The Puerto Rico quarter was issued in 2009 under the U.S. Mint District of Colombia and United States Territories Quarters Program, a continuation of the 50 State Quarters Program. Six quarters released under the program to celebrate the District of Colombia and five U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. The quarters used the same obverse as the previous state quarters, which depicted George Washington. The reverse of each issue featured a unique design that represented the history and culture of each territory or district. In the case of Puerto Rico, the design was chosen to reflect the island’s rich heritage and natural beauty.
The 2009 Puerto Rico Quarter
The 2009 Puerto Rico quarter release was celebrated, particularly in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where special events were held to commemorate its debut. The official launch was held on April 2 at La Arcadia in Paseo La Princessa, San Juan, attended by Mint staff and local government officials. Then-Mint Director Ed Moy, Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño, and First Lady Lucé Vela were in attendance. Children under 18 were given free quarters and adults could buy rolls of the new quarter for face value.
Puerto Rico Quarter Design
The reverse of the 2009 Puerto Rico quarter depicts a sentry box overlooking the sea in the Castillo San Felipe del Morrow in Old San Juan. The open sea is dotted with clouds and takes up the center of the field. To its right is the national flower, the Flor de Maga, although it is often mistaken for a hibiscus. Above the flower is an inscription reading Isla del Encanto, or Island of Enchantment, which is notable for being the first U.S. quarter to include a Spanish inscription.
Is There a Gold Puerto Rico Quarter?
While there is no official U.S. Mint-issued gold Puerto Rico quarter, you may come across gold-plated versions of this coin. These are privately altered after leaving the U.S. Mint and are neither rare nor especially valuable. The process of gold-plating involves applying a thin layer of gold to a standard coin, which may give it a unique appearance but does not increase its value.
The gold-plated quarter does not have precious metal content like the 2009 Puerto Rico silver proof issue, which has just over 5.6 grams of fine silver. Since it is highly malleable, the amount of gold required to plate a quarter is often a fraction of one gram, a negligible amount with a melt value around $1. Most collectors prefer original, unaltered coins in either circulated or uncirculated condition. Gold-plated coins are typically considered novelty items and may be worth less than their face value.
The U.S. Territories Quarters Program
The U.S. Territories Quarter Program followed the popular 50 State Quarters Program, which was released from 1999 through 2008. It was created to honor places that are integral to the nation but not officially states, and it was authorized in 2007 under law by H.R. 392. Four unsuccessful bills had previously been introduced to extend the 50 State Quarters Program to include the District of Colombia and Puerto Rico, but none had passed. These bills had been introduced continually in the 106th, 107th, 108th, and 109th U.S. Congressional sessions. In the 110th Congressional session, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., introduced House Resolution 392, which passed on January 23, 2007.
The following December, Representative José Serrano of New York added the language of H.R. 392 to the Omnibus Spending Bill, which passed. The bill was sent to the Senate and passed on September 6, 2008, after which President George W. Bush signed it on December 26.
The program’s first quarters were released early in 2009, starting with the District of Colombia and then the Puerto Rico issue. By November 30, 2009, all six quarters had been issued. The following year saw the rollout of the America the Beautiful quarter series, which ran from 2010 until 2021.
What Territories did the Program Feature?
In addition to the District of Colombia quarter, the United States Territories Quarter Program depicted five U.S. territories:
- Puerto Rico
- The U.S. Virgin Islands
- Guam
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
The quarters from the District of Colombia and United States Territories were also issued in a 2009 D.C. and Territories proof set, containing all six quarters.
