Commemorative Quarter
for Arkansas (AR)

The Commemorative State Quarter for Arkansas

Coin Issued: October 20, 2003 - the 5th coin released in 2003

Statehood: June 15, 1836 - the 25th State

Inscription: "Arkansas 1836"

Description: A Diamond is located above a lake, with a forest in the background. To the left are stalks of rice and on the right is a Mallard duck.

Arkansas has the oldest diamond mine in the United States and it is the only one open to the public. Visitors to the Crater of Diamonds State Park, which is near Murfreesboro, can search for diamonds and other gems.

Arkansas is the leading producer of Rice in the United States.

At the bottom of the coin is the issue date (2003) and the motto "E Pluribus Unum". The motto is Latin for "Out of Many, One", recognizing that out of the many colonies (or states) emerged a single nation.

Engravers: The Reverse design (the tail or State-side of the Quarter) was created by John Mercanti (search the coin for the engraver's initials: 'jm').

The original Observe design (the front or Washington-side of the Quarter) was created by John Flanagan and first appeared in 1932. For the 50 State Quarters series, Flanagan's design was modified by William Cousins: the portrait of Washington was slightly reduced to accomodate the moving of the legends from the Reverse to the Obverse.

Reverse Inscriptions for the Arkansas Quarter:

Arkansas

1836

2003

E. Pluribus Unum

Obverse Inscriptions:

United States of America

Liberty

In God We Trust

Quarter Dollar

Coin Specifications:

Weight:	0.182 troy ounce [5.670 g]
Diameter:	0.955 in [24.26 mm]
Thickness:	0.069 in [1.75 mm]
Edge:	Reeded with 119 reeds.
Composition:	Cupro-Nickel Clad (91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel)

Number of Arkansas Quarters Minted:

Denver (D):	229,800,000
Philadelphia (P):	228,000,000

Total:	457,800,000

America-the-Beautiful Quarter Series

The quarter for Hot Springs National Park (located at Hot Springs, AR) was issued in 2010 and the first coin (of 56) in the America-the-Beautiful Quarter series.

The following quarters were issued in 2010: Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas), Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming), Yosemite National Park (California), Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) & the Mount Hood National Forest (Oregon).