1/4 Dollar 'Washington Quarter' Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota - Silver Proof

Historical Context: The 2018 Voyageurs National Park quarter is a key issue within the United States Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters Program (2010-2021). This series honored 56 national parks and sites, with five unique designs released annually. Representing Minnesota, the Voyageurs quarter was the fourth design issued in 2018. Its silver proof composition designates it a premium collector's item, minted for numismatists, reflecting the program's popularity and enduring appeal of U.S. commemorative coinage.

Artistry: The coin’s obverse retains John Flanagan's iconic 1932 portrait of George Washington, a neoclassical design enduring for decades. The reverse, designed by Michael Gaudioso and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, presents a captivating scene from Voyageurs National Park. It features a common loon, Minnesota’s state bird, gracefully swimming amidst trees and a rocky shoreline. This design evokes the park's distinctive waterways and pristine wilderness, effectively capturing its natural beauty and ecological significance.

Technical/Grading: As a silver proof striking, this coin exhibits exceptional technical qualities. It features deeply mirrored fields and heavily frosted devices, creating a striking cameo effect characteristic of proof coinage. Key high points to inspect for full detail and strike quality include Washington’s hair on the obverse, and on the reverse, the loon's fine feathers, the water's texture, and the intricate details of the rocky shoreline. Absence of hairlines or contact marks is paramount for achieving the highest proof grades.