1976-S Bicentennial, Clad Proof Washington Quarter

San Francisco struck 7,059,099 Bicentennial proofs in copper-nickel clad composition, the highest proof mintage of any 1970s Washington quarter. The proof features Jack Ahr's Colonial Drummer reverse rendered with exceptional sharpness, the thirteen stars and victory torch deeply mirrored. The high mintage was driven by patriotic enthusiasm and the inclusion of the proof in both standard proof sets and the special three-coin Bicentennial proof sets.

The coin is one of the most available proof quarters of the decade. Deep cameo examples are plentiful, as the Mint's die-frosting techniques produced consistent frost-to-mirror contrast across the large production run. Collectors often acquire both the clad and silver Bicentennial proofs to represent both compositions.