Like the dime, the quarter dollar coin got a late start, with the first issues not appearing until 1796.  By that point, Robert Scot’s Draped Bust design had replaced his earlier Flowing Hair style, which had been seen on the half dimes, half dollars and dollars in 1794 and 1795.

Coinage of the early quarter dollars was sporadic, and after the 1796 issue (the only one with the small eagle reverse) eight years elapsed before the next quarter would be struck. The small eagle reverse was replaced by the heraldic eagle reverse in 1798, so the 1804 featured the new reverse.  The mintage on the both the 1796 and the 1804 was tiny, with totals of 6,146 and 6,738 respectively.  It was not until 1805 that production really ramped up, and quarters were struck in sufficient quantity to begin widespread circulation.