2004-S 25c Clad Quarters Proof Set, 5 Coins PR

Original Packaging: Two similar holders were required to house the eleven coins, and they differed only in their inserts and the selection of coins included. Each holder consisted of a two­-­piece, transparent plastic casing with frosted borders. This held a blue fiberboard insert featuring a background graphic of the American flag and holed appropriately for the coins it contained. One holder housed the cent, two nickels, dime, half dollar, and dollar, while the other contained the five statehood quarters for 2004. The two holders were stacked and slipped into a white cardboard box. This box was printed primarily in blue and featured a head view of the famous Statue of Liberty, along with starred upper and lower borders, the U.S. Mint’s 50 State Quarters® logo, and the words UNITED STATES MINT PROOF SET 2004.

The five­-­piece sets consisted solely of the statehood quarters in copper­-­nickel­ ­clad composition. The holder for this set was simply one of the two holders comprising the complete set described above. An eagle appears on the box cover in place of the Statue of Liberty.

Commentary: The quality of the 2004­-­S clad Proof sets seems to be satisfactory, though there are still some complaints that the desired degree of frosting on the coins’ devices is not always maintained.

The big news for 2004 was the inclusion of two nickels in place of the usual single entry. While the obverse of this coin type retained the familiar bust of Thomas Jefferson, two distinctive reverses were employed in celebration of the LOUISIANA PURCHASE and Lewis and Clark bicentennials, respectively. These two coins are the first in the Westward Journey Nickel Series™.

The first of the new nickels featured on its reverse an adaptation of the reverse from an Indian Peace medal of the type distributed to American Indian chiefs during and for many years after the administration of President Jefferson. It shows a pair of clasped hands, one wrist bearing a military cuff and the other a bracelet. The implication is that these hands belong to a U. S. Army officer and a Native American engaged in a bond of peace and friendship. Above the hands are a crossed tomahawk and peace pipe, the legend LOUISIANA PURCHASE, and the date of its signing, 1803. This coin was designed and sculpted by Norman Nemeth of the U.S. Mint staff.

The second of the two nickels issued for circulation (and included in the Proof sets for 2004) depicts members of the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery expedition embarked in a keelboat. The design and modeling of this reverse was performed by U.S. Mint sculptor Al Maletsky. Other designs for 2005 include the Bison reverse and the Pacific Ocean reverse.

Source: Whitman