What figure appears on the reverse of the United States Bicentennial quarter?

A colonial drummer appears on the reverse of the United States Bicentennial quarter.

The United States Mint temporarily redesigned the reverses of the quarter, half dollar, and dollar for the 1976 bicentennial. All three coins carried the dual date 1776–1976, even when they were struck during 1975. Jack L. Ahr created the winning quarter design, showing a colonial drummer alongside a torch and thirteen stars.

The three designs formed a coordinated set. The half dollar showed Independence Hall, while the dollar showed the Liberty Bell superimposed against the Moon. These choices connected the circulating coins with both the Revolutionary era and the broader story of American independence.

The bicentennial coins were made for everyday circulation, not only as collector pieces. Standard circulation versions used copper-nickel clad metal, while special collector versions were also produced in silver-clad compositions. The special reverses ended after 1976, when the Mint returned to the regular designs.