West Virginia State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on October 14, 2005 as the thirty-fifth coin in the State Quarter series. West Virginia’s original Statehood date was June 20, 1863.
The reverse design of the West Virginia Quarter features the New River and the New River Gorge Bridge. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “New River Gorge.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by John Mercanti.
Prior to becoming a state, West Virginia was a part of Virginia. The state was admitted into the union on the condition that they abolish slavery. The New River Gorge Bridge is 3,030 feet in length. This makes it the world’s largest steel span. The bridge is also the second highest in the United States. The New River is part of the National Park System as the New River Gorge National River.
More than 1,800 designs concepts were collected from around the State. Students from the Governor’s School for the Arts narrowed the entries down to five finalists. The governor selected the New River Gorge design. The US Treasury Department gave final approval of the design. Other finalist designs for the West Virginia Quarter had included the Appalachians, Bridge Day, river rafters, and Mother’s Day.
The Philadelphia mint produced 365,400,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 356,200,000 coins. The West Virginia State Quarter had the highest 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.
West Virginia Quarter Mintages
- 2005-P West Virginia Quarter: 365,400,000
- 2005-D West Virginia Quarter: 356,200,000
- 2005-S Proof West Virginia Quarter: 3,262,960
- 2005-S Silver Proof West Virginia Quarter: 1,678,649
West Virginia Quarter Specification
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), John Mercanti (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
