South Carolina Quarter

2000 South Carolina State Quarter

The obverse (heads) side of the coin features an updated bust of George Washington, returning to a design similar to the original Washington quarter first struck in 1932.

The reverse is an outline of South Carolina with a star indicating its capital, Columbia, and the inscription "THE PALMETTO STATE," which is the state's nickname.

The design incorporates South Carolina's official state symbols: the Palmetto tree (state tree), the Carolina Wren (state bird), and the Yellow Jessamine (state flower).

The Palmetto tree's importance dates back to the Revolutionary War, when a fort built of Palmetto logs helped colonists defeat a British fleet attempting to capture Charleston Harbor in 1776, leading to the state's nickname.

Mint Mark: D