How to Identify the 2019 Lowell America the Beautiful Quarter
A visual guide to the 2019 Lowell quarter, part of the America the Beautiful series, depicting a mill worker and textile machinery at Lowell National Historical Park.
Read the full 2019 Lowell America the Beautiful Quarter encyclopedia entry →
What It Is
The 2019 Lowell quarter is part of the America the Beautiful Quarters series (2010-2021) and honors Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts, which preserves the legacy of early American textile mills and the young women who worked in them.
Obverse (Front)
The obverse features the series' Washington portrait facing left, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcing along the top, "LIBERTY" at lower left, "IN GOD WE TRUST" at lower right, and the date below the bust.
Reverse (Back)
The reverse shows a young mill worker standing before textile machinery, representing the "mill girls" who operated Lowell's 19th-century factories. "LOWELL" arcs above, "MASSACHUSETTS" appears below the scene, and "2019," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "QUARTER DOLLAR" complete the design.
Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge
The circulating coin measures 24.3 mm in diameter and weighs 5.67 grams in copper-nickel clad, with a reeded edge. Silver proof versions (90% silver, 6.25 grams) were issued in special collector sets and retain the reeded edge.
Mint Marks
The mint mark sits on the obverse near the base of Washington's neck. "P" indicates Philadelphia and "D" indicates Denver for circulation coins, while "S" appears on proof coins from San Francisco.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The mill worker and machinery scene is unique to the Lowell issue among America the Beautiful designs. As with all coins in the series, the obverse's shoulder-placed "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" lettering distinguishes it visually from the earlier 1999-2008 State Quarters series.
Grading at a Glance
Check Washington's cheek and hair curls for smoothing on the obverse. On the reverse, examine the fine lines of the machinery and the worker's clothing folds; these delicate raised details are the first areas to flatten with circulation wear.
Authenticity Red Flags
Common clad Lowell quarters are inexpensive and rarely counterfeited. Be cautious of coins claimed to be silver without documented proof-set provenance, or of pieces with blurred, mushy machinery details that may indicate a cast copy rather than a genuine struck coin; genuine Mint strikes show crisp, sharply defined relief even in small background elements.
Frequently asked questions
What does the reverse design represent?
It depicts a young mill worker standing before textile machinery, honoring the "mill girls" who worked in Lowell's historic 19th-century textile factories.
Where is Lowell National Historical Park?
In Lowell, Massachusetts, an early center of the American Industrial Revolution's textile manufacturing.
Where do I look for the mint mark?
On the obverse, near the base of Washington's neck below the bust.
Is the 2019 Lowell quarter rare?
No, it was struck in large quantities for circulation; only proof and silver proof versions from collector sets carry a modest premium.