Rare 1976 Quarter Breaks Record with $5.1 Million Auction Sale

In a historic sale that has thrilled numismatists and collectors alike, a unique 1976 Bicentennial quarter, fondly referred to as “The Liberty Drummer,” sold for a record-breaking $5.1 million.

This sale not only established a new standard for coin prices but also reignited enthusiasm for the possibilities hidden in ordinary currency.

The Record-Breaking Coin: “The Liberty Drummer”

Of more than 1.7 billion Bicentennial quarters struck in 1975 and 1976, “The Liberty Drummer” is unique because of its extreme combination of rare minting errors. These errors are:

• Quad-Strike Error: The coin was struck four times and each impression was slightly off, creating a ghostly three-dimensional appearance on George Washington’s face.
• No Mint Mark: Although struck on a 40% silver planchet for San Francisco proof coins, it does not have the usual “S” mint mark under Washington’s portrait.​
• Important Die Rotation: The reverse image is rotated around 180 degrees compared to the obverse, creating an upside-down appearance when reversed.​
• Incorrect Planchet Composition: Metallurgical examination proves the coin was indeed struck on a 40% silver planchet, but it shows wear that is typical of circulation.
• Obverse Design Elements from Two Differing Dies: Microscopic inspection shows elements from both the 1975 and 1976 master dies combined onto one coin face.​

Eleanor Winters, a veteran numismatist, said, “I’ve graded more than 30,000 Bicentennial quarters during my career, and I never thought I’d see something like this.”​

The Discovery and Auction

The journey of the coin from obscurity to celebrity started in spring 2024 when Martin Gladwell, a Cheyenne, Wyoming, retired postal worker, had his late father’s coin collection evaluated.

Included among the items was “The Liberty Drummer.” After three independent grading services authenticated it, it was graded MS-63—a remarkable grade considering its apparent circulation.

At a closed Manhattan auction to twelve invited bidders, the coin sold for $5.1 million. This sale broke the record for a quarter, which had been set at just below $1.3 million for a 1796 specimen.

Caroline Shenton, auction coordinator, said, “We thought it would break records, but not like this.”​

Identifying Potentially Valuable Bicentennial Quarters

Though “The Liberty Drummer” is a uncommen oddity, there might still be other worth-wielding Bicentennial quarters in circulation. Collectors would do well to seek out:

• Silver Composition Specimens: Those without the copper stripe on the edge, where the composition was 40% silver.
• Double or Triple-Struck Examples: Overlapped images through multiple strikes.
• Off-Center Strikes: Imprint designs which were not in center position and so left empty spaces.
• Missing Design Elements: Stars, letters, or part of the design missing.
• Die Rotation Errors: Misalignment where the reverse image is not properly oriented with the obverse.​

Patrick Hernandez of the American Numismatic Guaranty noted a 600% increase in Bicentennial quarters submitted for authentication following the auction, “Most are worth face value, but we’re finding valuable errors at a surprising rate.”​

Understanding the Bicentennial Quarter

During the early 1970s, Congress commissioned special reverse designs on some coins to celebrate America’s 200th anniversary. Jack L. Ahr’s colonial drummer boy was selected for the quarter.

Striking from 1975 to 1976 included the bicentennial date “1776-1976.” The Mint struck these quarters in record quantities, and every so often there were quality control failures that resulted in numerous errors.

The sale of “The Liberty Drummer” is a testament to the possibilities that can be found in the currency that is all around us.

Though such unusual discoveries are uncommon, the event has brought new attention to the hobby of coin collecting and the possibilities of looking into one’s loose change.

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