CVC & Collectables presents the 2000-S New Hampshire State Quarter Gem Proof, a San Francisco–struck clad proof from the 50 State Quarters Program, featuring the Old Man of the Mountain and the bold state motto “Live Free or Die” in frosted relief over deeply mirrored fields.
Coin Highlights
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Country: United States
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Denomination: 25 Cents (Washington Quarter)
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Year: 2000
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Mint & Mintmark: San Francisco (S) – clad proof issue
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Series: 50 State Quarters – New Hampshire (9th overall issue; 4th design of 2000; released August 7, 2000)
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Composition: Copper-nickel clad, 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (no silver content)
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Weight: 5.67 g
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Diameter: 24.26–24.3 mm; Edge: Reeded
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Mintage (2000-S clad proof): 4,020,172 – one of the highest proof mintages of the series
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Obverse: George Washington by John Flanagan, modified by William Cousins; legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, QUARTER DOLLAR
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Reverse: Old Man of the Mountain granite profile with nine stars and inscriptions “LIVE FREE OR DIE” and “OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN,” symbolizing New Hampshire’s rugged identity and order of statehood
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Strike: Gem Proof – sharp detail with strong cameo contrast, issued only in U.S. Mint clad proof sets
Historical Significance
The New Hampshire State Quarter pays tribute to the Old Man of the Mountain, a natural granite profile on Cannon Mountain that served as a powerful state emblem before its collapse in May 2003. Paired with the Revolutionary-era motto “Live Free or Die” and nine stars for New Hampshire’s position as the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, the design captures both the state’s landscape and its fiercely independent spirit.
Because the formation no longer exists in nature, the 2000 New Hampshire quarter has taken on added meaning as a miniature monument to a vanished landmark, preserving the Old Man’s distinctive profile for collectors and residents alike.
Collectibility
The 2000-S New Hampshire Gem Proof (clad) is the premium non-silver version of this design, struck in limited numbers compared with the massive Philadelphia and Denver circulation issues. With a mintage of 4,020,172 proofs, it’s plentiful enough for affordable collecting yet scarce beside the hundreds of millions of business strikes.
Collectors often assemble a four-coin New Hampshire set—2000-P, 2000-D, 2000-S clad Gem Proof, and 2000-S silver Gem Proof—with this coin serving as the high-eye-appeal proof representative of the Old Man of the Mountain and “Live Free or Die” motif. Deep-cameo examples with spotless mirrors are especially desirable for modern proof and State Quarter type sets.
