Pennsylvania State Quarter

Year of issue: 1999

The Pennsylvania State Quarter is the second coin in the 50 State Quarters Program. The U.S. Mint released it on March 8, 1999 as the second quarter of the year. The quarter features the statue, Commonwealth. The Commonwealth statue has been on top of the state’s capitol dome since May 25, 1905. Her right arm is extended in mercy; her left arm holds a ribbon mace to symbolize justice. The design also includes a keystone. During the Civil War, Pennsylvania earned its nickname as the “Keystone State.” Its location was seen as “key” in the wall against attack from the south. The Battle of Gettysburg, a critical turning point in the war, took place in the southeast corner of Pennsylvania.

The obverse (heads) design shows the familiar portrait of George Washington used on the quarter since 1932. But the inscriptions previously used on the reverse – "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "QUARTER DOLLAR", "LIBERTY", and "IN GOD WE TRUST" – all appear on the obverse in order to accommodate the state designs.