D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter Values & Mintages
In 2009 six quarters honored the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands, extending the 50 State Quarters program.
- Years
- 2009
- Issues listed
- 24
- Lowest mintage
- 35.2M
- Diameter
- 24.26 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip.
Mintages were lower than most state quarters and proofs were issued in both clad and 90% silver.
Designer: Various.
Key dates: lowest mintages
See all 24 →All 6 designs
Every D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter by year and mint
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Composition by year
| Years | Metal | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel | 5.67 g | – |
Mint mark location
2009: On the obverse, to the right of Washington's ribbon (P, D or S).
Grading tips
Modern quarters are graded on luster and marks. Proofs are judged on cameo contrast.
The six designs and their mottos
Congress added the program in late 2007 so that places left out of the 50 State Quarters could have their own coins. The District of Columbia quarter shows Duke Ellington seated at a piano with the motto JUSTICE FOR ALL. Puerto Rico's shows a sentry box from the old city fortifications with a hibiscus and ISLA DEL ENCANTO. Guam's shows the island's outline, a sailing canoe and a latte stone with GUAHAN I TANO' MANCHAMORRO.
American Samoa's quarter features an ava bowl, whisk and staff with a coconut palm and the motto SAMOA MUAMUA LE ATUA. The US Virgin Islands quarter shows the islands with a bananaquit bird, a yellow cedar flower and a tyre palm, along with UNITED IN PRIDE AND HOPE. The Northern Mariana Islands design shows a latte stone, a canoe, two fairy terns and a flower garland.
Collecting the set
Each design comes from Philadelphia and Denver for circulation, with clad and silver proofs from San Francisco. The territory quarters circulated less than state quarters, so many people never saw them in change. Search rolls carefully, or buy Mint sets to get matched uncirculated coins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter?
By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 2009-P Northern Mariana Islands Quarter with 35,200,000 struck, followed by the 2009-D Northern Mariana Islands Quarter (37,600,000). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.
Are D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarters silver?
2009: Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel. Some special collector versions were also struck in silver. They are listed separately below.
Where is the mint mark on a D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter?
2009: On the obverse, to the right of Washington's ribbon (P, D or S).
How many D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarters were made?
About 636,000,000 for circulation across 12 date and mint combinations, from 88,800,000 for the 2009-D District of Columbia Quarter down to 35,200,000 for the 2009-P Northern Mariana Islands Quarter.
Who designed the D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter?
Various.
Who is on the D.C. quarter?
The District of Columbia quarter shows jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington seated at a piano.
Other quarters
Draped Bust Quarter
1796–1807 · 5 issues
Capped Bust Quarter
1815–1838 · 34 issues
Seated Liberty Quarter
1838–1891 · 163 issues
Barber Quarter
1892–1916 · 98 issues
Standing Liberty Quarter
1916–1930 · 37 issues
Washington Quarter
1932–1998 · 205 issues
Bicentennial Quarter
1976 · 7 issues
America the Beautiful Quarter
2010–2021 · 379 issues
Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter
2021 · 4 issues
50 State Quarter
1999–2008 · 200 issues
American Women Quarter
2022–present · 55 issues
Mintages from Wikipedia's US Mint-sourced tables (CC BY-SA 4.0). Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.