1999-D Delaware 50 State Quarter : A Collector’s Guide
By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
The 1999-D Delaware State Quarter is the circulation strike minted in Denver for the first coin in the 50 State Quarters Program. This program ran from 1999 to 2008, celebrating each of the 50 U.S. states in the chronological order of their admission to the Union. Each year, five different quarters were released:
Circulation Strikes were produced at the Philadelphia Mint (marked with ‘P’) and Denver Mint (marked with ‘D’), while Proof Coins were minted at the San Francisco Mint (marked with ‘S’).
Delaware, which this quarter represents, was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787, when all 30 delegates at the Delaware Constitutional Convention voted in favor of joining the Union.
The coin honors Caesar Rodney, who, 11 years earlier, broke an impasse on the call for independence, by riding his horse 70 miles from Dover to Philadelphia on July 2, just as the voting process went underway for the Declaration of Independence, which Rodney signed on August 2.
The Denver Mint struck 401,424,000 Delaware Quarters in 1999. Survival rates are high, and most collectors could probably find a 1999-D Delaware Quarter in circulation or in a roll with some searching.
Why Was There Controversy Over the 1999-D Delaware 50 State Quarter?
On February 2, 1998, Delaware Governor Tom R. Carper (D) held a statewide competition to come up with design finalists for what would be the first circulating United States quarter commemorative since the Bicentennial Quarter.
Of the approximately 300 entries, 40 came from Caesar Rodney High School and the art class of Eddy Seger. Among the submitted designs was one executed by Seger himself. Seger’s design featured a right-facing Caesar Rodney riding a galloping horse. Behind him, the outline of the shape of the state of Delaware. Vegetal ornamentation wrapped around the rim. The inscriptions UNITED STATES of AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM remain unchanged from the Heraldic Eagle reverse in Seger’s concept.
The format of the 50 States Quarters obverse and reverse had not been made public at this point in time.
The final design would mirror Seger’s design but improve upon it by stripping out unnecessary design elements. The vegetal wreaths and the outline of the state would not carry over, and the horse-riding Rodney would face left instead of right in the finished work, his horse elongated, his figure more sinewy and upright.
Engraver William Cousins, who took Seger’s concept and adapted it for coining, is credited as the coin’s designer. Cousins’ “WC” initials feature to the left of the horse’s lead hoof.
Initially, the United States Mint gave Seger credit for submitting the winning design but has since scrubbed any reference to him on their website. More recently it has been alleged that Seger’s design was one of several submitted that featured Caeser Rodney. But this claim is dubious in light of the available facts and was likely put forward in an effort by the government to take design credit away from state artists.
The ensuing controversy surrounding 50 States Quarter designs erupted publicly in 2002 when the national and numismatic media brought artists’ complaints surrounding design attribution to the public’s attention. The dustup is known as “Quartergate”.
As an aside, PCGS did promote Seger’s involvement in the design of the coin by producing a limited-edition insert label featuring his autograph.
Post-Release Price Bubble
The 50 State Quarters Program began on January 4, 1999. That same evening, TV coin shows started selling BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) rolls of quarters from both the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) Mints at prices significantly higher than their face value. However, within a few weeks, these new quarters could be found for their standard value of 25 cents each at local banks. Marketers also capitalized on the program by selling quarters that had been modified after minting. These modifications included “gold plating” or adding a colored overlay to the design. These altered coins were marketed successfully, but many buyers later learned that these modified quarters had no additional numismatic value.
When the 50 State Quarters Program launched, coin grading services, then primarily focused on rare and classic coins, began to adapt to the new market of modern Mint releases.
For the State Quarter Program:
- Proof Coins: When these were submitted in bulk to PCGS, they were given novelty labels featuring the state flag of Delaware.
- Circulation Strikes: These usually appear with normal PCGS labels. However, the company did produce a “limited edition” (sequential to 10,0000) label signed by “designer” Eddy Seger. However, these circulation strike coins were not actually graded for quality or condition; they were simply encapsulated with these unique labels to appeal to collectors, adding a novelty aspect to what would otherwise be standard circulation coins.
Just over 4,000 1999-D Delaware Quarters have been officially graded and certified by the major grading services. The most common grade for these coins, when certified by either Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), is MS66 (Mint State 66).
Important facts:
- NGC has graded a larger proportion of these quarters at the higher grades of MS67 and MS68 compared to PCGS.
- PCGS has certified only one 1999-D Delaware Quarter at the MS68 grade to date.
To understand the market value of the 1999-D Delaware Quarter and its potential for growth, we have to take into consideration a number of factors that aren’t immediately clear by looking at auction and population data. Despite being nearly 30 years old, the 1999-D Delaware State Quarter was hoarded in record numbers as the general public met the release of the program with great enthusiasm, putting away rolls and bags of coins “for the kids and grandkids”. Intact, these rolls will undoubtedly produce Superb Gem coins.
Most of the 1999-D Delaware Quarters in the NGC and PCGS censuses were graded shortly after their initial release, with sales occurring within months of launch. The companies submitting these coins did so in bulk, benefiting from discounted submission fees. The bulk rate in 2025 is higher than it was in 1999, and any certified 1999-D Delaware Quarter graded below MS67 will not yield a profit. MS67 coins make up only 8% of the total PCGS population and 26% of the NGC population, representing a low percentage play where dealers might only earn a few dollars per coin.
This situation is unlikely to change significantly by the time the series reaches its 30-year milestone in 2029. However, there might be a turnaround by 2049, when the series could gain more interest or value due to its age and nostalgia. That’s a long wait for the series to potentially take off, though.
Today, examples in raw uncirculated condition sell for about $1 to $2 each. MS66 examples trade for about $12. MS67 examples sell for about $75. NGC MS68s trade for about $575.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
Top Population: PCGS MS68 (1, 2/2025), NGC MS68 (36, 2/2025), and CAC MS64 (2, 2/2025).
- NGC MS68 #3919724-006: eBay (DLRC), December 4, 2024 – $525.
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Design
Obverse:
The obverse of the 1999-D Delaware Quarter shows a modified portrait of George Washington, a design by John Flanagan based on a 1786 plaster bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Sculptor-engraver William Cousins designed the newer rendition of Washington, which remained the obverse design for the quarter for the duration of the America the Beautiful Quarter series. Denver’s D mintmark appears under the motto.
The redesign was necessary, in part, to accommodate new inscriptions on the obverse that previously were featured on the reverse of the quarter; these obverse inscriptions on the 1999-D Delaware Quarter include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in a semi-circular arrangement over Washington’s head, IN GOD WE TRUST to his right, LIBERTY to his left, below his chin, and QUARTER DOLLAR along the bottom side of the rim, under the first president’s bust. The words QUARTER DOLLAR and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA were previously located on the reverse of Washington Quarters made from 1932 through 1998, but they were relocated to the obverse to allow a wider reverse canvas area for the changing 50 States Quarter designs. The mintmark is seen to the right of Washington’s ponytail.
Reverse:
Caesar Rodney is seen riding his horse on the reverse of the 1999-D Delaware Quarter. The design captures the nighttime ride Rodney made during a thunderstorm from Dover to Philadelphia to cast a deciding vote for independence. DELAWARE and 1787, the date Delaware became the first state, are seen above Rodney; above the trailing tail of the galloping horse are the words THE FIRST STATE, which serves as Delaware’s proud nickname. To the left of the horse is the inscription CAESAR RODNEY, and below that inscription are the initials of engraver William Cousins. Counterclockwise at the bottom of the coin is both the date of issue 1999 and, beneath that, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Edge:
The edge of the 1999-D Delaware State Quarter is reeded, as are the edges of all Washington Quarters.
Designers
American sculptor John Flanagan’s work in the medallic and metal arts ranks him as one of the best artists of his generation. For generations of coin collectors, he is best known for his Washington Quarter design (View Designer’s Profile).
William Cousins was a sculptor-engraver at the United States Mint.
Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1999 |
| Denomination: | Quarter Dollar (25¢ USD) |
| Mintmark: | D (Denver) |
| Mintage: | 401,424,000 |
| Alloy: | .750 copper, .250 nickel (inner core pure copper); .900 silver, .100 copper |
| Weight: | 5.67 g (clad); 6.25 g (silver) |
| Diameter: | 24.30 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | John Flanagan (orig. design) | William Cousins (modern sculpt) |
| REV Designer: | William Cousins |
| Quality: | Business Strike, Uncirculated |
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The post 1999-D Delaware 50 State Quarter : A Collector’s Guide appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.
1. **Image Caption:** A crisp example of the 1999-D Delaware Quarter. Note the fine details of Caesar Rodney’s midnight ride.
2. **Paragraph 2:** The 50 State Quarters Program truly captured the nation’s attention, sparking a renewed interest in coin collecting. It’s remarkable how such a small object can hold so much history.
3. **”Why Was There Controversy…” Section:** The “Quartergate” controversy highlights the complexities of design attribution and intellectual property, even in the world of numismatics.
4. **”Post-Release Price Bubble” Section:** The initial price bubble demonstrates the power of marketing and the sometimes-fleeting nature of collectible value. It’s a cautionary tale for collectors.
5. **”Market Data…” Section:** The disparity in MS68 populations between PCGS and NGC is noteworthy. It underscores the subtle differences in grading standards between services.
6. **”Design” Section (Obverse):** Modifying a classic design like the Washington Quarter is a delicate balance between honoring tradition and embracing the new.
7. **”Design” Section (Reverse):** The reverse design beautifully encapsulates a pivotal moment in American history, immortalizing Caesar Rodney’s courageous ride.
8. **”Coin Specifications” Table:** This table provides a comprehensive overview of the coin’s technical details, a valuable resource for any collector