1/4 Dollar 'Washington Quarter' Yosemite, California

Issuer United States
Year 2010
Type Commemorative circulation coin
Value 1/4 Dollar = 25 Cents (1/4 USD)
Currency Dollar (1785-date)
Composition Copper-nickel clad copper
Weight 5.67 g
Diameter 24.26 mm
Thickness 1.75 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Engraver(s) Obverse: William Cousins
Reverse: Joseph Menna, Phebe Hemphill
In circulation to
Reference(s) KM#471, Schön#466
Obverse description Bust of George Washington, facing left
Obverse script Latin
Obverse lettering UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY S JF WC QUARTER DOLLAR
Reverse description View on the iconic El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, which rises more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor and is the largest monolith of granite in the world.
Reverse script Latin
Reverse lettering YOSEMITE PH JFM CALIFORNIA 2010 E PLURIBUS UNUM
Edge Reeded
Mint D
United States Mint of Denver,United States (1906-date)
P
United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States (1792-date)
S
United States Mint of San Francisco, United States (1854-date)
Mintage 2010 D - - 34 800 000
2010 D - (fr) Satin Finish - 583 897
2010 P - - 35 200 000
2010 P - (fr) Satin Finish - 583 897
2010 S - Proof - 1 376 671
Numisquare ID 7158998660
Additional information

Historical Context: The 2010 Yosemite National Park quarter is a significant issue within the United States Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters Program, launched in 2010. This initiative honored fifty-six national parks and sites across the U.S. and its territories. The Yosemite quarter, representing California, was the second coin released in 2010, celebrating the natural grandeur and ecological importance of one of America's most iconic national parks, retaining George Washington's portrait on its obverse.

Artistry: The obverse retains John Flanagan's classic neoclassical bust of George Washington, originally from 1932. The reverse showcases a distinct naturalistic and representational style. Designed by Don Everhart and sculpted by Joseph Menna, it masterfully depicts El Capitan, the massive granite monolith dominating Yosemite Valley. Above this iconic feature, a California condor soars, symbolizing the park's diverse wildlife and conservation. The composition effectively conveys the scale and majesty of Yosemite's landscape, typical of modern commemorative coinage.

Technical/Grading: Struck on a copper-nickel clad copper planchet, this coin typically exhibits a strong strike. Key high-points for grading include Washington's hair and ear on the obverse. On the reverse, collectors should examine the clarity of the condor's feathers, the sharpness of El Capitan's rock formations, particularly its summit, and the distinct separation of trees at its base. Well-struck examples will show crisp lettering and minimal bag marks, common on mass-produced coinage.

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