Iowa State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on August 30, 2004 as the twenty-ninth coin in the State Quarter series. Iowa’s original Statehood date was December 28, 1846.
The reverse design of the Iowa Quarter features a one room schoolhouse. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Foundation in Education.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by John Mercanti after a Grant Wood painting.
The design is based on a painting by Grant Wood titled “Arbor Day.” Beside the one room schoolhouse, the teacher and students are planting a tree. The reverse displays the state’s commitment to education and agriculture.
The sixteen member Iowa Quarter Commission reviewed nearly 2,000 design submissions from the state’s residents. Five candidate themes were sent to the Untied States Mint. The governor made the final design selection “Foundation in Education.” Other designs considered included “American Gothic”, “Feeding the World”, “Sullivan Brothers”, and “Beautiful Land”.
The Philadelphia mint produced 213,800,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 251,400,000 coins. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Iowa Quarter Mintages
- 2004-P Iowa Quarter: 213,800,000
- 2004-D Iowa Quarter: 251,400,000
- 2004-S Proof Iowa Quarter: 2,740,684
- 2004-S Silver Proof Iowa Quarter: 1,769,786
Iowa Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), John Mercanti after Grant Wood (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
