In 1800, John Reich came to America and applied for a job at the U.S. Mint. After being recommended for employment by President Jefferson in 1801, he was hired. For several years, he did small re-engravings or other minor work. In 1807, he was given the task of creating entirely new designs. He designed the “Capped Bust” coinage, first appearing on half dollars in 1807 and later the dime in 1809. The design didn’t reach the quarter until 1815, as no quarters were struck between 1808 and 1814.
Early quarters fell victim to Gresham’s Law. This monetary principle maintains that “bad money drives out good.” It is mainly used for consideration and application in currency markets. Gresham’s Law was initially based on the composition of minted coins and the value of their precious metals.
Capped Bust Quarters Design
Reich’s design portrays Miss Liberty facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap with “LIBERTY” emblazoned across the headband. Below Miss Liberty is the date, surrounded by 13 stars – 7 to the left and 6 to the right. The reverse features a version of the Heraldic Eagle perched on a branch while holding three arrows, a shield on its breast, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on a scroll above. The denomination “25 C.” is at the bottom of the coin.
In the first year of issue, 1815, 89,235 coins were struck. A fire at the mint in 1816 destroyed most of the equipment, shutting down the production of quarters until 1818.
1818: 361,174 mintage, with two varieties, a normal date, and a 1818/5 overdate.
1819: 144,000 mintage, with two varieties, a small 9 and a large 9 in the date.
1820: 127,444 mintage, with two varieties, a large 0 and a small 0.
1821: 216,851 mintage.
1822: 64,080 mintage, with two varieties, the normal date and the 1825 25 C. over 50 C.
The 1823/2 Capped Bust Quarter only had one major variety, which happened to be an overdate error. All quarters of this year had an 1823 date struck over the 1822 date. This is an extremely rare and valuable year, with a limited mintage of 17,800.
1824: 168,000 mintage. All 1824-dated coins are 1824/2 overdates.
1825: The mintages of the 1825 5/2 and 1825 5/4 coins are unknown.
Capped Bust Quarters Varieties
Certain Large-Size Capped Bust quarters are shrouded in mystery. Mostly dated 1815 and 1825, some coins have a large “E” or “L” counter stamped above Liberty’s head. These marks are unmentioned in official records, and their purpose is unknown. Though nothing has been confirmed, it is speculated that they could have been made to use as school prizes.
1826: No 1826-dated coins struck were struck.
1827: 4,000 mintage.
1827 Restrike: A much greater number of coins were struck of the 1827 restrike coins. The originals and restrikes can be identified by the style of the 2 on the reverse of the denomination. 1827 originals have a curl base 2 since they were struck using a reverse die of 1828. The restrikes have a square base 2, as they were struck with a reverse die of 1819.
1828: 102,000 mintage. Among the 1828-dated coins, the denomination had a scarcer version with 25C over 50C.
Capped Bust Quarters Mintage
Coins struck between 1815 and 1828 are called Large Size Capped Bust Quarters because they measured 27 milliliters in diameter. In 1829, construction began on the new Philadelphia Mint building. Engravers and designers had more space and time to renovate the coin designs. During this time, William Kneass modified the Capped Bust Quarter design. The redesigned Reduced Diameter Capped Bust Quarter was smaller, measuring only 24.3 millimeters in diameter. Kneass kept Reich’s basic design, but he altered Miss Liberty’s appearance, making her appear more youthful. He also removed the banner with E PLURIBUS UNUM above the eagle on the reverse. This design was used from 1831 to 1838.
In 1829, several mechanical improvements were made in the striking of half dimes, but it would not be until 1831 that these same procedures could be used to produce quarters. The new method, known as the “close collar,” implemented what Mint Director Samuel Moore called a “mathematical equality” to the quarters. A higher beaded border was also incorporated around the rims, which protected the coin’s interior surface.
1831: 398,000 mintage, with two varieties featuring large and small letters.
1832: 320,000 mintage. All 1832-dated coins were struck from a single new obverse die, and two reverse dies leftover from 1831.
1833: 156,000 mintage, with two varieties, featuring the 1833 coin as usual and the other depicting an “o” over “f” overstrike.
