One of the most characteristic elements of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is its massive belt of walls of stone, built by the Spaniards in the early 16th century to protect the capital city from attacks from the sea. Of particular interest on these walls, which symbolize Puerto Rican strength and fortitude, are the sentry boxes, placed at strategic points along the walls. The sentry box and the walls of San Juan represent Puerto Rico’s rich history, geographical location and defensive role. The Puerto Rico quarter features a historic sentry box and a hibiscus flower.
A commission established by Puerto Rico Governor Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá and chaired by the director of the Puerto Rico Culture Institute developed two reverse design narratives emblematic of the territory—the sentry box and one featuring the Palacio de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina Palace), today the official residence of the governor. These narratives were forwarded to the United States Mint for the production of artistic renderings, which were then proposed to the commonwealth. Governor Acevedo-Vilá recommended the sentry box design, and the Secretary of the Treasury approved it on July 31, 2008.