2008 Alaska Quarter (BUY)
2008-S Proof Alaska Quarter (BUY)
Alaska State Quarters were released on August 25, 2008 as the forty-ninth coin in the State Quarter series. Alaska’s original Statehood date was January 3, 1959.
The reverse design features a grizzly bear with salmon. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “The Great Land.” The coin’s reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and engraved by Charles Vickers.
The grizzly bear and salmon symbolize the natural beauty and wildlife which are abundant in the vast state of Alaska. More than 98% of the grizzly bear population of the United States resides in Alaska. The state was purchased from Russia in 1867 for the sum of $7.2 million. Alaska’s abundant gold and oil resources made the purchase an incredible investment!
The governor appointed an eleven member Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission to solicit and review design concepts. Four were chosen to send to the United States Mint for artistic renderings. The governor selected the grizzly bear design, which was later officially approved by the Department of the Treasury.
The Philadelphia mint produced 251,800,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 254,000,000 coins.
Coin Specifications:
- Mintage:251,800,000 Philadelphia, 254,000,000 Denver
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Susan Gamble (reverse)
- Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel (clad), 90% silver, 10% copper (silver proof)
- Diameter: 24.26 mm
- Weight: 5.67 grams
- Thickness: 1.75 mm
- Edge: Reeded
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