Jack L. Ahr designed the colonial drummer shown on the 1975–76 United States Bicentennial quarter.
Ahr’s winning reverse design depicted a colonial drummer with a victory torch surrounded by thirteen stars, representing the original thirteen states. The design was selected in 1974 after a nationwide competition for temporary Bicentennial coin reverses.
The other two circulating Bicentennial designs went to Seth Huntington for the Kennedy half dollar and Dennis R. Williams for the Eisenhower dollar. Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro made subsequent modifications to the winning designs before production.
The quarter bears the double date 1776–1976, even though some pieces were struck in 1975. That detail often causes confusion: there are no 1975-dated Bicentennial quarters. The special reverse was used for the anniversary issue and was replaced after 1976 by the familiar eagle design.