United States Mint Issues New Puerto Rico Quarter Dollar Coin

  The United States Mint introduced its new quarter dollar coin commemorating the U.S territory to the public and the world at a ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday April 2, 2009. Puerto Rico has been an unrepresented territory of the United States since 1898. The four million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico have no voting representation in the U.S. Congress. The new coin represents several firsts. It is the first time that U.S. currency has represented a territory of the United States. The coin depicts the fortifications of the historic landmark El Morro fortress in San Juan, the territorial capital and bears the Spanish inscription "Isla Del Encanto", the Spanish translation of "Island of Enchantment".

Director of the U.S. Mint, Ed Moy was on hand at the territorial capital to unveil the coin with an inscription in Spanish. Moy said the U.S. coin is the first to circulate with a phrase inscribed in Spanish. A series of coins already recognizes the already admitted 50 states. Like the others, the coin depicts the traditional profile of George Washington on one side. The reverse side shows a sentry box on a Spanish colonial fort and a hibiscus, the U.S. island's official flower, along with the Spanish phrase.

Gov. Luis Fortuno, a Republican of the joint Democratic and Republican political party that seeks Statehood for Puerto Rico, the New Progressive Party, was on hand for the unveiling. On the use of the Spanish language on U.S. currency for the first time in United States history "With 45 million citizens of Hispanic descent," Fortuno shared his opinion that it represents "the integration of a great nation" that has room for many languages. U.S. coins have long been inscribed in Latin and English.

The United States Congress has the constitutional authority to issue coins. The U.S. Mint acts according to congressional mandate. Before its passage, legislation calling for the issuance of coins representing the United States Congress retains control and authority over was first introduced in the House of Representatives in 2002 failing to pass in successive congresses until 2007. The U.S. continues to possess five territories and the District of Colombia. As a result almost 5 million citizens are not permitted voting representation in their government.