Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters

After the successful conclusion of the US 50 States Quarters Program, a legislation was signed and approved by then-President Bush to produce the Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters. It was actually approved on the 26th of December 2008. It was known as The District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter Program.

The said Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters will be minted throughout the duration of 2009. The US Mint will issue the following coins:

• District of Columbia Quarter
• Puerto Rico Quarter
• Guam Quarter
• American Samoa Quarter
• US Virgin Islands Quarter
• Northern Mariana Islands Quarter

The evaluation of the design used for the US Territorial Quarters was a tedious process.

• First, the US Mint will coordinate with a person appointed by the respective territory.
• Next, a concept selection process will be constructed in a narrative manner. A maximum number of three design concepts will be submitted and should explain why the design represents the territory and its citizens.
• The third step is when the US Mint will produce designs based on the narratives submitted.
• The fourth step includes each territory appointing a historian or other experts will review the design, making sure the design and articles used are true and accurate. If adjustments and corrections are to be made, the US Mint will refine the design. After the revision, the designs will now be presented to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).
• Once reviewed by the CFA and CCAC, revisions will be made after consultations with the territory.
• The sixth process involves the US Mint presenting the final two designs. Th respective territories will then have to choose and give their design of choice within a specified time frame. The only time the coins will be struck is when the designs were approved by the US Secretary of Approval.

The designer of the coin varies as Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters have different reverse designs for each territory.

As for the obverse, the design was by John Flanagan. It features a profile bust or President George Washington facing left. The inscriptions included UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the denomination QUARTER DOLLAR.

The Reverse Designs of the Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters

District of Columbia

The reverse features a renowned composer and musician and native Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington seated at a grand piano. He was chosen for his amazing life story and numerous awards and honors received. The inscriptions included in the design were DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DUKE ELLINGTON, JUSTICE FOR ALL, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the District of Columbia Territorial Quarter is Don Everhart.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

The reverse features the historic sentry box of San Juan, Puerto Rico and a single Hibiscus Flower. The inscriptions included in the design were PUERTO RICO, ISLA DEL EL CANTO, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Territorial Quarter is Joseph F. Menna.

Guam

The reverse features an outline of the island of Guam, a latte stone commonly used as bases of homes and a flying proa – a seagoing craft made by the Chamorro people. The inscriptions included in the design were GUAM, GUAHAN I TANÓ MANCHAMORRO which meant Guam – Land of Chamorro, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the Guam Territorial Quarter is Jim Licaretz.

American Samoa

The reverse features the Tanoa or ava bowl, a whisk and staffs with an island with coconut trees in the background. The inscriptions included in the design were AMERICAN SOMA, SAMOA MUAMUA LE ATUA (the territory’s native motto which translates to “Samoa, God is First.”, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the American Samoa Territorial Quarter is Charles L. Vickers.

The U.S. Virgin Islands

The reverse features the Bananaquit, U.S. Virgin Islands’ official bird; the Yellow Cedar or Yellow Elder, its official flower and a single Tyre Palm Tree. In the foreground lies an outline of the three major islands of U.S. Virgin Islands. The inscriptions included in the design were U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, its official motto UNITED IN PRIDE AND HOPE, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Quarter is Joseph F. Menna.

The Northern Mariana Islands

The reverse is a beautiful representation of the Northern Mariana Islands. It features limestone latte is on the shores of an island while a canoe is in the waters and two white fairy tern birds are flying overhead. A Carolinian mwar or a head lei symbolizes honor and respect. It has plumeria, langilang or Ylang Ylang, angagha (or a peacock flower) and Pacific Basil known as teibwo boders the island. The inscriptions included in the design were NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the date 2009. The engraver for the Northern Mariana Islands Territorial Quarter is Phebe Hemphill.

The Two Types of Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters And Mintages

1. Type 1 Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters Clad

The first type of Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters is composed of 75% Copper, 25% Nickel. The coins are 24.30 millimeters in diameter, weighs about 5.67 grams and have a reeded edge.  There are Regular Strike, Proofs and Special Strikes minted for the Type 1 Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters.

Regular Strike

2009-P 25C District of Columbia – 83,600,000 pieces were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C District of Columbia – 88,800,000 pieces were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Puerto Rico – 53,200,000 pieces were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Puerto Rico – 86,000,000 pieces were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Guam – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Guam – 42,600,000 pieces were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C American Samoa – 42,600,000 pieces were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C American Samoa – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – 41,000,000 pieces were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – 41,000,000 pieces were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Northern Mariana Islands – 35,200,000 pieces were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Northern Mariana Islands – 37,600,000 pieces were minted at the Denver Mint

Proofs

2009-S 25C District of Columbia – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C American Samoa – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C Puerto Rico – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C Guam – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C Northern Mariana Islands – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

Special Strike

2009-P 25C District of Columbia – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C District of Columbia – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Puerto Rico – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Puerto Rico – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Guam – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Guam – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C American Samoa – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C American Samoa – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2009-P 25C Northern Mariana Islands – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Philadelphia Mint

2009-D 25C Northern Mariana Islands – Satin Finish – these were minted at the Denver Mint

2. Type 2 Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters Silver

The second type was composed of 90% Silver, 10% Copper and was only struck in Proofs.

Proofs

2009-S 25C Puerto Rico – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C U.S. Virgin Islands – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C District of Columbia – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C Northern Mariana Islands – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C Guam – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

2009-S 25C American Samoa – Silver – these were minted at the San Francisco Mint

Collecting Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters

Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters have its own fair share of errors. The most commonly known error are doubled die errors for the District of Columbia wherein ELL in ELLINGTON was doubled in the reverse.

Coin collectors collect Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters mostly because of their beauty. While it is true that the face value is what one would expect for these types of quarters, the mintages were relatively small. One can find Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters in rolls of circulated, uncirculated, proof and special strikes. Regardless of its current price and value, Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters are a wonderful collection to own.

For a price list of PCGS-graded Washington D. C. and Territorial Quarters, you can check the link below.

https://www.pcgs.com/prices/priceguidedetail.aspx?c=1721&title=washington+d.c.+and+u.s.+territories+quarters

References:

PCGS, PCGS CoinFacts, US States Mint, Hobby Lark, Wikipedia