A colonial drummer appeared on the reverse of the U.S. Bicentennial quarter, a 1976 predecessor to America250.
The design was created by Jack L. Ahr and selected through a national competition. It shows a colonial drummer beside a torch of victory, surrounded by 13 stars representing the original colonies. The quarter also carries the double date 1776–1976.
The Bicentennial coin program temporarily redesigned the reverses of three circulating coins: the Washington quarter, Kennedy half dollar, and Eisenhower dollar. The half dollar showed Independence Hall, while the dollar showed the Liberty Bell superimposed against the Moon.
The coins were struck in 1975 and 1976, but all carried the 1776–1976 dual date. In 1977, the Mint returned the quarter, half dollar, and dollar to their regular reverse designs. The special coins remain common because the Mint produced them in very large quantities.