Quarter Dollar 2005 California, Coin from United States - detailed information

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 California quarter is the 31st coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program and the first for 2005; it was released on 31 January 2005.

California, admitted into the Union on 9 September 1850, featured an image of naturalist and conservationist John Muir admiring Yosemite Valley's monolithic granite headwall and a soaring California condor. John Muir (1838 - 1914), also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks", was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States of America. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and his example has served as an inspiration for the preservation of many other wilderness areas.

California State Quarter Dollars issued in 2005 have now been in circulation for 19 years.