Dr Sally Ride Quarter: When Science Entered Circulation

Hook Commemorating a historic astronaut, the Dr Sally Ride quarter places a milestone of American science directly into everyday change.

Authorized by Public Law 116-330, this 2022 release continued the American Women Quarters Program.

High-level portrait detail was required by the technical implementation of the project to ensure recognizable features on a small disc surface.

Representing the second design in a series of five annual releases, the coin belongs to a set scheduled through 2025.

Scientific circles view this object as a tool for popularizing physics and space exploration achievements.

Standard production stages including blank preparation, image striking, and subsequent bank packaging defined the manufacturing cycle.

Specifications and Chemical Composition

A multi-layered metal composite served as the foundation for the 2022 quarter production.

Comprising 75% copper and 25% nickel, the outer layers ensure the characteristic silver-colored finish.

Pure copper forms the inner core, providing the necessary mass and electrical conductivity for vending machine compatibility.

Exact weight is fixed at 5.67 grams.

The diameter measures 24.26 millimeters.

Disk thickness equals 1.75 millimeters.

Featuring 119 individual ridges, the reeded edge is applied by a specialized collar during the striking process.

Production Statistics by Mint Facility

Three primary United States Mint facilities handled the 2022 coin production.

Serving the eastern states, the Philadelphia Mint produced coins marked with the "P" mint mark.

Western regions received supplies from the Denver Mint, identifying its output with the "D" symbol.

Specializing in collector sets, the San Francisco Mint utilized the "S" mark for its specific inventory.

Sally Ride Quarter Mintage Volumes

Exceeding 553 million total units, the combined mintage precludes any circulation shortages.

Direct sales through official government channels explain the presence of "S" marked business-strike coins.

Reverse Design and Symbolism

Artist Elana Hagler developed the image appearing on the reverse side.

Positioning Ride next to a Space Shuttle window creates a sense of compositional depth.

Required text elements include the astronaut's name, country name, denomination, and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Utilizing digital modeling techniques, Phebe Hemphill completed the die engraving.

Representatives of Ride's estate verified the accuracy of the facial features.

Emphasizing the global scale of research, the Earth is placed prominently in the background.

Financial Indicators and Auction Records

Surface preservation and strike clarity directly correlate with the market value of Sally Ride quarters.

Nominal value of $0.25 applies to all coins retrieved from general circulation.

Demonstrating exponential price growth, Mint State (MS) examples become valuable at grade 67 and above.

Record Sales and Current Market Values

Average pricing for MS66 graded coins sits at approximately $12.

Upgrading from MS66 to MS67 increases the asset value by 3650%.

Saturating the market, standard 2022 Proof sets show an annual price decline of 4.2%.

Representing less than 0.01% of certified coins, MS68 examples hold the primary investment potential.

Population Report Statistics

Rarity of the highest preservation levels is assessed using data from PCGS and NGC.

Microscopic defects frequently occur due to automated transportation processes at the mints.

Reducing numismatic value to base levels, surface scratches are the primary reason for lower grades.

Registry of Confirmed Grades (as of 2025)

• Philadelphia MS67: 154 units

• Denver MS67: 210 units

• Philadelphia MS68: 3 units

• San Francisco (S) PR70: 890 units

Increasing the MS67 population by 10% typically results in an 8% quarterly price drop.

Harder storage conditions at the Denver facility explain the rarity of high-grade coins from that location.

Identified Mint Errors and Defects

Rare technical failures drive the market for error coins.

Specialists in industrial processes show significant interest in verified 2022 errors.

Auction results rather than official price lists determine the value of these unique objects.

Classification of Confirmed Errors

1. Die Clash. Occurring when dies strike each other without a planchet, leaving ghost images of the reverse on the obverse.

2. Interior Die Break (Cud). Forcing metal into a gap caused by a broken die piece, resulting in a raised blob on the coin.

3. Off-Center Strike. Misaligning the planchet with the center, causing an incomplete or skewed design.

4. Doubled Die Obverse. Duplicating design elements because of a faulty hubbing process during die creation.

A Sally Ride specimen with a 15% off-center strike is valued between $150 and $280.

Small die chips on the window image increase the coin's price to roughly $15.

American Women Series Obverse Features

Sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser created the George Washington portrait appearing on the obverse.

Originally proposed for the 1932 quarter, this design was initially rejected in favor of John Flanagan's work.

Correcting a historical decision, the 2022 revival of Fraser's portrait honors the artist's original vision.

Facing right, the portrait differs from the left-facing traditional quarters minted between 1932 and 2021.

Positioning the word LIBERTY above the head and the date below the chin characterizes the new layout.

Using this design across all coins in the program ensures visual unity for the entire series.

Long-term Asset Value Analysis

Numismatic activity indexes influence the price dynamics of Sally Ride quarters.

Base metal quarter values remain stable even when silver prices fluctuate.

Relative to purchasing power, inflationary processes devalue low-grade coins by 3.5% annually.

Market corrections of 15–20% for mid-range grades may occur after the series concludes in 2025.

Holding high value is projected only for specimens occupying the top registry positions.

Logistics and Storage of Collector Materials

Preserving the copper-nickel alloy requires strict adherence to specific climate conditions.

Altering surface color, contact with skin oils triggers oxidation.

Chemical destruction of the metal is a risk when using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) holders.

Plastic capsules (slabs) provide the necessary airtight seal and mechanical protection.

Storage temperatures must remain between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.

Exceeding 45% humidity causes dark spots on the copper core visible along the edge.