https://crsreports.congress.govFebruary 25, 2021
Redesigning Circulating Quarters, Half Dollars, and Dollar
Coins: Current and Future Designs
In January 2021, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign
Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-330) was enacted. The legislation
authorizes the redesigns of the circulating quarter dollar,
half dollar, and $1 coins to be issued between 2022 and
2030.
Generally, coins are either circulating (i.e., sold by the U.S.
Mint to the Federal Reserve for distribution to American
financial institutions and used as money to exchange for
goods and services) or commemorative (i.e., sold by the
Mint to collectors to honor someone or something). The
U.S. Mint also produces precious metal coins.
Quarter-Dollar Coins
In 1796, the U.S. Mint issued the first quarter dollar,
depicting Lady Liberty on the (front) obverse and an eagle
on the (back)reverse. Between 1932 and 2020, the quarter
dollar was redesigned four times.
These changes included
placement of President Washington on the obverse (1932),
the Bicentennial of the United States (1976), 50 state
quarter program (1997), and the America the Beautiful
national parks and historic sites in each state (2008).
The America the Beautiful quarter program concludes in
2021.
With the
program’s conclusion, the U.S. Mint is to issue a new
“standard” quarter dollar. It continues to feature President
Washington on the obverse, but has a new image of General
Washington Crossing the Delaware River prior to the Battle
of Trenton on the reverse. The “Washington Crossing the
Delaware” quarter is to first be issued
in 2021, and then during any period when Congress does
not mandate an alternative design.
Between 2022 and 2030, the quarter dollar will likely be
redesigned three times pursuant to the Circulating
Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. These designs are
to feature newimages on the reverse related to prominent
American women, the Semiquincentennial(250th
anniversary of the United States), and youth sports.
President Washington will remain on the obverse.
2022 to 2025—Prominent American Women
From 2022 to 2025, the Mint is authorized to redesign the
quarter dollar’s reverse to feature prominent American
women who made a contribution to the United States in
areas “including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights,
abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and arts,
and should honor women from ethnically, racially, and
geographically diverse backgrounds.” Each design will
feature one woman, with five women celebrated each year
2026 Semiquincentennial
In 2026, to celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the United
States, the U.S. Mint is authorized to redesign the quarter
dollar “with up to five different designs emblematic of the
United States Semiquincentennial.” Further, at least “one of
the ... designs must be emblematic of a woman’s or
women’s contribution to the birth of the Nation or the
Declaration of Independence or any other monumental
moments” in American history (§3). The
Semiquincentennial redesign continues a tradition of
redesigning coinage for milestone anniversaries (1876,
1926, and 1976).
2027-2030—Youth Sports
Between 2027 and 2030, the U.S. Mint is authorized to
redesign the quarter dollar’s reverse with images
“emblematic of sports played by American youth.” Each
design would feature a single sport, with up to five sports
celebrated each year.