Numismatic

2005-S West Virginia State Quarter Gem Proof (Silver)

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In 2005, the United States Mint celebrated the natural beauty of West Virginia with a special quarter dollar release. Struck in 90 percent silver at the San Francisco Mint, this coin features a highly polished proof finish that highlights the intricate details of its design. The San Francisco origin is marked by the small S mint mark on the obverse side. The obverse of the quarter displays the familiar left-facing profile of George Washington, originally designed by John Flanagan and later modified by William Cousins. Surrounding the portrait are the inscriptions LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, along with the QUARTER DOLLAR denomination. On the reverse, designed by John Mercanti, the coin captures a striking landscape of the Mountain State. The scene depicts the massive New River Gorge Bridge spanning the deep river valley below. Above this scenic vista, the inscription WEST VIRGINIA and the date 1863 mark the state's entry into the Union, while the year 2005 and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM anchor the bottom of the design.