CVC & Collectables presents the 2008-S Alaska State Quarter Gem Proof, a sharp, mirror-finished San Francisco issue showcasing Alaska’s iconic grizzly bear and salmon under “The Great Land” motto.
Coin Highlights
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Maker: United States Mint – San Francisco (“S” mintmark)
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Date: 2008
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Catalog: KM# 424 (Alaska, 50 State Quarters)
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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: 24.3 mm; reeded edge
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Mintage (Clad Proof): 2,078,112 pieces
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Obverse: George Washington by John Flanagan (mod. William Cousins), with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, QUARTER DOLLAR, and S mintmark.
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Reverse: Grizzly bear emerging from a stream clutching a salmon, with waterfall, spruce, North Star, and inscriptions ALASKA, 1959, THE GREAT LAND, E PLURIBUS UNUM.
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Type: 50 State Quarters series – Alaska, 49th coin in the program; special proof-only collector issue.
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Finish / Grade: Gem Proof, with frosted devices and deep mirrored fields for strong cameo contrast (exact coin as described in listing).
Historical Significance
Released in 2008, the Alaska quarter honors the 49th state, admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959. The dramatic reverse design symbolizes Alaska’s vast wilderness and abundant wildlife: the powerful grizzly represents strength, while the salmon underscores the rich natural resources that sustain both people and animals in “The Great Land.”
Collectibility
As a low-mintage clad proof from the final year of the 50 State Quarters program, the 2008-S Alaska Gem Proof is a popular choice for collectors building high-end State Quarter sets or upgrading from circulation strikes. Its bold bear-and-salmon motif really comes alive in proof format, with frosted devices and deep mirrors, and it pairs nicely with the scarcer 90% silver proof version for a complete Alaska proof duo.
