $216K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $1740K in MS66 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by Robert Scot.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(1)
Other Base Coins in This Series
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