1856 USA Quarter Very Good (VG-8)

1856 USA Quarter Very Good (VG-8)

Although the United States Quarter was authorized in 1792, the first issue wasn't first minted in 1796. The first design featured a portrait of Liberty with flowing hair, known as the "Draped Bust" design. Elsewhere in the world a twenty cent piece was more common (and, indeed, the US did have a very short lived twenty cent piece), but, it was decided upon to do quarter dollars, as often a Spanish dollar would be broken up into eight wedge-shaped segments (hence pieces of eight), and would be called a "bit". A common nickname for the quarter was "two bits" - as in "two bits of eight".

Obverse: Seated Liberty looking over her shoulder, with a cap on a stick and a shield, 13 stars representing the 13 colonies around, and the date below.
Reverse: An eagle holding arrows and an olive branch in its talons, "QUAR. DOL." below and country name around. The mintmark can be found between the eagle and the denomination.

Specifications:
Engraver: Christian Gobrecht
Composition: 0.900 silver, 0.100 copper
Weight: 6.22 g
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑ ↓
Mint: Philadelphia, USA
Mintage: 7,264,000