Req 4d — The Quarter

No U.S. coin has gone through more design changes in the past thirty years than the quarter. What was once a single, unchanging design has become a rotating canvas for states, parks, and pioneering women. For this requirement, you will collect seven quarters that span this entire transformation.

The Washington Quarter (1965–1998)

The Washington quarter was introduced in 1932 to mark the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. The obverse portrait was designed by John Flanagan, based on a bust of Washington by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. The original reverse featured a heraldic eagle.

Design features:

• Obverse: Washington facing left. “LIBERTY” above, “IN GOD WE TRUST” below and to the left, date at the bottom. Flanagan’s initials “JF” (later “JFL”) appear at the base of Washington’s neck.
• Reverse: A heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, clutching arrows and an olive branch. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above, “QUARTER DOLLAR” below.

This design ran without major changes from 1965 through 1998 (the 1975–1976 Bicentennial coins were a temporary exception — you will learn about those in Req 5).

The 50 State Quarters Program (1999–2009)

In 1999, the Mint launched the most popular coin program in American history. Every ten weeks for ten years, a new quarter appeared with a unique reverse design honoring one of the 50 states (in the order they ratified the Constitution or were admitted to the Union). Six additional designs for U.S. territories and the District of Columbia followed in 2009.

Purpose: The 50 State Quarters Program was designed to encourage a new generation of coin collectors and to honor each state’s unique history, landmarks, and culture. Congress estimated that millions of Americans would pull quarters out of circulation to save them — and they were right. The program generated enormous public interest and an estimated $3 billion in profit for the government from coins that were saved rather than spent.

Each state selected its own design through a state-level process, making every quarter a tiny portrait of local identity. Georgia featured a peach. Massachusetts honored the Minuteman. Colorado displayed its Rocky Mountain peaks.

The America the Beautiful Program (2010–2021)

Building on the success of the State Quarters, this program featured 56 designs honoring national parks, forests, monuments, and other national sites — one from each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.

Purpose: The America the Beautiful Quarters celebrated the natural and historic treasures of the National Park System and other federal lands. Each quarter showcased a different site, from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The program encouraged Americans to explore and appreciate the country’s public lands.

The American Women Quarters Program (2022–2025)

The most recent program features notable American women on the reverse — women who have made significant contributions to the country in a wide range of fields. The program runs from 2022 through 2025, with up to five new designs released each year. The obverse features an updated portrait of Washington by Laura Gardin Fraser — a design originally submitted for the 1932 quarter but passed over at that time.

Purpose: The American Women Quarters Program honors the achievements of women who have shaped American history, including Maya Angelou (poet and civil rights activist), Sally Ride (astronaut), Wilma Mankiller (Cherokee Nation chief), and many others. The program aims to ensure that American currency reflects the diversity of the people who built the nation.

What to Collect

For this requirement, you need seven quarters total:

The 1965–1998 quarter is getting harder to find in circulation but still turns up regularly. All the program quarters are common and affordable — your change jar is the best starting point.

Be prepared to explain the purpose of each program to your counselor: why the Mint started it, what it celebrates, and how the designs were chosen.