20th Century U.S. Quarter Collection // Relics of a Bygone Era Series // Wood Presentation Box

This 5-coin set features one of every major type and composition of U.S. 25-cent piece issued during the 20th century. Each set includes a Barber quarter (1892-1916), Standing Liberty quarter (1916-1930), and three Washington quarters, including one struck in the original silver alloy (1932-1964), one in the contemporary copper-nickel alloy with the eagle reverse (1965-1998), and one with the Statehood quarter reverse (1999-2009). Each coin is housed in an airtight capsule. The entire set is presented in a luxurious, plush-lined wood box with embossed metallic gold lettering, piano-black finish, and certificate of authenticity. The coins are unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine, dated between 1900 and 1999, and will match the quality of the ones shown.

By 1891, the public had grown weary of the Seated Liberty coinage that had clinked in their pockets for over 50 years. Consequently, U.S. Mint director Leech instructed Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber to prepare designs for the coins that now bear his name. The result was a new dime, quarter, and half dollar rendered in a distinctly neoclassical Roman design that drew influence from contemporary French coinage circulating in Europe. The Barber obverse features Liberty, facing right, wearing an olive branch crown termed a pileus, as well as a headband inscribed with LIBERTY. The Barber quarter and half dollar reverse designs depict a heraldic eagle with shield, modeled after the Great Seal of the United States. It holds a scroll in its beak inscribed with E PLURIBUS UNUM as well an olive branch and arrows in its talons. Above the eagle are 13 stars, the name of the country, and the denomination. This design is more elaborate than the Barber dime, which bears a simple wreath on the Reverse. Barber coins were produced from 1892 through the middle of the first World War in 1916, except for the half dollar, which ended one year earlier.

The Standing Liberty quarter is a quintessential example of the “Renaissance” of American coinage. Released at the height of World War I, the obverse shows Lady Liberty facing right (towards the “Eastern” war), bearing an olive branch in her outstretched right arm and a shield in her left— representing a desire for peace but a distinct readiness for war. The reverse features an eagle in flight that is reminiscent of earlier classical U.S. coinage. Interestingly, this coin underwent a few design changes during its short 15-year production. Most notably, the original 1916 design featuring Lady Liberty with an exposed right breast was covered in chainmail armor by mid-1917. The precise reason for this abrupt modification is not entirely clear, but prevailing hypotheses include prudish public outcry over the exposed breast, requests by the United States Treasury, and symbolic incongruence— if Lady Liberty was ready for war, should she not be dressed for such occasion? Production continued through 1930, but no coins were issued in 1931 due to an unfortunate lack of need during the Great Depression. The design was replaced in 1932 by the Washington Quarter, which continues to grace our nation’s coinage today, albeit with modification.

As the dark shadow of economic depression fell across the United States in 1931, there was extraordinarily little to celebrate. However, one opportunity did present itself the following year: the 200th birthday of America’s first president. George Washington has been called the “Father of His Country” for his influential leadership in the formative days of the new nation. He led Patriot forces to victory during the Revolutionary War and later presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which established the U.S. Constitution and a federal government. Washington then served that government as first president from 1789 to 1797. The Treasury Department had originally proposed that a half dollar be struck to honor Washington, but this was soon changed to the quarter when it was determined that replacing the half dollar would require congressional approval. A design by medalist John Flanagan was ultimately chosen, which featured an obverse depiction of Washington modeled after the famous bust created by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon. This bust was formed from a life-mask of Washington’s face taken at Mount Vernon in 1785 and is considered a highly accurate reproduction. The reverse of the coin features a bald eagle with outstretched wings clutching a bundle of arrows in its talons. Two olive branches of peace appear below. The Washington quarter was struck yearly in silver until rising bullion prices necessitated a compositional change to copper-nickel clad in 1965. For the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, a special reverse depicting a colonial drummer boy was issued and all coins featured the dual date of 1776-1976. The popularity of the Washington quarter amongst collectors has exploded in recent years, largely due to the introduction of the 50 State Quarters Program in 1999, which featured different reverses honoring each of the 50 states, 5 territories, and Washington, D.C. over an 11 year period. The America the Beautiful Quarters Program launched in 2010 showcases different National Park Service sites for each of 56 jurisdictions and will continue until 2021.