People from that generation will recall the year-long bicentennial celebration in 1976, when the United States marked its 200th birthday and the nation overflowed with trinkets, souvenirs, collectibles, and countless other items to buy.
The U.S. Mint released a series of bicentennial quarters to honor the event — and today, many of them are worth significant amounts as the nation nears its 250th birthday.
Between 1975 and 1976, the Mint struck these special-edition coins, which stood out as the first U.S. quarters in over 50 years to showcase a unique reverse design.
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Big Bicentennial Bucks
The most valuable of these coins — a 1976-S Bicentennial Silver Quarter with an exceptionally high grade — sold for $19,200 at auction a few years ago, according to the Chronicle Collectibles website. But it’s not the only bicentennial quarter bringing in big money. Many others have commanded impressive prices as well.
Most of these coins were “clad,” meaning they were made from layers of metals like nickel, copper, and zinc, stacked together like a sandwich, according to the U.S. Mint. However, as Chronicle Collectibles pointed out, some bicentennial quarters contained 40% silver — a key detail that makes them rarer and far more valuable.
The condition of the coin also heavily influences its worth, with those in flawless shape fetching the highest prices.
The Mint produced bicentennial quarters at three locations, each with different mintages:
- Philadelphia: 809,784,016 coins
- Denver: 860,118,839 coins
- San Francisco: 11,000,000 uncirculated 40% silver coins, 7,059,099 proof clad coins, and 4 million proof 40% silver coins
Here are seven other bicentennial quarters that sold for more than $1,000, according to the CoinValueChecker website:
- 1976-S Silver Proof Bicentennial Quarter: sold for $13,500 in 2019
- Double Denomination 1976 Bicentennial Quarter Struck on a Dime: sold for $9,200 in 2020
- 1976-D Clad DDO Bicentennial Quarter Business Strike: sold for $8,400 in 2023
- 1976-D Clad Bicentennial Quarter Regular Strike: sold for $6,463 in 2017
- 1976-S Clad Proof Bicentennial Quarter: sold for $6,038 in 2010
- 1976-S Silver Proof Deep Cameo Bicentennial Quarter: sold for $2,760 in 2007
- 1976 Clad Bicentennial Quarter Regular Strike: sold for $1,821 in 2023
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