50 US State Quarter : Washington Quarter

50 US State Quarter (1999-2008)

The 50 US State Quarters of the United States has been called the "most successful coin program in the Nation's history". due to it's immense popularity with the people. In 2009 it was extended to the unincorporated territories of the United States like Puerto Rico, Guam,American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. All together 56 different coins were minted, and issued from different mints.

The front of this coin was a redesign of the original Washington Quarter and incorporated thinner / sharper lines. On the reverse top is the States name and the date in Which the country joined the Union. The reverse bottom contains the year the coin was minted. The middle reverse coin is set aside for an image "collage" that helps properly represent the state with pictures of monuments, plants, animals, landmarks, and other such distinguishable images.

Washington Quarter (1932-1999)

The most recent of the United States Quarter has been the George Washington. The Washington Quarter coin was first minted in 1932, and has enjoyed a uninterrupted run from then until today. There have been small variations up unto 1999, and just one year of non-minatage in 1975. These coins were 90% silver up until 1964, at which time the US Mint switched to a copper and nickel mixture.

The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan and was based on a 1786 bust made by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. the reverse side has a Bald Eagle.

Current silver melt value for a pre 1965 coin (90% Silver) is about $11.45 based off the current silver spot price.

Breakdown of U.S. Quarter coin series:

• Draped Bust: 1796–1807 (Liberty portrait, early eagle reverse, then Heraldic Eagle).
• Capped Bust: 1815–1838 (Various sizes and mottoes).
• Liberty Seated: 1838–1891 (Liberty seated on a rock).
• Barber (Liberty Head): 1892–1916 (Symbol of Liberty, reverse eagle).
• Standing Liberty: 1916–1930 (Liberty with shield, with Type 1 showing an exposed breast).
• Washington Quarter (Standard): 1932–1998 (Introduced for Washington's bicentennial).
• Bicentennial Quarter: 1975–1976 (Special reverse for U.S. Bicentennial).
• 50 States Quarters Program: 1999–2008 (Unique state designs).
• U.S. Territories & D.C.: 2009 (Designs for territories).
• America the Beautiful Quarters: 2010–2021 (National Parks & Sites).
• American Women Quarters: 2022–2025 (Featuring notable American women).
• Future Themes: 2026 onward (Mayflower Compact, Constitution, etc.).

The America the Beautiful Quarters® Program was a 12-year initiative by the United States Mint that released a series of 56 quarter-dollar coins from 2009 or 2010 through 2021. The program featured designs honoring national parks and other national sites from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories.

The Mint released five new designs annually from 2010 to 2020, with the final coin released in 2021. Sites were honored in the order they were first established as national parks or historic sites. The series began with Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) in 2010 and concluded with the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Alabama) in 2021.

Each coin's obverse (heads) features a restored version of John Flanagan’s 1932 portrait of George Washington. The reverse (tails) features a unique design specific to the honored site. The program included several versions of each design beyond standard circulating quarters.

Highly polished, mirror-like versions were issued for collectors, often sold in sets by the U.S. Mint. Silver Proof versions struck in .999 or 90% fine silver were issued for investment and collection.

Following the conclusion of the America the Beautiful series in 2021, the U.S. Mint launched the American Women Quarters Program, which runs from 2022 through 2025.