How to Identify the 1999 Pennsylvania State Quarter

What the Coin Is

The 1999 Pennsylvania quarter was the second design issued in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters program, following Delaware, and honors Pennsylvania as the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, continuing the program's chronological approach to honoring the original thirteen states first.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse carries the standard Washington quarter portrait facing left, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the date "1999" around the design, matching the format used across the entire State Quarters program and every other coin released that year.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse features the "Commonwealth" statue, a female figure that sits atop the Pennsylvania State Capitol dome, shown standing within a keystone shape flanked by an outline of the state. Inscriptions include "PENNSYLVANIA," "1787" (the year Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution), "QUARTER DOLLAR," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM," combining several small design elements into one compact reverse.

Size, Weight, Metal, Edge

Circulating coins are struck in copper-nickel clad, weigh 5.67 grams, measure 24.3 mm in diameter, and have a reeded edge; 90% silver proof versions were also produced for collectors, distinguishable by their heavier weight and brighter, more reflective surfaces.

Mint Marks

The mintmark sits just above the date on the obverse: "P" for Philadelphia, "D" for Denver, and "S" for San Francisco proof coins, the same general placement used throughout the State Quarters program.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The keystone shape enclosing the Commonwealth statue, combined with the outline of Pennsylvania's borders, makes this design distinct from every other state quarter. Double-check the date reads "1999" to confirm it belongs to the first year of the program rather than a later reissue with a similar theme, since some later commemorative quarters share loosely related patriotic imagery.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Look at the statue's fine details and the raised outline of the state map for early signs of wear, along with Washington's hairline on the obverse. Since this is a common modern clad coin, most circulated examples still show good detail, and heavily worn pieces are uncommon relative to older coin types given how recently this coin was minted.

Authenticity Red Flags

Genuine concerns are rare for this widely minted modern coin, but verify the coin's composition and weight match expectations for a clad quarter, and be wary of any example with an unusual color, wrong weight, or missing design elements, which would suggest a novelty item rather than genuine Mint production, especially with pieces advertised as special error or colorized versions.