Minnesota State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on April 4, 2005 as the thirty-second coin in the State Quarter series. Minnesota’s original Statehood date was May 11, 1858.
The reverse design of the Minnesota Quarter features two people fishing on a lake. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Land of 10,000 Lakes” imposed on an outline of the state. The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by Charles Vickers.
The state of Minnesota contains over 15,000 lakes. The quarter depicts one of the lakes lined with Norway Pine Trees. Two people are fishing on the lake and a loon is in the foreground on the water. A textured outline of the state contains the state nickname.
The Minnesota governor announced the selection of the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” design. It was recommended to him by the Minnesota State Quarter Commission. The US Treasury Department later gave final approval of the design. Other designs considered for the Minnesota Quarter included state symbols, a snowflake, loon and plow, and a lake recreation theme.
The Philadelphia mint produced 239,600,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 248,400,000 coins. The Minnesota State Quarter had the lowest mintage of all of the 2005 Quarters. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Minnesota Quarter Mintages
- 2005-P Minnesota Quarter: 239,600,000
- 2005-D Minnesota Quarter: 248,400,000
- 2005-S Proof Minnesota Quarter: 3,262,960
- 2005-S Silver Proof Minnesota Quarter: 1,678,649
Minnesota Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Charles Vickers (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
