Tennessee State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on January 2, 2002 as the sixteenth coin in the State Quarter series. Tennessee’s original Statehood date was June 1, 1796.
The reverse design celebrates the state’s musical heritage. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, and “E Pluribus Unum.” A banner reads “Musical Heritage.” The coin’s reverse was designed by Shawn Stookey and engraved by Donna Weaver.
Pictured are a collection of instruments including the fiddle, the trumpet, and the guitar. Each represents a different type of music– specifically Appalachian music, the blues, and country music. The country music capital of the world is Nashville, Tennessee.
A statewide design contest generated almost 1,000 submissions. A commission created by the governor narrowed the submissions to three finalists which were sent to the US Mint for approval. The final design was selected by the governor.
The Philadelphia mint produced 361,600,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 286,468,000 coins. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Tennessee Quarter Mintages
- 2002-P Tennessee Quarter: 361,600,000
- 2002-D Tennessee Quarter: 286,468,000
- 2002-S Proof Tennessee Quarter: 3,084,245
- 2002-S Silver Proof Tennessee Quarter: 892,229
Tennessee Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Shawn Stookey (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
