2009-P Puerto Rico Quarter
CVC & Collectables presents the 2009-P Puerto Rico Quarter, a Philadelphia-mint DC & U.S. Territories issue featuring the famous Old San Juan sentry box overlooking the sea, paired with Puerto Rico’s flor de maga and the motto “Isla del Encanto.”
Coin Highlights
-
Maker: United States Mint – Philadelphia (“P” mintmark)
-
Date: 2009
-
Program: DC & U.S. Territories Quarters – second design of 2009
-
Metal: Copper–nickel clad (8.33% nickel, balance copper)
-
Weight: 5.67 g
-
Diameter / Edge: 24.26 mm; 1.75 mm thick; reeded edge
-
Mintage (P business strike): 53,000,000 coins
-
Obverse: George Washington portrait by John Flanagan, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and QUARTER DOLLAR.
-
Reverse: 16th-century fort sentry box (garita) in Old San Juan facing the Atlantic, with sea and clouds in the background and Puerto Rico’s national flower at right; inscriptions PUERTO RICO, ISLA DEL ENCANTO, E PLURIBUS UNUM, 2009.
-
Designer / Sculptor (reverse): Joseph Menna, U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver
-
Grade: As described in the listing title; please see photos for the exact coin offered.
Historical Significance
The Puerto Rico quarter is the second release in the 2009 DC & U.S. Territories Quarters Program and was introduced on April 2, 2009. Its reverse highlights the island’s colonial and cultural heritage: the garita comes from the walls of the 16th-century Spanish forts guarding San Juan harbor, while the flor de maga (often mistaken for hibiscus) reflects Puerto Rico’s lush tropical environment.
The inscription “Isla del Encanto” (“Island of Enchantment”) is Puerto Rico’s well-known nickname and made this the first circulating U.S. coin to carry a Spanish phrase, underscoring the island’s language and identity within the U.S. monetary series.
Collectibility
With a relatively low mintage of 53 million for the P-mint, the 2009-P Puerto Rico Quarter is scarcer than most earlier State quarters and a key piece for modern Washington quarter specialists and full Territories sets. Collectors seek bright Uncirculated examples that show full brick detail in the sentry box and clean petals on the flor de maga, while registry hunters chase high-grade MS67 coins, which become significantly tougher.
Error and variety enthusiasts also look for pre-die breaks, extra cloud die chips, and minor doubled dies reported on this issue, adding another layer of interest when searching rolls or Mint sets.
