U.S. Mint coin reference

1796: Draped Bust Quarter (Small Eagle Reverse Type)

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Toned 1796 Draped Bust quarter with Small Eagle reverse, obverse left and reverse right

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1796

Country: United States

Denomination: Quarter dollar

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper

Silver fineness: 89.24%

Silver weight: 0.1934 oz ASW

Weight: 6.74 g

Diameter: 27.5 mm

Thickness: Approx. 1.75 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: Robert Scot

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty bust portrait.

Reverse: Small naturalistic eagle within an open wreath.

1796 Draped Bust Quarter Small Eagle history

The 1796 quarter is a one-year Small Eagle subtype and the first quarter dollar issued by the United States Mint. Its reverse shows a naturalistic eagle within an open wreath; the Heraldic Eagle quarter did not appear until coins dated 1804.

The 6.74-gram, reeded-edge standard and Robert Scot design identify the physical type. Because no quarters were issued with dates from 1797 through 1803, this page describes the 1796 issue specifically rather than an uninterrupted 1796–1807 run.