Illinois State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on January 2, 2003 as the twenty-first coin in the State Quarter series. Illinois’s original Statehood date was December 3, 1818.
The reverse design features a young Abraham Lincoln before an outline of the state. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” “Land of Lincoln,” and “21st State Century.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by Donna Weaver.
Abraham Lincoln lived and practiced law in Springfield, Illinois before becoming President. A farm scene and the Chicago skyline are on either side of the outline of the state. Twenty-one stars signify Illinois as the twenty-first state.
A fourteen member committee reviewed approximately 6,000 designs and forwarded three concepts to the United States Mint. The governor selected the final design “Land of Lincoln-21st State/Century.” Other finalist designs had included state symbols, Illinois history, and agriculture and industry.
The Philadelphia mint produced 225,800,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 237,400,000 coins. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Illinois Quarter Mintages
- 2003-P Illinois Quarter: 225,800,000
- 2003-D Illinois Quarter: 237,400,000
- 2003-S Proof Illinois Quarter: 3,408,516
- 2003-S Silver Proof Illinois Quarter: 1,125,755
Illinois Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Donna Weaver (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
