1979S USA Quarter Proof

1979S USA Quarter Proof

Although the United States Quarter was authorized in 1792, the first issue wasn't first minted in 1796. The first design featured a portrait of Liberty with flowing hair, known as the "Draped Bust" design. Elsewhere in the world a twenty cent piece was more common (and, indeed, the US did have a very short lived twenty cent piece), but, it was decided upon to do quarter dollars, as often a Spanish dollar would be broken up into eight wedge-shaped segments (hence pieces of eight), and would be called a "bit". A common nickname for the quarter was "two bits" - as in "two bits of eight".

Obverse: Portrait of George Washington facing left, motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" to the left, and the date below. The mint mark, if present, is located next to the ends of Washington's hair.
Reverse: An eagle with wings spread, standing on a shaft of arrows with two olive sprays, face value below, country name and motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above.

Specifications:
Engraver: John Flanagan
Composition: Copper-nickkel clad copper
Weight: 5.67 g
Diameter: 24.26 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: The United States Mint of Philadelphia, USA
Mintage: 3,677,175