Bust Quarter

At the time the Bust Quarter was conceived, American currency was not yet fully developed, and much buying and selling was still done using foreign money, such as the Eight Reales or Two Reales coins from Spain. Interestingly, the Two Reales coin, which was made of a quarter-dollar’s worth of silver, was nicknamed “two bits,” as is the modern quarter. The first Bust Quarter coins were devised so that Americans would use their own currency, instead of the Two Reales coin or similar foreign denominations.

The first Bust Quarter Coins featured the Draped Bust Liberty design on their obverse side. This female personification of the idea of freedom was shown from the top of the chest up, her curls loosely bound and a hint of robe draped around her shoulders. She was surrounded by stars representing the states. The other side of the Bust Quarter showed a small eagle on a cloud. At the end of the 18th century, such was the standard design stamped on American coins.

However, these Bust Quarter Coins had to wait a little while for their place in the sun. The national mints were operating with limited resources, and decided to allow the coin’s Spanish counterpart to perform its former function for a while. However, in 1804, the Bust Quarter got what might be termed a second wind. With more resources, minting authorities were able to call for larger quantities of quarter-dollars. The Bust Quarter even had a new, improved design: the eagle on the reverse side was much larger. Further revisions were made to the coin in 1815. Like other coins around the same time, the Liberty on the quarter’s obverse was given a cap, hence the name Capped Liberty Design. TheBust Quarter Coins were made of copper and silver.

Grading Bust Quarters

Bust Quarter Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1796-1838)

Date/Type	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	XF40	AU50	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60
Draped Bust Sm. Eagle
***1796 Dr. Bust Sm. Eagle	$10,630	$17,810	$26,880	$38,750	$51,880	$58,130	$60,000	$61,880	$65,630	$81,250
Heraldic Eagle
**1804	$5,440	$7,310	$9,940	$15,630	$32,810	$56,880	$58,130	$61,880	$69,690	$98,130
*1805	$528	$620	$1,070	$1,780	$3,590	$5,970	$6,380	$6,780	$7,440	$10,630
*1806 6 over 5	$600	$720	$1,080	$2,060	$3,690	$6,340	$6,720	$7,030	$7,560	$10,810
*1806	$510	$660	$990	$1,720	$3,440	$6,130	$6,440	$6,690	$7,280	$10,690
*1807	$480	$650	$920	$1,500	$3,190	$5,970	$6,380	$6,630	$6,810	$10,810
Capped Bust
1815	$90	$150	$240	$390	$1,590	$1,860	$1,980	$2,160	$2,640	$3,420
1818 8 over 5	$92	$115	$198	$660	$1,800	$2,010	$2,100	$2,280	$2,730	$3,540
1818	$90	$132	$222	$650	$1,650	$1,860	$2,040	$2,430	$2,700	$3,420
1819	$81	$120	$168	$390	$1,680	$1,860	$2,010	$2,310	$2,700	$3,420
1820	$78	$126	$156	$390	$1,710	$1,860	$2,010	$2,160	$2,550	$3,420
1821	$82	$150	$204	$420	$1,680	$1,980	$2,100	$2,250	$2,490	$3,600
1822	$92	$144	$210	$450	$1,590	$2,220	$2,430	$2,790	$3,180	$3,900
**1822 25 over 50c	$2,930	$4,650	$5,340	$6,900	$11,190	$18,310	$19,190	$23,130	$27,000	$36,250
***1823 3 over 2	$17,250	$28,200	$42,600	$70,630	$82,200	$93,750	--	--	--	--
*1824 4 over 2	$720	$1,080	$2,010	$3,690	$6,000	$8,880	$9,180	$9,420	$10,560	$22,500
*1825 5 over 2	$216	$360	$690	$1,980	$4,810	$8,700	$10,630	$11,690	$16,560	$23,130
1825 5 over 4	$83	$180	$222	$600	$1,590	$1,980	$2,040	$2,160	$2,730	$3,480
1827 Original, Prf. Only	--	--	--	$79,690	$86,880	$91,880	$94,690	$98,130	$100,630	$104,380
1828	$81	$115	$168	$402	$1,560	$1,860	$2,010	$2,340	$2,700	$3,420
1828 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$10,320
*1828 25 over 50c	$190	$360	$570	$1,220	$2,340	$4,220	$4,380	$5,790	$7,980	$9,180
Reduced Size
1831	$63	$84	$100	$150	$390	$690	$700	$750	$870	$1,080
1832	$63	$85	$103	$156	$360	$680	$690	$760	$840	$1,140
1833	$67	$89	$104	$174	$432	$770	$850	$920	$1,020	$1,470
1834	$63	$84	$106	$180	$372	$680	$720	$820	$1,050	$1,170
1835	$64	$85	$100	$168	$360	$680	$690	$750	$1,000	$1,080
1836	$63	$84	$100	$156	$360	$680	$690	$770	$820	$1,160
1837	$63	$84	$101	$162	$456	$690	$720	$780	$1,050	$1,110
1838	$63	$84	$100	$150	$390	$640	$700	$750	$820	$1,080