Ohio State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on March 11, 2002 as the seventeenth coin in the State Quarter series. Ohio’s original Statehood date was March 1, 1803.
The reverse design honors the state’s place in the history of aviation. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by Donna Weaver.
Famous figures from aviation who were born in Ohio include Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon; John Glen, the first American in space; and Orville Wright, of the first powered, heavier than air human flight. The quarter design includes the image of an astronaut, an early aircraft, and an outline of the state.
Popular vote was used to determine the top four design concepts. These were forwarded to the mint for approval. The final design was selected by the governor. More than 7,000 designs were initially submitted and over 40,000 residents took part in the design voting. The four finalist design concepts had also included state symbols, aviation and aerospace, and the spirit of invention.
The Philadelphia mint produced 217,200,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 414,832,000 coins. This was the lowest combined mintage for the 2002 State Quarters. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Ohio Quarter Mintages
- 2002-P Ohio Quarter: 217,200,000
- 2002-D Ohio Quarter: 414,832,000
- 2002-S Proof Ohio Quarter: 3,084,245
- 2002-S Silver Proof Ohio Quarter: 892,229
Ohio Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Donna Weaver (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
