2004-S Wisconsin Proof

The 2004-S Wisconsin proof closes out the fifth year of the 50 State Quarters Program, a clad proof from the San Francisco Mint produced at 2,740,684 coins. Wisconsin entered the Union on May 29, 1848 as the 30th state, and Alfred Maletsky's reverse takes a straight agricultural angle: a Holstein cow stands at left, a head of corn rises behind her, and a large wheel of cheese fills the right side of the field, with the legend "Forward" arcing across the upper rim from the state motto. Wisconsin's famous Extra Leaf varieties, where an additional leaf appears on the corn husk in two distinct die positions, belong entirely to the Denver circulation strikes from 2004 and have nothing to do with the proof issue. The 2004-S proof carries the standard, as-designed reverse with no leaf variations, no doubling popularly cataloged, and no equivalent die-variety hunt. That makes the proof a clean, predictable entry in the year's set and one that collectors generally acquire as part of the full 2004 proof run rather than for any individual die-variety interest.

Authenticating a 2004-S Wisconsin proof relies on the visual signatures of San Francisco's proof striking. The fields should reflect angled light back with a deep, watery mirror finish that no business strike approaches, and the close-collar dies should leave rims that are squared and sharp rather than slightly rounded. Inspect the cow's coat and the texture of the cheese wheel under a 10x loupe for full, undisturbed strike detail; frost on these devices over mirrored fields is what earns Cameo and Deep Cameo grades and carries a clear premium over plain brilliant proofs. Specifications are cupronickel clad construction at 5.67 grams and 24.3 millimeters, with a reeded edge. Faint die-polish lines in the open fields are routine and expected on proofs. The diagnostic separation between a true proof and a prooflike business strike comes from radial flow lines: any fine, spoke-like lines radiating from the center of the coin toward the rim flag it as a circulation strike with a reflective surface, regardless of how clean the rest of the coin appears.

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