Capped Bust Quarters 1815-1838

About This Series

After a seven-year gap in quarter dollar production following the last Draped Bust issue of 1807, John Reich's bold Capped Bust design reinvigorated the denomination in 1815. The Large Size type (1815-1828) features a broad flan struck without a restraining collar, producing coins with irregular edge denticulation and modest diameter variation. The transition to the Reduced Size type (1831-1838), employing close collar technology, yielded mechanically superior coins with uniform diameter and sharply defined reeding. Key rarities anchor the series at both ends: the 1823/2 overdate is a major rarity with an estimated 15-20 survivors, while the 1827 is known only as a proof restrike, making it one of the most famous conditional rarities in American numismatics. Struck in .8924 fine silver, these quarters weighed 6.74 grams and served as workhorses of everyday commerce alongside Spanish two-real pieces that circulated at the same value. The Browning reference catalogs extensive die varieties throughout the series, providing specialists with a rich collecting framework. This series bridges the gap between the early Mint's hand-operated presses and the mechanized production that would characterize the Seated Liberty era that followed.

Series Information