Louisiana State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on May 20, 2002 as the eighteenth coin in the State Quarter series. Louisiana’s original Statehood date was April 30, 1812.
The reverse design features the Louisiana Purchase and other symbols of the state. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Louisiana Purchase.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by John Mercanti.
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from the French for a sum of $15 million in 1803. This purchase added thirteen new states to the Union. The trumpet is pictured to symbolize the Louisiana’s contribution to jazz, which was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. The state bird, the pelican, is also pictured.
After soliciting designs from the residents of the state, five were sent to the US Mint for approval. The final design was chosen by the governor. Over 1,000 submissions were provided for design concepts, with the majority coming from students.
The Philadelphia mint produced 362,000,000 Louisiana State Quarters. The Denver mint produced 402,204,000. This marked the highest 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.
Louisiana Quarter Mintages
- 2002-P Louisiana Quarter: 362,000,000
- 2002-D Louisiana Quarter: 402,204,000
- 2002-S Proof Louisiana Quarter: 3,084,245
- 2002-S Silver Proof Louisiana Quarter: 892,229
Louisiana Quarter Specifications
- 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
