A Quarter Collector as a Child
As a child, I used to collect quarters. I would have stacks and stacks of quarters and when I finally "cashed" them in, I had several hundreds of dollars worth of quarters... as a kid I felt incredibly wealthy!
My Favorite Quarter from Way Back
As I collected quarters in the early 90's, I noticed on particular date that looked different from all the rest, still circulating around.
Instead of the normal date, it had two dates: 1776 - 1976. Was this quarter really hundreds of years old? No, it was a bi-centennial (200) quarter, minted 1976 celebrating 200 years since the founding of the United States of America.
Instead of the normal eagle, the quarter had a drummer on it. Simply marvelous for a young collector.
1998 Everything Changed in Our Change
Quarters all looked alike until in 1999 when the first of the "State" quarters were minted. I was very excited with the idea of all 50 states having their own unique quarter!
From 1999 - 2021 the US quarter had a very different look.
Instead of a date, the quarter said "QUARTER DOLLAR", instead of "LIBERTY" at the top, it said "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". It was full of writing, and no date in sight. You had to look on the reverse to find the dates.
Among the last of the custom backed quarters is the tuskegee airmen quarter issued this year in 2021. The US Mint came up with so many designs, I figured we'd never go back to the traditional quarter face.
As interesting as it is to collect different state, state park and historical events, I began to really miss the traditional quarter design. Especially the date on the front under Washington.
What I Found in My Change made me Smile!
Looking through my change, I often see the old style quarters with the date on the bottom and the older design of Washington, just like all the quarters I used to collect as a child. Many from 1965, and the 70's, 80's and 90's. Then many quarters with the "new" obverse... but something was strange.
I found a quarter with the date on the front... 2021.
After over 20 years of the goofy quarter obverse, we are finally back to the original design! Not only that, but a very nice new back showing Washington crossing the Delaware. This seems more appropriate than an eagle, as it records one of Washington's greatest accomplishments.
Thank you for Nerding Out with Me
Yes, it's a little nerdy talking about quarters, but it was a nostalgic thing for me to find an "old style" quarter freshly minted in 2021. Date on the front, original style design. Finally! Quarters are becoming quarters again!
Now if only our monetary system could go back to pre 1964 quarters... that's the REAL quarter.
Bless the Most High!
I have collected every 1976 quarter for as long as I can remember and just for the same reason....it looked different than the others!
Now as I am getting caught up on a few posts I know I am behind by a lot of time but have you noticed that the 2022 quarters are different in that Washington is now looking the other direction compared to the previous years?
I'm not fond of the new design on the 2022 quarters, there was no need to change it. Washington looks really strange and he's facing the other direction away from the phrase "In God We Trust". With the return to the traditional design in 2021, I figured that would be the new design ongoing... but no.