Question: Is the 2003 Arkansas quarter the only coin minted since, say 1800, that has the picture of a mineral on it? I can’t think of any others. There are plenty of minerals shown on postage stamps, but I have never heard of a coin bearing a mineral’s picture except the diamond on the aforementioned Statehood quarter. –B.M
Answer: Limiting the response to just American coins, there is the 1925 California Diamond Jubilee commemorative half dollar that shows a miner panning for gold, which could count. Also, the Wisconsin commemorative half dollar shows a heap of lead ore on the reverse.
In the field of tokens and medals there are other possibilities, including the 1901 Lesher “dollars” that show the “Pikes Peak Silver Mine,” a mythical enterprise, with tailings and residue, presumably including minerals.
