State Quarters
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United_States_quarter,_obverse,_2004.jpg
The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Between 1999 and 2008 (anticipated completion date), it features each of the United States' 50 individual U.S. states on unique designs for the reverse of the quarter
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The state quarter program
During the program, a new statehood quarter is released by the United States Mint every "quintile," or 1/5th of a year (73 days); five designs are released each year. Each quarter's reverse celebrates one of the 50 states with a design honoring its unique history, traditions and symbols, usually designed by a resident of that state and chosen by the state government.
The quarters are released in the same order that the states joined the Union. The obverse of each quarter is the same, but is a redesign over the previous design of the quarter.
The statehood quarters program has become one of the most popular commemorative coin programs in United States history; the United States Mint has estimated that over one hundred million individuals have collected state quarters, either formally or informally.
Although the statehood program is, by legislation, intended to include only the 50 states, legislation has twice been introduced in Congress to extend the program an additional year to include the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. As of June 2004, this legislation had not yet reached a floor vote.
Quarter details
| State | Release Date (Statehood Date) | Mintage Numbers | Design | Elements Depicted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | January 1, 1999 (December 7, 1787) | 774,824,000 | Missing image Delaware_quarter,_reverse_side,_1999.jpg Delaware quarter |
Caesar Rodney on horseback Captions: "The First State," "Caesar Rodney" |
| Pennsylvania | March 8, 1999 (December 12, 1787) | 707,332,000 | Missing image Pennsylvania_quarter,_reverse_side,_1999.jpg Pennsylvania quarter |
"Commonwealth" statue, state outline, keystone Captions: "Virtue, Liberty, Independence" |
| New Jersey | May 17, 1999 (December 18, 1787) | 662,228,000 | Missing image New_Jersey_quarter,_reverse_side,_1999.jpg New Jersey quarter |
"Washington Crossing the Delaware" Caption: "Crossroads of the Revolution." |
| Georgia | July 19, 1999 (January 2, 1788) | 939,932,000 | Missing image Georgia_quarter,_reverse_side,_1999.jpg Georgia quarter |
Peach, Live oak sprigs, state outline Banner with text: "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation" |
| Connecticut | October 12, 1999 (January 9, 1788) | 1,346,624,000 | Missing image Connecticut_quarter,_reverse_side,_1999.jpg Connecticut quarter |
Charter Oak Caption: "The Charter Oak" |
| Massachusetts | January 3, 2000 (February 6, 1788) | 1,163,784,000 | Missing image Massachusetts_quarter,_reverse_side,_2000.jpg Massachusetts quarter |
"The Minuteman" statue, state outline Caption: "The Bay State" |
| Maryland | March 13, 2000 (April 28, 1788) | 1,234,732,000 | Missing image Maryland_quarter,_reverse_side,_2000.jpg Maryland quarter |
Dome of the Maryland state house, White oak clusters Caption: "The Old Line State" |
| South Carolina | May 22, 2000 (May 23, 1788) | 1,308,784,000 | Missing image South_Carolina_quarter,_reverse_side,_2000.jpg South Carolina quarter |
Palmetto tree, Carolina Wren, yellow jessamine, state outline Caption: "The Palmetto State" |
| New Hampshire | August 7, 2000 (June 21, 1788) | 1,169,016,000 | Missing image New_Hampshire_quarter,_reverse_side,_2000.jpg New Hampshire quarter |
"The Old Man of the Mountain," nine stars Captions: "Old Man of the Mountain," "Live Free or Die" |
| Virginia | October 16, 2000 (June 25, 1788) | 1,594,616,000 | Missing image Virginia_quarter,_reverse_side,_2000.jpg Virginia quarter |
Ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, Discovery Captions: "Jamestown, 1607-2007," "Quadricentennial" |
| New York | January 2, 2001 (July 26, 1788) | 1,275,040,000 | Missing image New_York_quarter,_reverse_side,_2001.jpg New York quarter |
Statue of Liberty, eleven stars, state outline with line tracing Hudson River and Erie Canal Caption: "Gateway to Freedom" |
| North Carolina | March 12, 2001 (November 21, 1789) | 1,055,476,000 | Missing image North_Carolina_quarter,_reverse_side,_2001.jpg North Carolina quarter |
Wright Flyer, Wilbur and Orville Wright Caption: "First Flight" |
| Rhode Island | May 21, 2001 (May 29, 1790) | 870,100,000 | Missing image Rhode_Island_quarter,_reverse_side,_2001.jpg Rhode Island quarter |
Vintage sailboat in Narragansett Bay, Pell Bridge Caption: "The Ocean State" |
| Vermont | August 6, 2001 (March 4, 1791) | 882,804,000 | Missing image Vermont_quarter,_reverse_side,_2001.jpg Vermont quarter |
Maple trees with sap buckets, Camel's Hump Mountain Caption: "Freedom and Unity" |
| Kentucky | October 15, 2001 (June 1, 1792) | 723,564,000 | Missing image Kentucky_quarter,_reverse_side,_2001.jpg Kentucky quarter |
Thoroughbred racehorse behind fence, Federal Hill mansion Caption: "My Old Kentucky Home" |
| Tennessee | January 2, 2002 (June 1, 1796) | 648,068,000 | Missing image Tennessee_quarter,_reverse_side,_2002.jpg Tennessee quarter |
Fiddle, trumpet, guitar, musical score, three stars Banner with text: "Musical Heritage." |
| Ohio | March 18, 2002 (March 1, 1803) | 632,032,000 | Missing image Ohio_quarter,_reverse_side,_2002.jpg Ohio quarter |
Wright Flyer, spacesuit, state outline Caption: "Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers" |
| Louisiana | May 30, 2002 (April 30, 1812) | 764,204,000 | Missing image Louisiana_quarter,_reverse_side,_2002.jpg Louisiana quarter |
Pelican; trumpet with musical notes, outline of Louisiana Purchase on map of U.S. Caption: "Louisiana Purchase" |
| Indiana | August 2, 2002 (December 11, 1816) | 689,800,000 | Missing image Indiana_quarter,_reverse_side,_2002.jpg Indiana quarter |
Racecar, state outline, 19 stars Caption: "Crossroads of America" |
| Mississippi | October 15, 2002 (December 10, 1817) | 579,600,000 | Missing image Mississippi_quarter,_reverse_side,_2002.jpg Mississippi quarter |
Two magnolia blossoms Caption: "The Magnolia State" |
| Illinois | January 2, 2003 (December 3, 1818) | 463,200,000 | Missing image Illinois_quarter,_reverse_side,_2003.jpg Illinois quarter |
Young Abraham Lincoln; farm scene; Chicago skyline; state outline; 21 stars, 11 on left edge and 10 on right Captions: "Land of Lincoln;" "21st state/century." |
| Alabama | March 17, 2003 (December 14, 1819) | 457,400,000 | Missing image Alabama_quarter,_reverse_side,_2003.jpg Alabama quarter |
Helen Keller, seated, longleaf pine branch, Magnolia blossoms Banner with text: "Spirit of Courage" Caption: "Helen Keller" in standard print and Braille. |
| Maine | June 2, 2003 (March 15, 1820) | 448,800,000 | Missing image Maine_quarter,_reverse_side,_2003.jpg Maine quarter |
Pemaquid Point Light; schooner at sea |
| Missouri | August 4, 2003 (August 10, 1821) | 453,200,000 | Missing image Missouri_quarter,_reverse_side,_2003.jpg Missouri quarter |
Gateway Arch, Lewis and Clark returning down Missouri River Caption: "Corps of Discovery 1804-2004." |
| Arkansas | October 20, 2003 (June 15, 1836) | 457,800,000 | Missing image Arkansas_quarter,_reverse_side,_2003.jpg Arkansas quarter |
Diamond, rice stalks, mallard duck flying above a lake |
| Michigan | January 26, 2004 (January 26, 1837) | 459,600,000 | Missing image Michigan_quarter,_reverse_side,_2004.jpg Michigan quarter |
State outline, outline of Great Lakes system Caption: "Great Lakes State" |
| Florida | March 29, 2004 (March 3, 1845) | 481,800,000 | Missing image Florida_quarter,_reverse_side,_2004.jpg Florida quarter |
Spanish galleon, Sabal palm trees, Space Shuttle Caption: "Gateway to Discovery" |
| Texas | June 1, 2004 (December 29, 1845) | 541,800,000 | Missing image Texas_quarter,_reverse_side,_2004.jpg Texas quarter |
State outline, star Caption: "The Lone Star State" |
| Iowa | August 30, 2004 (December 28, 1846) | 465,200,000 | Missing image Iowa_quarter,_reverse_side,_2004.jpg Iowa quarter |
Schoolhouse, teacher and students planting a tree, Captions: "Foundation in Education", "Grant Wood" |
| Wisconsin | October 25, 2004 (May 29, 1848) | 453,200,000 | Missing image Wisconsin_quarter,_reverse_side,_2004.jpg Wisconsin quarter |
Head of a cow, round of cheese and ear of corn. Caption: "Forward" |
| California | January 31, 2005 (September 9, 1850) | Missing image California_quarter,_reverse_side,_2005.jpg California quarter |
John Muir, California Condor and Half Dome Caption: "Yosemite Valley" |
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| Minnesota | April 4,2005 (May 11, 1858) | Missing image Minnesota_quarter,_reverse_side,_2005.jpg Minnesota quarter |
Common loon, Fishing, state map Caption: "Land of 10,000 Lakes" |
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| Oregon | 2005 (February 14, 1859) | Missing image Oregon_quarter,_reverse_side,_2005.jpg Oregon quarter |
Crater Lake National Park Caption: "Crater Lake" |
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| Kansas | 2005 (January 29, 1861) | Missing image Kansas_quarter,_reverse_side,_2005.jpg Kansas quarter |
American Bison, Sunflowers | |
| West Virginia | 2005 (June 20, 1863) | Missing image West_Virginia_quarter,_reverse_side,_2005.jpg West Virginia quarter |
New River Gorge Bridge Caption: "New River Gorge" |
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| Nevada | 2006 (October 31, 1864) | |||
| Nebraska | 2006 (March 1, 1867) | |||
| Colorado | 2006 (August 1, 1876) | Missing image State_Quarter,_Colorado_Accepted_Design.jpg Colorado quarter |
Rocky Mountains Caption: "Colorful Colorado" |
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| North Dakota | 2006 (November 2, 1889) | |||
| South Dakota | 2006 (November 2, 1889) | |||
| Montana | 2007 (November 8, 1889) | |||
| Washington | 2007 (November 11, 1889) | |||
| Idaho | 2007 (July 3, 1890) | |||
| Wyoming | 2007 (July 10, 1890) | |||
| Utah | 2007 (January 4, 1896) | |||
| Oklahoma | 2008 (November 16, 1907) | |||
| New Mexico | 2008 (January 6, 1912) | |||
| Arizona | 2008 (February 14, 1912) | |||
| Alaska | 2008 (January 3, 1959) | |||
| Hawaii | 2008 (August 21, 1959) |
Quarter-dollar coin images from the United States Mint.
Year map
The following map shows the years each state is released as a State Quarter.
Missing image
State_Quarters_Year_Map.png
Image:State Quarters Year Map.png
The following table has corresponding color codes for each year applied to the color of the text and grouped by year.
Controversy over the Wisconsin quarter
The U.S. Mint designed the state quarters series, not as a potentially valuable collectible, but as a way of spurring interest in U.S. coinage - which had seen relatively few changes in design in the past 50 years - and U.S. history. While none of the regular circulating issues are sufficiently rare enough to become valuable investments, there was a small measure of collector interest and controversy over misprintings of the Wisconsin quarter. Some designs feature corn without a smaller leaf, others feature a small leaf pointing upwards, and still others have the leaf bending down. A set of all three quarters from the Philadelphia mint sold on eBay in February 2005 for $300. No other variations on any other state quarter issues have been noted as of 2005.
See [1] (http://www.snopes.com/business/money/quarter.asp) for some further details on the variations in the Wisconsin quarter reverse.
See also
External link
- The 50 State Quarters Program of the United States Mint Official Website (http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=schedule)
- State Quarter Designs (http://www.quarterdesigns.com/)