Numismatic

2012-S ATB Quarter Chaco Culture Nat Historical Proof (Silver)

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This striking silver coin, minted in San Francisco, belongs to the celebrated America the Beautiful series. Struck in a proof finish, it contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver and showcases a brilliant contrast between frosted details and mirror-like fields. The obverse displays the familiar portrait of George Washington, originally created by John Flanagan, surrounded by the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "QUARTER DOLLAR." The reverse of the coin transports observers to the American Southwest, depicting a pair of elevated ceremonial kivas from the Chetro Ketl Complex. This ancient site, located in Chaco Canyon, served as the primary cultural hub for the ancestral Pueblo peoples from 850 to 1150 A.D. Recognized for its immense historical and archaeological significance, the area was designated as a protected national site on March 11, 1907. The reverse design is completed with the inscriptions "CHACO CULTURE," "NEW MEXICO," "2012," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."