Guam Quarter

The Western world first learned about Guam when explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed there in 1521. The Spanish ruled the island until the 20th century, using it as a port for ships traveling between Mexico and the Philippines. American troops took over during the Spanish-American War. Japan held it for two years during World War II, but the United States regained control. The people of Guam became American citizens in 1950 and set up their own government under the US Secretary of the Interior.

The Guam quarter is the third in the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. In the Guam quarter’s design, a relief map of Guam takes center stage. The southern part of the island is mountainous while the northern part is flatter, surrounded by cliffs dropping to the sea. Guam’s motto, part of the quarter’s design, translates to “Guam, Land of the Chamorro.”

The design also features a latte and a flying proa. A latte is a large goblet-shaped stone that has been used for centuries in Micronesia to hold important buildings up. The latte has come to symbolize the culture of Guam’s native people, the Chamorro.

The flying proa is a type of canoe with a sail. Chamorro craftsmen used to build these swift but stable boats, able to change direction without turning around by shifting the sails. As a symbol, the proa speaks of Chamorro history, invention, and discovery.