2004-S Texas Proof

The 2004-S Texas proof carries the third release of the 2004 calendar year in the 50 State Quarters Program, a clad proof struck at the San Francisco Mint to a mintage of 2,740,684 coins. Texas joined the Union on December 29, 1845 as the 28th state, and the reverse design by Norman E. Nemeth keeps the visual logic stripped down to three elements that almost any American can read at a glance: the state outline filling the field, a single five-point Lone Star superimposed across it, and a lariat looping around the perimeter to anchor the composition. The simplicity is a deliberate choice in a program that often crowded reverses with too much symbolism, and on a proof strike the design's clean negative space lets the mirrored fields do real visual work. Among the 2004 issues, the Texas proof tends to be among the easier ones to grade and the most photogenic, because the broad open fields show off the proof finish without the design competing for attention.

Authenticating a 2004-S Texas proof starts with the same proof-surface checks that apply to every San Francisco release of the program. Tilt the coin under a directional light source and look for fields that throw back deep, mirrored, watery reflections rather than the satin or matte sheen of a business strike. The rims should be squared and crisp from the close-collar proof dies, and the Lone Star should show full points without softness at the tips. Frosted devices over reflective fields qualify for Cameo and Deep Cameo designations, which carry a meaningful premium over plain brilliant proofs and are worth confirming before purchase. Specifications are cupronickel clad, 5.67 grams, 24.3 millimeters, reeded edge. Under a 10x loupe, fine die-polish lines in the fields are routine for proofs and don't downgrade a coin. The diagnostic that separates a true proof from a prooflike business strike is the absence of radial flow lines: if you see fine lines running outward from the center of the design like spokes, you are looking at a circulation strike with a reflective finish, not a San Francisco proof.

For collectors who want to keep going, see the 50 State Quarters series history.