The Bicentennial Quarter, minted in 1976, holds a special place in numismatic history. It was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, hence the "Bicentennial" designation.
The reverse (tails) side of the Bicentennial Quarter features a colonial drummer and a flaming torch encircled by 13 stars, representing the original 13 colonies.
This design was the result of a nationwide competition won by Jack L. Ahr, whose submission beat out more than 1,000 other entries.
Among these are the famous "double die" error, where the design appears doubled due to misalignment during the minting process. Such errors are exceedingly rare and can fetch high prices at auction.
Another sought-after variation is the "S" mintmark quarters, which were minted in San Francisco. These quarters are highly collectible due to their lower mintage numbers compared to those minted in Philadelphia and Denver.
Bicentennial Quarters have sold for impressive sums, such as the 1976-S proof quarter in high grade, fetching over $950,000 in auction, it's crucial for collectors to authenticate any potential treasures carefully.