1896 USA Quarter About Good (AG-3)

1896 USA Quarter About Good (AG-3)

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: Bust of Liberty facing right with the motto above, 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies around, and the designer's initals below the truncation of the neck.
Reverse: Heraldic eagle holding a sprig in one talon, arrows in the other, in its mouth a ribbon with the motto, 13 stars above, denomination below, and country name around the rim. The mintmark can be found between the eagle and the denomination.

Specifications:
Engraver: Charles Edward Barber
Composition: 0.900 silver, 0.100 copper
Weight: 6.25 g
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑ ↓
Mint: Philadelphia, USA
Mintage: 3,874,000