The 1796 quarter is highly sought by collectors as the first year of issue for the denomination and as a one-year type coin featuring the small eagle reverse.
| coinage-type | Draped bust quarter |
| desg | MS |
| designer | Robert Scot |
| diameter | 27.5 |
| edge | Reeded |
| fineness | 0.89 |
| material | 89% silver; 11% copper |
| mintage | 6,146 |
| ngc-id | 23RA |
| obverse-description | Liberty is portrayed with a so-called "draped bust," facing right, with her hair tied back with a ribbon. She is flanked by stars on the left and right periphery with the word LIBERTY on top, and the date positioned at the bottom. |
| pcgs-link | 5310 |
| pcgs-number | 5310 |
| prefix | One-Year Type |
| reverse-description | The so-called "small eagle" is portrayed standing atop rocks motif in the center with wings fully surrounded by an olive wreath that is tied by a ribbon into a bow at the bottom. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the periphery. No denomination is mentioned. |
| weight-grams | 6.74 |
| year-display | 1796 |