Missouri State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on August 4, 2003 as the twenty-fourth coin in the State Quarter series. Missouri’s original Statehood date was August 10, 1821.
The reverse design features Lewis and Clark’s return to St. Louis. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” “Corps of Discovery,” and the years “1804” and “2004.” The coin’s reverse was designed by Paul Jackson and engraved by Alfred Maletsky.
Lewis and Clark are returning to St. Louis via the Mississippi River after their journey through the uncharted Louisiana Territory. They began the journey in 1804 and returned in 1806. The reverse design also features the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial or “Gateway Arch” in the background.
The Missouri Commemorative Design Committee narrowed over 3,000 concept designs to twelve finalists. The public voted on five concepts to send to the United States Mint. A final online vote by Missouri residents determined the “Corps of Discovery 1804-2004” as the winner. Other concepts considered but not chosen include the Pony Express, the westward expansion, and a riverboat.
The Philadelphia mint produced 225,000,000 Missouri Quarters and the Denver mint produced 228,200,000 coins. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Missouri Quarter Mintages
- 2003-P Missouri Quarter: 225,000,000
- 2003-D Missouri Quarter: 228,200,000
- 2003-S Proof Missouri Quarter: 3,408,516
- 2003-S Silver Proof Missouri Quarter: 1,125,755
Missouri Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Paul Jackson (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
