Owner Comments:
10 Dec 09
Coin #004 in the set.
THE STORY
The second clad coin added to the set.
THE COIN
Mintage Availability
Clad Proof Sets: 1,405,674
Clad Quarter Proof Sets: 672,438
Total Clad Proof Population: 2,078,112
55.4% of all NCG graded Arizona Clad Proof Quarters are PF70.
The obverse of the coin was designed by John Flanagan and subsequently modified by William Cousins. The reverse was designed by Joel Iskowitz and engraved by Joeseph Menna.
Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel (clad)
Diameter: 24.26 mm
Weight: 5.67 gms
Thickness: 1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Arizona was the 48th State Quarter issued by the U.S. Government on June 02, 2008. The reverse side of the quarter has the Grand Canyon flanked by the rising sun as its predominant feature. In the foreground is a small display of desert flora with a Saguaro Cactus just to the ride side. On the top of the reverse side of the quarter is Arizona 1912, the year the state was admitted into the Union. Separating the Grand Canyon and the desert scene is a banner with Arizona’s nickname, the “Grand Canyon State”.
There were four other versions of the reverse design that made it to the final stages of selection. One had a majestic view of the Grand Canyon with the sun rising on the horizon with the motto “Grand Canyon State”, the second had the Grand Canyon in the distant background with a dessert scene in the foreground with cacti growing and a pre dominant Saguaro Cactus to the right of center of the scene and again the motto “Grand Canyon State”, the third design was a scene depicting John Wesley Powell’s exploration of the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with the motto “Powell’s Grand Canyon Expedition” and the last finalist had two kneeling Navajo code breakers in military uniforms with the motto “Navajo Code Talkers” in tribute to the Navajo contribution in WWII.