How to Identify the Theodore Roosevelt Quarter
A collector's walkthrough for confirming the 2016 Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarter: the horseback reverse, North Dakota legends, clad specs, and mint marks.
Read the full Theodore Roosevelt Quarter encyclopedia entry →
Start with the reverse legends. The fastest confirmation is the inscription THEODORE ROOSEVELT curving along the top and NORTH DAKOTA along the bottom, framing a mounted rider — a young Roosevelt on horseback with a rifle — set against the badlands. The date 2016 and E PLURIBUS UNUM appear in the field, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and QUARTER DOLLAR present. No other quarter pairs a horseback figure with those two legends, so this combination is diagnostic.
Check the obverse to confirm the type. It shows the standard left-facing bust of George Washington used across the America the Beautiful series, with LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. In this program the year and the park name are on the reverse rather than beside Washington, so do not expect a date on the portrait side — the 2016 date belongs on the Roosevelt side.
Verify size and metal. The coin is about 24.26 mm across with a reeded edge and weighs roughly 5.67 g. Examine that edge: a circulating clad quarter shows a coppery stripe between silvery faces. If you have a piece that is roughly three inches wide and very heavy, that is the separate five-ounce .999 silver bullion version of the same design, not the pocket-change quarter — the two share artwork but are wildly different in size and weight.
Locate the mint mark on the obverse, to the right of the ribbon tying Washington's hair: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, and S for San Francisco collector strikes. For nearly all of these coins authentication is unnecessary because they are recent, abundant circulation issues. Reserve professional grading through a reputable service such as PCGS or NGC for top-grade uncirculated examples, confirmed silver pieces, or coins you suspect carry a genuine mint error, and be wary of common coins marketed as rare simply for their Roosevelt design.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know I have the Theodore Roosevelt Quarter and not another park quarter?
Read the reverse. It names THEODORE ROOSEVELT and NORTH DAKOTA around a rider on horseback carrying a rifle. That specific scene and pair of legends is unique to this 2016 issue.
Where is the date on this quarter?
On the reverse, with the park design — it reads 2016. In the America the Beautiful series the year sits on the park side rather than next to Washington's portrait.
How can I tell the clad quarter from the silver bullion version?
By size and weight. The circulating quarter is about 24.26 mm and 5.67 g with a copper-striped edge; the silver collector piece is a three-inch, five-ounce coin that is unmistakably larger.
Where is the mint mark?
On the obverse, to the right of the ribbon in Washington's hair. P is Philadelphia, D is Denver, and S is a San Francisco collector strike.