| Coin | Quarter Dollar 2009 Northern Mariana Islands |
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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. Between 1999 and 2008, the United States Mint issued five different "state quarters" every year, each dedicated to one of the US states.
After the program ended, the US Mint began issuing quarters under the 2009 District of Columbia and US Territories Program; the six coins are in honour of the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Northern Mariana Islands quarter is the sixth and final coin in the DC and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. A possession of Spain until 1898, the islands were sold to Germany in 1899. The islands were seized in 1914 by Japan, whose control of the islands was officially recognised in 1921 by the League of Nations. American forces occupied the Marianas during World War II, and in 1947 the group was included in the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Residents approved separate status for the Northern Marianas as a U.S. Commonwealth in 1975, and the covenant to establish the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was signed by President Gerald Ford the next year.
Northern Mariana Islands Quarter Dollars issued in 2009 have now been in circulation for 15 years. |
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| 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 design of the coin represents the wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in its natural resources of land, air and sea. Near the shore stands a large limestone latte, the supporting column of ancient indigenous Chamorro structures. A canoe of the indigenous Carolinians represents the people’s seafaring skills across vast distances. Two white fairy tern birds fly in characteristic synchrony overhead. A Carolinian mwar (head lei) composed of plumeria, langilang (Ylang Ylang), angagha (peacock flower) and teibwo (Pacific Basil) borders the bottom of the design. The mwar is symbolic of the virtues of honour and respect. The initials of the designer PH (for Phebe Hemphill) are below right.
Around above, the name of the territory, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.
Around below, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of many, one" - signifying unity in diversity), followed by the date of issue 2009. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Authorising Legislation: Public Act 110-161.
The San Francisco Mint only struck proof coins for collectors, not released into circulation: 2,113,478 in copper-nickel and 996,548 in silver.
The other two mints issued both circulation coins and "Satin Finish" coins for collectors. Their mintages were:
- Denver Mint: 37,600,000 circulation coins plus 784,614 in "Satin Finish"
- Philadelphia Mint: 35,200,000 circulation coins plus 784,614 in "Satin Finish" |
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