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[cladking]

In the early '70's there was still a lot of animosity between the mint and coin collectors. The mint still blamed collectors for the coin shortage of the mid-'60's. The mint's attitude in those days was that collectors were a nuisance. Congess had a similar attitude and all feared any changes in coin designs. However something dramatic was sought for the bicentennial and Congress wanted a new design for the Ike. John J Pittman who testified before Congress suggested that if it were desired that the American people were to actually see the coin it would have to be a circulating coin. Eventually the mint relented and the idea turned into a three coin set. Designs were solicted in a competition and the Drummer Boy quarter was the winning design which meant it got the spot on the quarter. These coins went into production in mid 1975 so there were no '75 coins of these denominations. The design of the Ike was modified very early on creating type 1 and type 2 issues. All the type 1's were produced in 1975.

The coins was a huge hit with the public. Many of all these were set aside and the numbers of quarters saved were staggering. There is no evidence though that collectors gave any of these coins serious attention until years later. Even today it is still possible to find ultra high grade quarters in the '75 and '76 mint sets. There are some interesting varieties of the quarter including an important DDO Denver mint coin.