How to Identify the 2021 Tuskegee Airmen America the Beautiful Quarter
A visual guide to the 2021 Tuskegee Airmen quarter, one of the final America the Beautiful releases, showing a pilot and fighter planes honoring the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.
Read the full 2021 Tuskegee Airmen America the Beautiful Quarter encyclopedia entry →
What It Is
The 2021 Tuskegee Airmen quarter was one of the last coins issued in the America the Beautiful Quarters series (2010-2021), honoring the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama and the pioneering African American military aviators of World War II.
Obverse (Front)
The obverse carries the series' Washington portrait facing left, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcing along the top rim, "LIBERTY" at lower left, "IN GOD WE TRUST" at lower right, and the date below the bust.
Reverse (Back)
The reverse depicts a Tuskegee Airman in flight gear in the foreground, with P-51 Mustang fighter planes flying in formation in the background. "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN" arcs above, "ALABAMA" appears below the scene, and "2021," "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 editions (90% silver, 6.25 grams) were sold in special collector sets and keep the reeded edge.
Mint Marks
The mint mark is located on the obverse near the base of Washington's neck. "P" denotes Philadelphia and "D" denotes Denver for circulation strikes, while "S" and "W" (West Point) marks can appear on certain proof and special collector issues from this later period of the series.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The airman-and-fighter-plane scene is unique to this issue. As with all America the Beautiful coins, the obverse's shoulder-placed "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" text distinguishes it from the earlier 1999-2008 State Quarters at a glance.
Grading at a Glance
Check Washington's cheek and hair detail on the obverse for wear. On the reverse, examine the fine lines of the airman's flight jacket and the small silhouettes of the aircraft; these fine details flatten first with circulation wear or a weak strike.
Authenticity Red Flags
Common clad circulation coins of this design are inexpensive and rarely counterfeited. Be cautious of coins sold as silver without proof-set documentation, or of examples with indistinct, blurry aircraft silhouettes, which can indicate a poor-quality cast copy rather than a genuine struck coin.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?
They were the first African American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, trained primarily at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama during World War II, and this coin honors the historic site preserving their legacy.
What aircraft are shown on the reverse?
P-51 Mustang fighter planes, which the Tuskegee Airmen flew during their World War II combat missions, are depicted flying in formation behind the pilot figure.
Was this one of the last quarters in the America the Beautiful series?
Yes, 2021 was the final year of the America the Beautiful Quarters program before the U.S. Mint moved on to the American Women Quarters series in 2022.
Where is the mint mark located?
On the obverse, near the base of Washington's neck below the bust.