Who Is On The Quarter?
Who is on the U.S. quarter?
George Washington, 1st U.S. president.
25-cent quarter coin featuring President George Washington. Designer: John Flanagan
George Washington remains perhaps the most famous of the Founding Fathers, serving as the general of the Continental Army that prevailed in the Revolutionary War. Washington's profile has been featured in the 25-cent coin since 1932. It was a one-year commemorative design that was so popular, it ended up sticking around.
Another design of Washington (shown below) by Laura Gardin Fraser circa the 1930s is now being used on the American Women quarters.
Washington quarter reverse designs:
- American Women series (2021–2025)
- America the Beautiful series (2010–2021)
- 50 State Quarters & Territories series (1999–2009)
- Heraldic eagle (1932–1998)
American Women quarters common obverse design. Designer: Laura Gardin Fraser, wife of Buffalo nickel designer James Earle Fraser
QUARTER FUN FACTS:
- Quarters are typically the coin denomination that sees the widest circulation (i.e. most usage).
- The denomination is so popular in commerce that vending machines in North America are primarily designed for accepting quarters.
- Quarters were often referred to as "two bits"—a holdover from the use of Spanish 8 reales silver coins, or "pieces of eight," wherein two pieces (or bits) of the Spanish silver dollar were equal to 25 cents.
Find more information about who is on each U.S. coin by following the links below:
Everett Millman
Everett has been the head content writer and market analyst at Gainesville Coins since 2013. He has a background in History and is deeply interested in how gold and silver have historically fit into the financial system.
In addition to blogging, Everett's work has been featured in Reuters, CNN Business, Bloomberg Radio, TD Ameritrade Network, CoinWeek, and has been referenced by the Washington Post.