Ron Guth: After the successful completion in 2008 of the 50 States Quarters Program, the U.S. Mint embarked on an ambitious plan to issue six coins in 2009 to honor the District of Columbia and the U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands (in that order). The obverse of each coin was a continuation of the design for the 50 States Quarter program; the reverses were designs approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, and the Secretary of the Treasury. The Mint produced Uncirculated and Proof versions of each coin, as well as a 90% pure silver version in Proof. These coins were available from banks, circulation or by purchase from the Mint in rolls, bags, and as parts of Uncirculated and Proof sets.