Final designs for the 2009 six-coin quarter program honoring the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories were released by the U.S. Mint Dec. 15.
The first in the sequence for the District of Columbia depicts the musician Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington on the reverse. It is slated for release in late January.
Approximately two months later the sequence will continue with Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The standard Washington design will appear on the obverse.
The D.C. quarter reverse was designed by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.
For Puerto Rico, Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna designed a sentry box in Old San Juan overlooking the sea with a hibiscus, Puerto Rico’s official flower. “Isla del Encanto” (Island of Enchantment) is also inscribed on the reverse.
Guam’s quarter is the work of Mint AIP Associate Designer David Westwood and Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz. It includes an outline of the island, a latte stone – once used as building support in ancient Chamorro society – and a flying proa (a native boat), the Mint said.
American Samoa’s design has an ava bowl, whisk and staff that are used in special Samoan ceremonies, according to the Mint. SAMOA MUAMUA LE ATUA (Samoa, God is First), the official motto of American Samoa, is inscribed on the reverse. It is the work of Mint AIP Master Designer Stephen Clark as sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers.
The three major islands that comprise the U.S. Virgin Islands are shown on this quarter with a Banana Quit (the official bird), a Yellow Cedar (the official flower) and a Tyre Palm, a native tree. “United in Pride and Hope,” the territory’s official motto, is inscribed. Menna is the creator of this design.
A latte stone on an island is a major device on the Northern Marianas quarter with a canoe under sail in the lagoon. Two white Fairy Terns (native birds) are depicted in flight together overhead with a Carolinian Mwar (head lei) comprised of plumeria, langilang (ylang ylang), angagha (peacock flower) and teibwo (pacific basil), framing the design. Designed by Mint AIP Master Designer Richard Masters it was sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.
More information may be found at www.usmint.gov.
