The Colonial drummer appeared on the reverse of the 1976 United States Bicentennial quarter, the major predecessor to America250.
The United States Mint issued special circulating quarter, half-dollar, and dollar designs for the bicentennial. Each coin carried the dual date 1776–1976, linking the anniversary to the Declaration of Independence rather than to the later Constitution.
Jack L. Ahr designed the quarter’s reverse, showing a colonial drummer beside a victory torch and thirteen stars. The design was selected through a nationwide competition and replaced the usual eagle reverse for the bicentennial issue.
The same anniversary program used different symbols on the other denominations: the half dollar featured Independence Hall, while the Eisenhower dollar showed the Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon. The coins were struck in both copper-nickel circulation versions and special collector versions containing some silver.