2009 American Samoa Quarter (BUY)
The American Samoa Quarter will be released on July 27, 2009. This will be the fourth release of the 2009 DC & US Territories Quarter Program. This program is a follow up to the popular 50 State Quarters Program, to release six additional quarters for U.S. jurisdictions not classified as states.
The reverse design features items used in special Samoan ceremonies against a background image of the coastline. The items include the ava bowl and the whisk and staff. The ava bowl is used to make a ceremonial drink during important events and is considered an important tradition. The whisk and staff represent the Samoan orator who delivers speeches during important events. The reverse was designed by Stephen Clark and sculpted by Charles Vickers.
The inscriptions read "American Samoa," "Samoa Muamua Le Atua" (translated: "Samoa, God is First"), "E Pluribus Unum," and the date.
Two other finalist designs were proposed, but not selected. The first featured a man holding a dried coconut cup used during the ava ceremony. Surrounding his image are coconut leaves, breadfruit tree leaves, and taro leaves. The second proposed design portrays a collection of symbols representative of American Samoa. This includes a guesthouse, headdress and bowl.
Mintages for the American Samoa Quarter are to be determined. Coins will be minted for circulation by the Philadelphia and Denver Mints and minted in proof condition for collectors by the San Francisco Mint.
Coin Specifications:
- Mintage: TBD
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Stephen Clark (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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