Washington Bicentennial Quarter: - Dual Dates Circulating Commemorative

Although the Washington, Bicentennial quarter dollars appear with dual dates 1776 and 1976, coinage production actually began in 1975.

Specimens were regularly issued in 1975 and 1976 from the Mints at Denver, Philadelphia and West Point. Since all of the coins struck for circulation bear the dual dates 1776-1976, issues from the two years cannot be distinguished.

Many collectors believe the 1776-1976 dated Washington quarter dollar to be the first circulating U.S. commemorative coin of that denomination. It is not.

The 1932 Washington quarter dollar was meant to be a circulating commemorative, issued on the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first president of the United States. The coin proved to be popular and became the ongoing series with Washington depicted on the obverse.

The 1776-1976 quarter dollar was the first copper-nickel clad circulating commemorative quarter dollar. The drummer reverse subject was designed by Jack L. Ahr to appear with John Flanagan's original obverse.

Proof sets in copper-nickel clad and silver clad were produced at San Francisco, as were larger volumes of Uncirculated silver clad coins, both for sale to collectors.

The Bicentennial silver clad quarter dollars were still being offered for sale by the Mint as late as 1982, with distribution curtailed with rising silver prices.