15 Rare & Most Valuable Bicentennial Quarter Coins : When one invokes the term bicentennial in conjunction with George Washington, it conjures two historical touchpoints: the 1932 celebration of his birth bicentennial—marking his first appearance on a 25-cent coin—and the 1976 commemoration of America’s independence, immortalized by a dual-dated coin. Let’s delve into the rarefied echelon of the most prized Bicentennial Quarters.
1. 1976 Clad Bicentennial Quarter – Regular Strike
In this compendium, our lens remains affixed on the coins struck in 1976, each bearing the dates 1776 – 1976—a homage to the revolutionary crescendo that emancipated the United States from colonial subjugation. Among the masterminds of this upheaval, seven Founding Fathers stand tall—most notably General George Washington, who ultimately became the republic’s premier President.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)
- Grade: MS 67+
- Auction Date: March 27, 2023
- Realized Price: $1,821
The coin’s historical symbolism reflects not just intellectual bravery, but military mettle—emblematizing a war-forged triumph that birthed a democratic ethos.
2. 1976-S Silver Bicentennial Quarter – Business Strike
Despite his nation’s enduring reverence, Washington was averse to his visage being etched onto currency, deeming it reminiscent of monarchical conceit. Instead, early American currency embodied symbols of liberty—specifically the goddess-like embodiment of freedom.
- Composition: Type 4 Silver
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: MS 69
- Auction Date: June 9, 2019
- Realized Price: $19,200
Early depictions of Liberty were borrowed from classical antiquity but gradually modeled after real American women, creating a lineage of freedom’s feminine personifications.
3. Double Denomination 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Struck on a Dime
A freak confluence in the minting process birthed this error coin—a quarter imprinted upon a dime planchet—rendering it a numismatic anomaly of immense intrigue.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: Philadelphia
- Error: Quarter struck on a dime
- Grade: MS 62
- Auction Date: December 15, 2020
- Realized Price: $9,200
This fusion of denominations encapsulates both historical and technical mystique, enhancing its desirability among elite collectors.
4. 1976-S Clad Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Quarter
To commemorate the nation’s 200-year sovereign milestone, the U.S. Mint unleashed specially designed coins in three denominations, available in both clad and silver, aimed at circulation and collectors alike.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 70 DCAM
- Auction Date: July 8, 2010
- Realized Price: $920
The juxtaposition of copper cores and nickel cladding allowed these coins to emulate silver’s luster—visually opulent yet economically efficient.
5. 1976-S Clad Proof Bicentennial Quarter
The economic term seigniorage defines the revenue garnered when minting costs are subtracted from a coin’s face value. This concept was pivotal in justifying cost-effective clad compositions.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 69
- Auction Date: November 3, 2010
- Realized Price: $6,038
This method enabled the Mint to accrue substantial revenue while maintaining the illusion of metallic richness.
6. 1976-S Silver Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Quarter
Volatile metal markets and historical exigencies—from the Gold Rush to wartime nickel shortages—shaped the composition of American currency. The Bicentennial silver proofs emerged amid this backdrop.
- Composition: Type 4 Silver Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 70 DCAM
- Auction Date: November 29, 2007
- Realized Price: $2,760
These specimens retained the 90% silver content, harkening back to the glory days of pre-1965 coinage.
7. 1976-S Silver Proof Bicentennial Quarter
These quarters possess not only numismatic merit but tangible melt value, dictated by their silver content—a commodity tethered to global bullion markets.
- Composition: Type 4 Silver Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 25
- Auction Date: March 26, 2019
- Realized Price: $13,500
Though dual-dated, none of these quarters bear the year 1975—a subtle quirk that amplifies their allure.
8. 1976-D Clad DDO Bicentennial Quarter – Business Strike
This Denver-minted error coin showcases a Doubled Die Obverse—a rare visual phenomenon that significantly augments its collector appeal.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: Denver
- Error: Doubled Die
- Grade: MS 66
- Auction Date: May 7, 2023
- Realized Price: $8,400
Such minting eccentricities are prized within advanced numismatic circles.
9. 1976-S Clad Proof Cameo Bicentennial Quarter (Minted in 1975)
Although minted a year prior to its dated appearance, this specimen exhibits impeccable preservation and subtle design variations, all while earning top-tier cameo classification.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 70 CAM
- Auction Date: April 29, 2021
- Realized Price: $150
The reverse features the famed Drummer Boy—symbolic of Revolutionary cadence and martial morale.
10. 1976-S Clad Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Quarter (Minted in 1975)
This variant, with its sharp relief and reflective surfaces, further distinguishes itself through Jack L. Ahr’s contest-winning design, including the iconic circle of 13 stars and liberty torch.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 69 DCAM
- Auction Date: July 14, 2021
- Realized Price: $342
Its artistic origins elevate it from a mere coin to a commemorative emblem.
11. 1976-S Silver Proof Cameo Bicentennial Quarter
Emerging from a nationwide competition, this silver cameo edition carries the subtle echo of artistic controversy—its drummer boy motif allegedly inspired by a USPS stamp.
- Composition: Type 4 Silver Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 66 CAM
- Auction Date: February 15, 2021
- Realized Price: $128
Though disputed, its provenance only enriches its mystique.
12. 1976 Clad Bicentennial Quarter (Minted in 1975)
The very conception of the Bicentennial coinage faced institutional resistance. President Hoover and later Mint Director Mary Brooks both opposed such efforts until economical compromises were reached.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: Philadelphia
- Grade: Brilliant Uncirculated
- Auction Date: August 9, 2022
- Realized Price: $43
Their eventual production combined fiscal prudence with patriotic celebration.
13. 1976-S Clad Proof Cameo Bicentennial Quarter
By only redesigning reverse motifs while retaining existing obverse tooling, costs were dramatically reduced—preserving seigniorage profits while still delivering commemorative flair.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad Proof
- Mint Location: San Francisco
- Grade: PR 70 CAM
- Auction Date: May 4, 2004
- Realized Price: $63
Still, sales fell short, and many coins were melted—tightening the existing supply and enhancing rarity.
14. 1976-D Clad Bicentennial Quarter – Regular Strike
Unlike previous commemoratives tethered to charitable lobbies, Bicentennial quarters were minted for general use. Their availability today in rolls or change reflects their broad distribution.
- Composition: Type 3 Clad
- Mint Location: Denver
- Grade: MS 68
- Auction Date: January 4, 2017
- Realized Price: $6,463
Their everyday circulation contrasts sharply with their profound historic gravitas.
15. Double Denomination Bicentennial Dollar Struck Over Quarter
A bizarre but fascinating numismatic Frankenstein—this coin was mistakenly double-struck with dollar imagery over a quarter planchet, resulting in a specimen that borders on minting alchemy.
- Composition: Type 4 Silver
- Mint Location: Philadelphia
- Error: Dollar struck on Quarter
- Grade: MS 64
- Realized Price: $28,000
Its rarity is matched only by its dramatic visual and structural irregularity.
Final Reflection
Though many of these Bicentennial coins were initially produced en masse, time, attrition, and minting anomalies have enshrined select specimens into numismatic royalty. Whether for patriotic symbolism, metallurgical composition, or minting errors—these quarters represent a tangible convergence of history, artistry, and rarity.