1796 Draped Bust Quarter Value & Price Guide

The Draped Bust Quarter debuted in 1796 as the first quarter dollar issued by the United States Mint. Robert Scot, the first Chief Engraver of the Mint, designed the coin based on sketches by artist Gilbert Stuart. The obverse features a portrait of Liberty with flowing hair, while the reverse displays a small eagle surrounded by a palm and olive branch. The Mint produced this coin to fill a gap in the decimal currency system, although they did not strike another quarter until 1804. Production resumed in 1804 with a new reverse design featuring a heraldic eagle, a change necessitated by the Coinage Act of 1792 requirements. The series ended in 1807 when the Mint transitioned to the Capped Bust design. You hold a piece of early American history, as the total mintage for the entire series remains under 50,000 coins across all years. The 1796 date is the only year for the Small Eagle reverse, making it the key date for any collection.

Focus your search on the 1806 or 1807 dates if you want the most affordable entry point into this series. Most surviving coins show heavy circulation wear because these pieces circulated for decades. Check for damage like cleaned surfaces or smoothed fields, as these drastically reduce value. High-grade specimens often contain hidden repairs or artificial toning, so buy coins certified by major grading services like PCGS or NGC. Avoid raw coins found in online auctions unless you have experience spotting the frequent counterfeits that plague early federal coinage.