Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Draped Bust Quarter 1796 - 1807

Like the first half dimes, the first quarter dollar design was the "Draped Bust" design, and it appeared without the denomination marked on it also. For the reverse, the small eagle design was used.

Early copper coinage had not been well received by the public, and the Flowing Hair design of the silver coins was also widely criticized. Thus, the design of the quarter dollar began with an almost universal dislike for the earlier coin designs. To avoid such public embarrassment with the new design, Mint Director Henry DeSaussure commissioned portrait artist Gilbert Stuart to develop a new design. Stuart, who supposedly used as his model the prominent Philadelphia socialite Mrs. William Bingham purposed what is now called the Draped Bust Design.

To the great disappointment of Stuart, transferring Mrs. Bingham's likeness into coined form was quite a flop. The rather bland portrait on the quarters did not resemble the beautiful sketches Stuart had made. This flop can be attributited to Robert Scot whom the Mint had hired as an engraver. Scot was a banknote plate artist and knew nothing about how to sink a die or make a device punch. With that in mind, the coins turned out better than would normally be expected. Stuart, for that reason, disavowed his connection with the design.

Vital Stats. Designer: Robert Scot Weight: 6.74 grams Diameter: 27.5 millimeters Edge: Reeded Content: 89% silver 11% copper Mint Mark Location: NONE (All coins were minted in Philadelphia) Type 1 Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes 1796 only 6,146	Type 1 Small Eagle Many people discribed the Eagle on the reverse as "scrawny". There were also complaints regarding the lack of a denomination on the coin.
Type 2 Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes 1804 6,738 1805 121,394 1806 206,124 1807 220,643	Type 2 Heraldic Eagle Production only lasted one year, and when it resumed in 1804, the value 25 C. was included on the reverse below the new Hearldic Eagle's tail feathers.

In 1807, the Mint put the quarter back on the shelf. Because the Quarter contained more silver than the two-reales pieces (which was also legal tender) people preferred to spend the Spanish and Mexican two-reales coins and hoard the quarters with a higher silver content. The Quarter was not produced again until 1815, and then it came in a new design: John Reich's Capped Bust design.