The quarter, valued at 25 cents, is one of the most heavily produced coins in the United States. Its creation is a complex process carried out by the U.S. Mint, which operates facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. Each year, billions of quarters are struck to meet the demands of circulation, making it one of the most common coins in American commerce.

The production begins with its metal composition. Since 1965, quarters have been made of a copper core clad in nickel, giving them their silver‑colored appearance. Large sheets of this copper‑nickel alloy are rolled out and fed into blanking machines, which punch out discs called planchets. These planchets are smooth, undecorated pieces of metal, but they already carry the exact size and weight specifications of the quarter.

Once formed, the planchets undergo annealing, a heating process that softens the metal and prepares it for striking. They are then cleaned and polished to remove any residue, ensuring a smooth surface for the designs to be impressed. After this, the planchets pass through an upsetting mill, which raises a rim around the edge. This rim protects the coin’s design from wear and helps coins stack neatly.

The most dramatic stage is the striking process. High‑pressure coin presses stamp the planchets with their designs at incredible speed. On the obverse, the presses imprint the familiar profile of George Washington, while the reverse may feature a variety of designs, from the traditional eagle to commemorative series like the 50 State Quarters, America the Beautiful, or the ongoing American Women Quarters. During striking, the coin’s edge is also reeded with 119 ridges, giving the quarter its distinctive feel and preventing counterfeiting or shaving of metal.

After striking, quarters undergo inspection and quality control. Coins with flaws—such as weak strikes, off‑center images, or blemishes—are removed from circulation. The approved coins are then counted, bagged, and shipped to Federal Reserve banks, from where they enter circulation across the country.

The scale of quarter production is immense. In some years, the Mint has produced over two billion quarters, reflecting the coin’s importance in commerce. Despite its small denomination, the quarter’s production requires advanced machinery, precise engineering, and careful oversight to ensure consistency across billions of coins.