The quarter in the 1976 United States Bicentennial coinage featured a Colonial drummer.
The U.S. Mint temporarily redesigned the reverses of the quarter, Kennedy half dollar, and Eisenhower dollar to commemorate the nation’s 200th anniversary. The quarter’s reverse showed a Colonial drummer beside a torch and thirteen stars, while the half dollar displayed Independence Hall.
The Bicentennial coins carry the dual date 1776–1976 rather than a single year. Although the designs are called 1976 coins, the Mint struck them in both 1975 and 1976. The dual date allowed the coins to connect the founding year with the anniversary year.
The designs were selected through a national competition. Jack L. Ahr created the quarter design, Seth G. Huntington designed the half dollar reverse, and Dennis R. Williams designed the dollar reverse. The three circulating commemorative coins remain common because very large quantities were produced.