Numismatic

2017-P ATB Quarter Frederick Douglas National Historic Site BU

---

Issued in 2017 as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, this twenty-five cent coin highlights the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the reverse side of the coin captures the essence of the famous abolitionist's intellectual legacy. He is shown seated at a writing desk, while Cedar Hill, the Washington D.C. residence he bought in 1877, stands in the background. Born into slavery in 1818, Douglass successfully escaped captivity during his teenage years. He went on to become an influential champion of the abolitionist movement, writing books that campaigned for human freedom and actively opposing racial segregation throughout his life until his passing in 1895. The reverse of the coin bears his name alongside the inscriptions "District of Columbia" and "E Pluribus Unum." The obverse displays the familiar profile of Liberty, accompanied by the traditional inscriptions "United States of America," "Quarter Dollar," "In God We Trust," and "Liberty." A "P" mintmark is also present, indicating its origin from the Philadelphia minting facility.