Talk:Quarter (United States coin)

Image

As these designs are in the public domain, I'd like to begin uploading images. Logically this page would be the place, but I'm afraid putting them all here would make the load time of the page too slow. Right now I'm toying with the idea of putting an extra table row at the bottom of each state's table and putting the image there. Anyone have thoughts on this? - Hephaestos 16:49, 26 Aug 2003 (UTC)

The mint has started copyrighting some of the more recent designs.

The images from my site (www.acoin.com) are copyrighted images. If you want to aquire your own images and upload them, feel free. Do not take the images from my site. It took me years to aquire them myself. Other coin sites have the same problems, so don't lift their images either. The design is PD, not the image. Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by KellyCoinGuy (talk • contribs) 23:24, 21 November 2003

Do you have any more info on the copyrighting by the mint? I hadn't heard about that. (of the designs I mean, as opposed to the web images) - Hephaestos 23:29, 21 Nov 2003 (UTC)

All I know is that the mint has begun submitting (for about five years now) all their coin designs to the copyright office. So far, I believe the only people they've gone after are those who would duplicate the images on Silver Rounds... as far as I know they've never had a problem with people putting pictures of their coins on websites. You might be able to find more at http://www.usmint.gov , their official website. I read it in Numismatic News, and may not have all the facts completely straight on this matter.

Also, as for putting that many images on one page, it does make for very slow loading on most people's machines... I wouldn't advise it on something like wikipedia... —Preceding unsigned comment added by KellyCoinGuy (talk • contribs) 12:48, 22 November 2003

silver coin image

This may be nitpicking, but the obverse coin image you show is of a 1963 coin--one from the silver era (which explains the tarnish it is developing). It would be nice, if possible, to depict a non-silver (i.e. from 1965 or later) quarter instead. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.47.192.177 (talk) 23:01, 14 February 2005 (UTC)

Also, the front of the coin shown is from the state quarters series, while the back is from the older coins. While both images are correct, one coin would not possess both of them. Youngamerican 16:04, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

Alright, I took a picture of a circulated quarter and uploaded it. Not absolutely wonderful, but should do until someone does a better job. Maybe I shouldn't have cropped so much. vLaDsINgEr 01:38, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

Infobox

Should the infobox have the Nebraska reverse on it like that? It implies that all US quarters have that design on the reverse, which is (thankfully, as that one is terrible) not the case. I would think the best thing would be the use the old eagle, as it's the only one in common circulation that's not a limited issue, and presumably the US Mint will be going back to that design after they run out of states. Kairos 19:32, 21 April 2006 (UTC) Mixed up "reverse" and "obverse" somehow. Kairos 19:40, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I would think maybe an additional infobox with the old reverse and add to the "design" field of the current infobox that the reverse varies from state to state(perhaps with a link >). I could even throw together a page with all the available statehood reverses, with brief descriptions to link to. Thoughts? Bobby 19:47, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Highest denomination US coin commonly in circulation

I take issue with this statement. Both the Susan B. Anthony and newer Sacajawea one-dollar coins are not very uncommon, typically being dispensed as change from vending machines for postage stamps, subway tickets and the like, even some change machines. They are not uncommon enough to raise the eyebrows of experienced cashiers. Duckspeaker 16:02, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

The sole factor that determines whether or not it is commonly circulated is whether or not it is commonly circulated, not by eyebrow raising of experienced cashiers. I believe your statement should be reworded "Both the Susan B. Anthony and newer Sacajawea one-dollar coins are only dispensed...". What was the last time you buy stamps from a machine? How many Americans regularly take the subway? What percentage of beverage vending machine give chance in dollar coin as opposed to 4 quarters?

I actually support dollar coin replacing dollar bill. However, we must not misrepresent facts here. --ChoChoPK (球球PK) (talk | contrib) 04:14, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

The "Who Cares?" Section

I understand the point of this section, trying to point out that quarters and coins in general can be of some value and investment (I've been a numismatist for several years now), but IMHO this seems just a tad too conversational, as well as opinionated.

I'm not so sure how to edit it myself, but that's my two cents (pun unintended). Hopefully someone out there can adjust it accordingly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 157.242.220.131 (talk) 04:32, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, this was recently added and was then removed as being inappropriate for an encyclopedia article. —Centrx→talk • 01:56, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

1933 quarter

See http://www.bhcoinclub.org/ for a picture of a 1933 quarter, which the coin club says has been authenticated.

1933 quarter —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.204.183.88 (talk) 20:43, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

Nice try, but that's a Photoshop'd image. --- 66.92.0.62 (talk) 02:05, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

1933 wasn't minted. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.179.183.77 (talk) 00:50, 26 August 2012 (UTC)

Links to outside articles on the various designs.

I entered references to an outside site (coinsite.com) which has articles on the coin designs. Collect (talk) 18:56, 9 October 2008 (UTC)

metals in "Current design" section

The description of the coins' current makeup isn't quite clear. It says they are cupronickel and gives the percentages but also they are clad. Is this with silver? or nickel? or more cupronickel? If the last, what accounts for the "sandwich" appearance? Thanks. -- Jieagles (talk) 22:39, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

I'm going to go in and "clean up" the first paragraph in the "Current design" section. The outer layers aren't nickel, they're cupronickel (25%Ni 75%Cu)and it's not really a "plating", which to my mind implies a thin coating. The mint uses the word "clad", so that's what I'm going with.Almostfm (talk) 06:08, 1 August 2010 (UTC)

Value ?

What is this that the "value" is 0.284 U.S. dollar? Isn't the value precisely 0.25 US dollar? yamaplos 01:56, 17 July 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Yamaplos (talk • contribs)

Pieces of Eight

I removed the incorrect statement from the introduction section:

"These fragments were known as Pieces of Eight."

Confusingly, while it is true that Spanish dollars were regularly cut into 8 pieces, and regularly called "Pieces of Eight", these facts are not directly related. See Spanish dollar for the actual usage and origin of the term "Pieces of Eight". Aidan (talk) 06:51, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

Obverse photo

The obverse photo on this article is actually the obverse from the 50 State quarter/Territories program. The current obverse (America the Beautiful series) uses John Flanagan's original design. I checked the mint website, but they didn't seem to have a photo of the new obverse. Does anyone know of any public domain resources that might have such a photograph?-RHM22 (talk) 13:27, 25 November 2010 (UTC)

Copper-nickel clad series

Commentary on my tagging this section in the article —
It's dubious that "individuals" were melting down 90% silver coins due to their higher value as metal than their official monetary value. How many people do you know who have a metal foundry in their house or garage with the tools and capabilities of smelting coin silver? Sounds ridiculous. The real story was that the U.S. Treasury, in collusion with the Federal Reserve Bank, were inflating the U.S. Dollar, and there was a real fear that foreign creditors would make a run on the gold reserves in Fort Knox. The government's "solution" to the dilemma was to de-monetize gold and silver coins, issue counterfeit cupro-nickel slugs in their place and remove the wording from Federal Reserve notes that they were "redeemable in lawful money of the United States". The circulated silver coins that supposedly were being melted down are still being traded in the precious metals market in 2011, as "junk silver", since individuals who possessed them squirreled them away in the face of a flood of counterfeits. See Gresham's law. —Quicksilver^{T @} 23:04, 25 February 2011 (UTC)

Without addressing the collateral issues you raise, I agree that it is extremely unlikely that silver coins would be melted down for profit. Pre-1964 "junk" silver coins continue to be traded in bulk for their metal content. The fact that they have been minted proves weight and purity and makes them preferred over silver of unknown origin. Melting coins would reduce them to an unrecognizable mass of silvery metal which would have to be weighed, and assayed for purity, each time it was bought and sold. Bullion investors want to preserve coins in an un-melted state to prove their purity. This was the original function of mints, after all . . . Xanthis (talk) 04:17, 17 March 2011 (UTC)

The whole debate is up for grabs, though, as there is no proof that either happened. We all know that there are very, very few silver coins still in circulation in the US (citation needed), but since original research is not allowed, and there are no trustworthy sites out there with any evidence of folks either hoarding or melting their coins, neither can be said to have happened. Or, at least, if it is said, there will forever be a "dubious" or "citation needed" tag attached to it. 166.123.216.77 (talk) 14:56, 20 May 2014 (UTC)

Speaking of the copper-nickel post-1965 coins, I have never heard the term the article uses, "Johnson sandwich." I've heard such coins referred to as "bologna sandwich" (or "baloney sandwich") coins (due to the appearance of a red stripe between white layers when viewed edge-on) by amateur coin collectors in the southeastern US, though. Has anyone else heard this term? Should the article include it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.41.40.24 (talk) 23:53, 29 May 2012 (UTC)

Tires

Would it be appropriate to mention that the US quarter is frequently used as a gauge of tire tread wear? If the tread does not reach at the least reach the top of George Washington's head, then the tires need replacement for safety purposes. (For legal purposes, Lincoln's head on the cent is used.) The problem is that that distance varies with the type of quarter. The US Mint web site, half of which is broken, does not contain the information on what that distance is in. Bostoner (talk) 02:09, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

I've always heard you should use a penny. Do a simple Google search for "tire tread coin" (without the quotes) and eight of the first ten hits say to use a penny. The other two simply say to use a U.S. coin. Thus, I would recommend not mentioning it on this page.166.123.216.77 (talk) 14:59, 20 May 2014 (UTC)

Vadrevukiran@.com 2601:CD:C500:E9D0:BC87:F977:F62E:C8A8 (talk) 00:31, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

Major cleanup needed

I ended up here because the article on the Washington quarter is featured today on Wikipedia's main page, and I've been reading associated articles. I'd suggest that this article needs a major cleanup. While a list of designs is appropriate, and a brief mention (about a paragraph) of the current design is warranted, this isn't the place for a detailed history of that design, nor a discussion of the rarity of some issues of it. I could undertake the cleanup myself, but since the article would get shortened greatly I thought I'd throw it open for discussion here. Lord Geznikor (talk) 21:06, 18 June 2012 (UTC)

While the Current design section may have too many details, the problem is not too much information about the current design but the lack of information about past designs. I would recommend adding more historical information at this point, rather than significantly removing the modern information. Reywas92^Talk 22:29, 18 June 2012 (UTC)

My point is more that there exists a lengthy article on the current design at Washington quarter (it's what led me here), so repeating that information isn't necessary. IMO this article should talk about quarters in general, with the list of designs pointing to the articles on each. Some discussion of the current design is appropriate, but it shouldn't be long and should link to the Washington quarter article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lord Geznikor (talk • contribs) 18:08, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

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as opposed to the ​1⁄5 more common elsewhere

How can both 1/4 and 1/5 refer to the same amount? their referents must be different, so please somebody elaborate a bit that phrase --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:29, 17 July 2019 (UTC)

Backinstadiums what do you mean? - ZLEA _T\^C 19:05, 17 July 2019 (UTC)

@ZLEA: the article reads "The choice of ​1⁄4 as a denomination—as opposed to the ​1⁄5 more common elsewhere— How can a quarter be one fifth? --Backinstadiums (talk) 19:19, 17 July 2019 (UTC)

Backinstadiums the article does not say that 1⁄4 and 1⁄5 are the same. It states that the US chose the 1⁄4 denomination instead of 1⁄5, which has almost the same value as the quarter (1⁄5 is 80% of 1⁄4). - ZLEA _T\^C 19:37, 17 July 2019 (UTC)

@ZLEA: What is the reference for that statement? --Backinstadiums (talk) 14:06, 18 July 2019 (UTC)

Backinstadiums It is common knowledge and does not need a reference per WP:BLUESKY. - ZLEA _T\^C 16:21, 18 July 2019 (UTC)

The sentence is simply saying that most currencies around the world use a coin worth 1/5 of their major currency unit instead of one that is worth 1/4 of their major currency unit. Look at the coins listed for the euro, the pound sterling, the Australian dollar, and many others. Question: aside from the US, Canada, and Brazil, what other countries use a 1/4 currency unit coin? --Khajidha (talk) 12:30, 23 July 2019 (UTC)

Thailand and the Philippines currently use 1/4 denomination coins, although the latter was once a US territory. Several European countries also used the denomination before switching to the euro. Other than that, it is a fairly uncommon denomination. - ZLEA _T\^C 15:29, 23 July 2019 (UTC)

"Johnson sandwich" listed at Redirects for discussion

A discussion is taking place to address the redirect Johnson sandwich. The discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2020 August 24#Johnson sandwich until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Hog Farm _Bacon 16:38, 24 August 2020 (UTC)

"reverse design has changed frequently" is Not Helpful

I want to know what the current design is. Peppermint13me (talk) 17:22, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

Peppermint13me The latest design to be released into circulation is the Tuskegee Airmen America the Beautiful quarter. However, there will be one more design this year before the Mint starts releasing 5 designs a year again until at least 2030. - ZLEA _T\^C 17:54, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

ZLEA So the America the Beautiful design is the current design, with different designs per state? And there's more to come correct? Peppermint13me (talk) 18:53, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

File:2021 GW crossing Delaware quarter reverse.jpeg

New reverse design

Peppermint13me Actually, the Tuskegee Airmen quarter was the last of the America the Beautiful series. The next issue is the design (shown here) that was supposed to replace the eagle reverse as the permanent design before more commemorative programs were scheduled to start next year. From 2022 through 2025, the reverse will feature designs commemorating prominent women, in 2026 there will be five designs commemorating the 250th anniversary of the US (a similar concept to the United States Bicentennial coinage of 1976), and finally from 2027 to 2030 there will be five designs per year commemorating youth sports. Assuming no more commemorative quarter programs are added after 2030, the Mint will probably revert to the new design shown here. - ZLEA _T\^C 20:11, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

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• 2021 GW crossing Delaware quarter reverse.jpeg

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• US coin 25c 2015 ATB Saratoga Unc.jpg

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Picture used for the observe on main wiki page.

Should (shouldn't) the photo of the John Flanagan Washington design be swapped with the Laura Gardin Fraser design on the main wiki entry? Unless the Flanagan design is still being used concurrently, in which case shouldn't both be shown since the modified Flanagan design was used for all the state quarters program since 1999 until just recently when the 1932 obverse was brought back for the special Washington quarter? 71.95.151.17 (talk) 22:33, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

Two bits means two American coins

Two bits refers to the fact that the Spanish and British had a currency based on division by 240 (shillings for Britain). When the Americans moved into territory formally occupied by Spain (Louisiana Purchase and some other British places) their currency was the value being based on 100. Shopkeepers would tell Americans it was two such bits for the purchase: one Spanish coin or two American coins (and mostly in reference to the quarter). ItsACityOfApes (talk) 03:45, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

Are you proposing changes to the article? - ZLEA _T\^C 02:35, 17 January 2023 (UTC)

Old quarter

Where do I put the previous version (1932 to 2021) of the quarter? IPs are people too (talk) 00:39, 4 March 2023 (UTC)