The diameter of a U.S. quarter and more fun money facts

What can we learn from the diameter of a U.S. quarter?

We don't spend much time thinking about coins these days, but they are a fascinating source of history and trivia about our country.

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The exact diameter of a U.S. quarter

Though quarters are some of our largest coins, the diameter of a U.S. quarter is less than an inch. It measures 0.955 inches or 24.26 millimeters, to be exact. This makes it slightly larger than a nickel and dime but smaller than a half dollar.

The first U.S. quarters

Let's take a trip back to the late 18th century in the United States. Before 1792, the U.S. didn't have a standard form of currency. But that all changed with the Coinage Act, which set up the U.S. Mint and regulated coinage across the country. By 1796, the first U.S. quarters were being minted.

Evolution of the quarter's design

Over time, the design of the quarter has seen several changes. The one we're most familiar with, featuring George Washington on the front and the bald eagle on the back, has been around since 1932. But before that, there were several other designs featuring Lady Liberty and various different eagle designs.

Using the quarter’s design to strengthen money smarts

While coins might not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of money management, they can actually play a significant role in teaching financial responsibility to kids. With the rise of cashless transactions and digital payments, it's easy for kids to lose touch with the concept of physical money. By using quarters and other coins to teach the value and history behind each one, parents can help instill good financial habits from a young age.

Coins may seem like simple transactional objects, but they hold a wealth of information about our country's history and culture. They also make excellent visual tools for teaching kids about math and money. 

For more fun ways to teach kids about money, try Level Up™.