Posted on 12/16/2008 4:28:46 AM PST by cll
WASHINGTON - The United States Mint today announced six new designs that will grace the quarters issued next year to honor the District of Columbia and the five United States territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, United States Virgin Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The coins will be put into circulation in approximately two-month intervals throughout the year.
"Like the 50 State Quarters® Program before it, these new quarters will encourage Americans to appreciate the unique history of the District of Columbia and the territories of the United States," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. "While we focus on each one's individuality, we also recognize the common thread that unites us all."
The designs on the reverse (tails side) of the 2009 quarters feature unique, rotating images emblematic of the District of Columbia and each of the territories. The coins will continue to bear the standard inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM and the year, 2009.
The quarter honoring the District of Columbia debuts in late January 2009. The coin's reverse design features an image of celebrated musician Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington seated at a piano with the inscriptions, DUKE ELLINGTON and JUSTICE FOR ALL, the District's official motto. The District of Columbia quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.
The second quarter of 2009, honoring the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, depicts a sentry box in Old San Juan overlooking the sea with a hibiscus, Puerto Rico's official flower. Isla del Encanto (Island of Enchantment) is also inscribed on the reverse. The Puerto Rico quarter reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.
The third quarter of 2009, honoring the territory of Guam, includes an outline of the island of Guam, a latte stone-once used as building support in ancient Chamorro society-and a flying proa (a native boat). Guahan I Tanó ManChamorro (Guam, Land of the Chamorro) is also inscribed on the coin's reverse. The Guam quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint AIP Associate Designer David Westwood and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz.
The fourth quarter of 2009 honors the territory of American Samoa. The reverse design features the ava bowl, whisk and staff used in special Samoan ceremonies. SAMOA MUAMUA LE ATUA (Samoa, God is First), the official motto of American Samoa, is inscribed on the reverse. The American Samoa quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint AIP Master Designer Stephen Clark and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers.
The fifth quarter of 2009 honors the territory of the United States Virgin Islands. The reverse design features the three major islands that comprise the territory with a Banana Quit (the official bird), a Yellow Cedar (the official flower) and a Tyre Palm, a tree native to the United States Virgin Islands. United in Pride and Hope, the territory's official motto, is also inscribed on the reverse. The United States Virgin Islands quarter reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.
The last quarter of 2009 honors the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The reverse design features a latte stone on an island with a Carolinian canoe under sail in the lagoon. Two white Fairy Terns (native birds) are depicted in flight together overhead with a Carolinian Mwar (head lei) comprised of plumeria, langilang (ylang ylang), angagha (peacock flower) and teibwo (pacific basil), framing the design. The Northern Mariana Islands quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint AIP Master Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.
The obverse (heads side) of all six 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters will continue to display the familiar image of George Washington originally designed by Sculptor John Flanagan in 1932 and modified by former United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver William Cousins in 1999. The inscription "In God We Trust" will continue to appear on the obverse of the quarter, as well as the words "United States of America," "Quarter Dollar," and "Liberty." To view images of the coin designs, visit: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=Photo#2009DCTerri
The 2009 quarters will be issued into circulation in quantities to meet the needs of the United States, both for commerce and collectors. In addition to producing sufficient quantities of circulating coins to meet the Nation's demand, the Department of the Treasury has the authority to mint and issue uncirculated and proof coins, as well as a 90 percent silver version of each coin. These numismatic versions will be included in the United States Mint's annual product offerings.
Contact: Press inquiries: Michael White (202) 354-7222 Customer Service information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)
True ‘nuf. Makes you wonder how Jack Kemp didn’t win every election he entered... ;)
do we realy have time for this SH*T just now with everything else...lay them off...the quarter is going to be worthless soon anyway along with all our currency
Well, actually, aside from the VP race he was drafted for, he did.
You have to look on the bright side. They can just re-mint these as Ameros. :-)
Nice!
This quarter is a great addition to the five U.S. commemorative stamps that have honored Puerto Rico or Puerto Ricans:
1937 - 3¢ La Fortaleza (Governor’s Mansion)
1949 - 3¢ First gubernatorial election
1971 - 8¢ 450th anniversary of the founding of San Juan
1984 - 20¢ Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente
1990 - 5¢ Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
Yeah, I meant this to be a numismatics appreciation thread, and it got hijacked as a DC-bashing thread.
How long before the clamor to put Obama’s face on a coin or on the dollar bill?
- John
I, myself, am looking for Obama TP.
Or they could pick Bobby Estalella (another Cuban), who really was the first black Washington Senator, although he was “passing” as white (he played in the 30s and 40s, pre-integration). Not that he fooled anyone; I believe that it was Shirley Povich that wrote that “there was a Senegambian in the Cuban batpile where Senatorial lumber was strewn.”
But, really, why did they have to pick a person? Why not the Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Monument reflected on the reflecting pool?
I like the fact that Puerto Rico chose the sentry box from El Morro (the Spanish fort built in the 16th Century).
I'd have rather seen the Great Smoky Mountains or Elvis or Davy Crockett or the 3 Presidents (Jackson-Polk-Johnson).
It’s not uncommon for fellow FReepers to take a perfectly non-partisan, non-political thread and gleefully turn it into a bashfest against someone or something.
So, speaking of coins, are they now going to start throwing away Illinois quarters in protest against Obama and Blagojevich?
Dole should have picked Engler.
I must say that PR has the nicest of all the quarters. Kudos to whoever designed it. Thankfully, they failed to put Coqui the frog on the design.
Being a fan of “Sir Duke,” I have no complaints about the DC quarter.
I don’t think his running mate choice would’ve mattered.
Yeah, but Ellington should’ve gotten his own coin/medallion separate and apart from this series.
Almost as bad as the bizarre parochial pronounciations of Maury and Buena Vista in Middle TN. The former is called “Murray” and the latter, an ear-splitting “By-una Vista.”
Ha! The original design was crammed with the parrot, the coqui, the hibiscus and the garita.
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