How to Identify the Minnesota State Quarter
A collector's walkthrough for confirming a 2005 Minnesota State Quarter: the loon-and-lake reverse, the 1858 date, size, metal, mint marks, and error cautions.
Read the full Minnesota State Quarter encyclopedia entry →
Start with the reverse, which carries all of Minnesota's distinctive imagery. Look for an outline of the state enclosing a tree-lined lake, a common loon riding low on the water in the foreground, and a small boat holding two anglers, with pine trees behind them. Confirm the legend LAND OF 10,000 LAKES and the paired dates 1858 (statehood) and 2005 (minting). Together these elements are unique to the Minnesota quarter and separate it from other wildlife-themed State Quarters.
Check the obverse next. Every 50 State Quarter, including Minnesota, shares the same left-facing George Washington portrait with LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and QUARTER DOLLAR. So the obverse alone will not tell you the state — the reverse scene and the state name and dates are what identify it.
Verify size and composition to rule out replicas or altered pieces. A genuine coin measures about 24.26 mm across, weighs roughly 5.67 g, and has a reeded edge with a visible copper-colored stripe from its copper-nickel clad construction. A markedly lighter, heavier, or non-magnetic-mismatch piece, or one with a plain edge, warrants suspicion.
Locate the mint mark on the obverse, just to the right of Washington's neck: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, or S for a San Francisco proof. Proof coins have sharp, mirror-like fields and squared rims; some S proofs were struck in 90% silver. If you think you have one of the well-known "extra tree" doubled-die varieties, examine the reverse forest under magnification for the extra tree-like elements, but have any suspected error attributed by a reputable grading service such as PCGS or NGC, since ordinary die wear and damage are often mistaken for genuine varieties.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a quarter is the Minnesota design and not another state?
Look at the reverse for the state outline, the common loon on the water, two anglers in a boat, pine trees, and the LAND OF 10,000 LAKES motto with the 1858 and 2005 dates. Those together identify Minnesota.
Where is the mint mark on a Minnesota quarter?
On the obverse, just to the right of George Washington's neck. P is Philadelphia, D is Denver, and S indicates a San Francisco proof strike.
How can I tell a proof or silver Minnesota quarter from a regular one?
Proofs carry an S mint mark, mirror-like fields, and sharp details, and were made for collectors. Circulating P and D coins are clad and show a copper stripe on the edge; some S proofs are 90% silver.
Should I get my Minnesota quarter authenticated?
Common circulated coins do not need it. Consider professional grading only for high-grade uncirculated pieces, proofs, or a suspected extra-tree doubled-die variety, since many claimed errors are just damage or die wear.