Bill Jones' 20 th century Proof type set
25c Washington/Bicentennial, Silver-clad, 1976

Owner Comments:

In October 1973 the United States Treasury Department announced that it would hold a contest redesign the quarter, half dollar and dollar to celebrate the Bicentennial era. The winner of the contest for the quarter was Jack L. Ahr. Ahr’s design featured a colonial drummer boy with a victory torch surrounded by 13 stars. Many collectors, perhaps a majority of collectors, thought that Jack Ahr’s design was the best of the three Bicentennial designs. The obverse of the coin was the standard portrait of George Washington. In 1975 and ‘76, the coins carried the duel dates, 1776 – 1976. In 1977 the Treasury resumed the standard date and reverse. During those two years, the San Francisco mint issued Approximately 4 million Bicentennial silver clad Proof quarters. As a result, this coin is quite common in Proof, but only a small minority of pieces has the frosted, ultra cameo devices seen on this piece. This piece was struck on a 40% silver clad planchet. The outer layers on each side were composed of an alloy of 80% silver and 20% copper. These layers were bonded to a core that consisted of .209 silver and .791 copper. This is special issue, which was struck in Proof and Uncirculated versions, was the only silver clad quarter ever issued by the United States mint. When viewed in person, this coin is an especially beautiful example of this special coin. Over a two year period the mint issued approximately 4 million examples of this coin as a special three piece silver clad set.