The Quarter Dollar is a United States coin worth 25 cents. It has been produced on and off since 1796 and consistently since 1831.
From its inception until 1964, the denomination was issued in silver; it underwent several design changes, including finally the silver Washington quarter (1932 - 1964) featuring the first President of the United States on the obverse and the American Eagle clutching a bunch of arrows on the reverse. Initially meant as a one-year design to commemorate 200 years since the birth of George Washington in 1932, the obverse became the definitive design for the denomination and has been used ever since. The reverse was issued in this form until 1998, after which time the series of "State Quarters" circulating commemoratives started being issued instead.
The 50 State Quarters Program was a ten-year initiative started to support a new generation of coin collectors, and it became the most successful numismatic program in history with roughly half of the US population collecting the coins, either in a casual manner or as a serious pursuit. Between 1999 and 2008, the United States Mint issued five different "state quarters" every year, each dedicated to one of the US states, in the order of their entrance into statehood. In order to accommodate the reverse designs better, some of the wording which was previously on the reverse was transferred to the obverse. This was done by Mint sculptor-engrave William Cousins, whose initials were added to those of the original designer John Flanagan on the truncation of George Washington's neck.
The Louisiana quarter is the 18th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program and the third for 2002; it was released on 20 May 2002.
Louisiana, admitted into the Union on 30 April 1812, themed the coin after the "Louisiana Purchase". The Louisiana Purchase (French: Vente de la Louisiane, or "Sale of Louisiana") was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from France in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or approximately eighteen dollars per square mile, the United States nominally acquired a total of 828,000 sq mi (2,140,000 km2; 530,000,000 acres). However, France only controlled a small fraction of this area, most of it inhabited by Native Americans; for the majority of the area, what the United States bought was the "preemptive" right to obtain "Indian" lands by treaty or by conquest, to the exclusion of other colonial powers.
Louisiana State Quarter Dollars issued in 2002 have now been in circulation for 23 years. |
| Obverse | |
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At its centre, the obverse of the coin shows the portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States (1789 - 1797), facing left. He has long hear, tied below the neck with a ribbon.
The designer's initials JF (for John Flanagan) are in relief on the neck truncation, followed by those of the engraver: WC (for William Cousins).
To the left of the portrait, the inscription LIBERTY. On three lines to the right, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Around above, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around below, the value and denomination in words: QUARTER DOLLAR.
The mint mark is a small letter behind George Washington's neck.
Mint marks this year are D, P or S for Denver Mint, Philadelphia Mint or San Francisco Mint respectively. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows the outline of the Louisiana Purchase territory overlaid onto the map of the United States; below left, the image of a pelican - Louisiana's state bird; above, a trumpet with musical notes. On two lines to the right, the inscription LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
The designer's initials JM (for John Mercanti) are below right, under the map.
The state's name LOUISIANA is around above, under which the date of its admission into the Union, 1812.
Around below, the date of issue 2002 and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of many, one" - signifying unity in diversity). |
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