CVC & Collectables presents the first silver issue of the 50 State Quarters Program: the 1999-S Delaware State Quarter in brilliant Gem Proof 90% silver, featuring Caesar Rodney’s historic midnight ride and mirrorlike fields with frosted devices.
Coin Highlights
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Country: United States
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Denomination: 25 Cents (Washington Quarter)
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Year: 1999
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Mint & Mintmark: San Francisco (S)
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Series: 50 State Quarters – first state issue (Delaware)
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Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper (silver proof alloy)
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Weight: 6.25 g
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Actual Silver Weight (ASW): 0.1808 troy oz (same as all 90% silver Washington quarters)
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Diameter: 24.3 mm; Edge: Reeded
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Strike: Gem Proof (cameo contrast, from 90% silver proof sets)
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Mintage (silver proof only): 804,565 – far lower than the clad proof and circulation issues
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Obverse: George Washington by John Flanagan, updated by William Cousins; legends repositioned for the State Quarters design
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Reverse: Caesar Rodney on horseback, commemorating his 1776 ride to Philadelphia to cast the decisive vote for independence; inscriptions include “Delaware” and “The First State”
Historical Significance
Issued in 1999 as the very first coin of the 50 State Quarters Program, the Delaware design honors “The First State” to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The reverse shows Caesar Rodney’s legendary overnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia to break a deadlock in the Continental Congress and secure Delaware’s vote for independence, a pivotal moment in the push toward the Declaration of Independence.
Collectibility
The 1999-S Delaware silver proof quarter is a key coin for State Quarter collectors: it is both the inaugural state design and struck in 90% silver with a relatively low silver-proof mintage under one million pieces. Available only in the U.S. Mint’s 1999 Silver Proof Sets, examples in Gem Proof condition offer strong cameo contrast and attractive eye appeal, making this issue a natural “must-have” for anyone building a complete run of silver State Quarters or a focused Delaware/early-program type set.
