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Design
In 1975, the United States Mint began minting all quarter, half dollar and dollar coins with special designs on their reverse, commemorating the 200th anniversary (bicentennial) of the independence of the United States. This special minting was continued until December 31, 1976. The designs were chosen in an open contest announced by the U.S. Treasury in 1973 with a prize of $5,000 for each design. The reverse of the quarter bore a Colonial drummer, contributed by Jack L. Ahr. That of the half dollar coin bore an image of Independence Hall, Philadelphia submitted by Seth Huntington, and that of the dollar coin showed the Liberty Bell superimposed over an image of the Moon, submitted by Dennis R. Williams.

The Bicentennial dollar coin exists in two major varieties, the result of a die change midway through production. One type has thicker lettering for the motto and denomination; the other is noticeably thinner. Neither variety is particularly scarce.

All of these coins bore the date "1776-1976" on the obverse, making it impossible to tell which were minted in 1975 and which were minted in 1976, unless they are packaged in original mint or proof sets. In 1977, the original reverse designs and normal dates returned.

Composition
Each denomination was minted on cupronickel-clad planchets composed of 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper, the standard composition for all circulating U.S. dimes and quarters dated 1965 and after, and half-dollars and dollars dated 1971 and after. In addition, 40% silver proof versions, mounted in a cardboard backing encased in transparent polystyrene were sold. The composition of the silver version is identical to that of the Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970, and the Eisenhower dollar "brown" and "blue" packages issued from 1971 to 1974.

Proof and Mint Sets
In addition to the silver sets mentioned above, the Bicentennial coins were included in proof and mint sets, both for 1975 and 1976.