Capped Bust Quarter Values & Mintages

Grading tips

Wear first appears on the curls near the ear, the cap and the eagle's wings. The word LIBERTY on the headband should be clear in Fine.

Gaps and blundered denominations

Quarters were struck only when depositors wanted them, so the series has many missing years. None were made from 1808 to 1814 and several later years also have no quarters. Engravers working by hand left plenty of mistakes. The 1822 and 1828 quarters include varieties where the denomination was punched as 25 over 50 C., because the engraver first used the half dollar punch. These are scarce and popular with type collectors who want a dramatic error.

The reduced size of 1831

When the Mint adopted the close collar for quarters in 1831, William Kneass reworked Reich's design. The new coins had a beaded border, a smaller diameter and no scroll with E PLURIBUS UNUM. Their uniform size and sharper rims make them easier to find in attractive condition than the earlier large-size coins. Specialists attribute both types by Browning numbers, from Ard W. Browning's early reference on quarter dollars.

Frequently asked questions