2021-P 25C Crossing the Delaware (Regular Strike)

Legislative Context and Design History

The 2021 Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter was issued as a one-year stopgap type, bridging the gap between two major multi-reverse series.

The design was necessitated after the America the Beautiful Quarters Program concluded with its final coin in early 2021. Although the original legislation for that program provided an option for a second 11-year round, Trump Administration Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did not authorize it by the 2018 legal deadline. The U.S. Mint then proceeded with a temporary plan to commemorate General George Washington’s famous 1776 crossing of the Delaware River.

Obverse Restoration Perhaps most notable about the quarter is that John Flanagan’s iconic 1932 Washington effigy—which had been altered for the 50 State Quarters Program in 1999—was fully restored to the obverse for 2021.

A History of Stopgap Measures

The 2021 issue marked the second time Congress used a temporary series to fill a legislative gap:

• 1999–2008: 50 State Quarters Program.
• 2009: A one-year, four-coin series honoring the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia was produced as a stopgap.
• 2010–2021: America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
• 2021: The Washington Crossing the Delaware one-year type.
• 2022–2025: The American Women Quarters Program began.

Design and Release

Washington Crosses the Delaware

In a turning point of the American Revolutionary War, General Washington and 2,400 troops crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776, to launch a surprise attack on a Hessian encampment. The American attack resulted in a decisive victory with nearly 900 prisoners taken and minimal American losses. This success was followed by subsequent victories at Assunpink Creek and Princeton, significantly boosting American morale.

The iconic image of Washington crossing the Delaware is derived from Emanuel Leutze’s famed 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware.

Design Unveiling and Details

The U.S. Mint revealed the design on December 25, 2020—the 244th anniversary of Washington’s daring river crossing.

• Reverse Design: Created by Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso, the reverse depicts a standing, right-facing portrait of Washington. He points his saber to the right, followed by a boat navigating the icy river. Historical figures like future President James Monroe were among those who participated in the actual crossing.
• Mintage and Release: The Philadelphia Mint struck 998,800,000 2021-P Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarters (#866820, #868826, #868823, #934406). The first batches were released into circulation on April 5, 2021.

Market Status and Value

As an ultramodern clad coin of recent vintage, the secondary market for the 2021-P Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter is still nascent and unsettled. Being the final issue with the original Flanagan obverse, the coin is likely to hold a special place for those invested in the main Washington Quarter series. The reverse design recalls the classic Drummer Boy Quarter of 1975-1976 and has generally been well-received by the community. Furthermore, the "Spaghetti Hair" appearance often noted on Washington's portrait in the mid-1990s appears to have beenslightly refined for this release.

As a collectible, the quarter moves in two distinctly different markets:

• Raw Value (Circulated and Mint State): Examples removed from circulation will likely exhibit signs of light wear and do not retain collector value (worth face value). Uncertified (raw specimens) typically sell on secondary market sites like eBay for between $1 and $2, a standard premium for uncirculated modern quarters.
• Certified Market (Determined by Condition): In collector grades of PCGS MS65 to PCGS MS67, examples are often offerd on online auction sites and dealers specializing in modern coins. Beyond the standard PCGS certification, the 2021-P Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter can be found with special labels such as First Day of Issue, First Strike, and Cockade Hat. As of December 2025, the highest certifide grade is PCGS MS68.

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