Coin Highlights
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Maker: United States Mint – Philadelphia (“P” mintmark)
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Date: 2003
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Program: 50 State Quarters – Arkansas, 25th coin in the series and 5th (final) release of 2003
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Metal: Copper–nickel clad copper (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel)
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Weight: 5.67 g
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Diameter / Edge: 24.26 mm; 1.75 mm thick; reeded edge
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Mintage (P business strike): 228,000,000 coins
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Obverse: George Washington portrait by John Flanagan (modified by William Cousins), with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, QUARTER DOLLAR, and P mintmark.
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Reverse: Large diamond representing Crater of Diamonds State Park, flanked by rice stalks at left and a mallard duck flying over a lake with trees in the background; inscriptions ARKANSAS, 1836, 2003, and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
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Designers: Reverse design by Dortha Scott; engraved by John Mercanti.
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Grade: As described in the listing title; please see photos for the exact coin offered.
Historical Significance
Released on October 20, 2003, the Arkansas quarter honors the 25th state, admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, and marks the halfway point of the 50 State Quarters program. The reverse showcases key symbols of “The Natural State”: the diamond recalls Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only publicly accessible diamond mine where visitors can keep what they find; the rice stalks reference Arkansas’s position as a leading U.S. rice producer; and the mallard and lake speak to the state’s clear waters, abundant natural lakes, and famous waterfowl hunting.
The design grew out of a statewide competition that drew thousands of entries from Arkansans, reflecting broad public pride in the state’s natural resources and outdoor heritage.
Collectibility
With a P-mint mintage of 228 million, the 2003-P Arkansas State Quarter is widely available but remains a required issue for any complete 50 State Quarters run. Collectors prefer lustrous Uncirculated examples showing crisp facets on the diamond, sharp rice-grain detail, and clean lines in the mallard and treeline, since the busy reverse can lose definition on circulated pieces.
The Arkansas design is also a favorite target for error and variety hunters, who search rolls and bags for strong die cracks, filled letters, off-center strikes, and other striking anomalies that bring premiums when certified, especially in higher Mint State grades.
