District of Columbia and United States Territories quarters facts for kids
| United States | |
| Value | 0.25 U.S. Dollar |
|---|---|
| Mass | 6.25(Ag); 5.67 (Cu-Ni) g |
| Diameter | 24.26 mm (0.955 in) |
| Thickness | 1.75 mm (0.069 in) |
| Edge | 119 reeds |
| Composition | 91.67% Cu 8.33% Ni (standard) 90% Ag 10% Cu (proof only) |
| Years of minting | 2009 |
| Mint marks | P, D, S (proof only) |
| Obverse | |
 |
|
| Design | George Washington |
| Designer | John Flanagan (1932 version) from a 1786 bust by Houdon / William Cousins (modification to Flanagan's design) |
| Design date | 1999 |
| Reverse | |
 |
|
| Design | various; six designs (latest shown) |
| Designer | various |
| Design date | 2009 |
The District of Columbia and United States Territories quarters are special quarters made in 2009. The United States Mint created these coins. They celebrate District of Columbia and six U.S. territories. These territories are Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
These quarters came out after the popular 50 State Quarters Program finished. Each coin shows George Washington on the front, just like the quarters from the past 10 years. The back of each quarter has a unique design. This design represents the federal district or one of the territories. On these coins, the phrase "E Pluribus Unum" (meaning "Out of many, one") is placed before the mint date. It is also the same size as the date.
Why Were These Quarters Made?
The original program for state quarters was only meant for the 50 states. However, people wanted to include other areas too. So, a new law was signed in late 2007. This law added the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories to the quarter program.
Lawmakers in the United States Congress tried five times to pass this bill. They wanted to extend the quarter program for one more year. This would include Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. The House of Representatives passed these bills several times. But the Senate never approved them.
Finally, in December 2007, the bill passed. A Congressman from New York, José Serrano, added the quarter bill's language to a larger spending bill. President George W. Bush signed this bill into law on December 26, 2007.
Adding these six new coins in 2009 was exciting for coin collectors. It also brought in over $400 million in extra money for the U.S. Treasury. This program helped keep interest high in collecting U.S. quarters.
Quarter Designs
Each of the six quarters has a special design on its back. These designs show important symbols or famous people from each place.
| Federal district or Territory |
Release date (territory date) |
Mintage | Design | Elements depicted | Engraver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |||||
 District of Columbia |
January 26, 2009 (July 16, 1790) |
88,800,000 | 83,600,000 | 172,400,000 |  |
Duke Ellington seated at a grand piano. Caption: "Duke Ellington" and "Justice for all" |
Don Everhart |
 Puerto Rico |
March 30, 2009 (December 10, 1898) |
86,000,000 | 53,200,000 | 139,200,000 |  |
A sentry box at Castillo San Felipe del Morro and a maga flower. Caption: "Isla del Encanto" (Island of enchantment) |
Joseph F. Menna |
 Guam |
May 26, 2009 (December 10, 1898) |
42,600,000 | 45,000,000 | 87,600,000 |  |
An outline of the island, a proa boat, and a latte stone. Caption: "Guahan I Tanó ManChamorro" (Guam, land of the Chamorro) |
Jim Licaretz |
 American Samoa |
July 27, 2009 (April 17, 1900) |
39,600,000 | 42,600,000 | 82,200,000 |  |
An ava bowl, whisk and staff in the foreground with a coconut tree on the shore in the background. Caption: "Samoa Muamua le Atua" (Samoa, God is first) |
Charles L. Vickers |
 U.S. Virgin Islands |
September 28, 2009 (March 31, 1917) |
41,000,000 | 41,000,000 | 82,000,000 |  |
An outline of the three major islands, the bananaquit, the yellow cedar or yellow elder, and a tyre palm tree. Caption: "United in Pride and Hope" |
Joseph F. Menna |
 Northern Mariana Islands |
November 30, 2009 (March 24, 1976) |
37,600,000 | 35,200,000 | 72,800,000 | |
Near the shore stand a large limestone latte, a canoe of the indigenous Carolinians, two white fairy terns, and a mwar (head lei). | Phebe Hemphill |
See also
In Spanish: Cuartos de dólar del Distrito de Columbia y de los Territorios de los Estados Unidos para niños
