USA State Quarters - I

Delaware

 

 The Delaware quarter, depicting the historic horseback ride of Caesar Rodney, galloped onto the scene as it kicked off the much anticipated United States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program. Caesar Rodney was a delegate to the Continental Congress. On July 1, 1776, despite suffering from asthma and cancer, Rodney set off on the 80-mile journey to Philadelphia withstanding thundershowers and a severe summer heat wave. The next day, he arrived at Independence Hall just in time to cast the deciding vote in favor of our nation's independence. This native of Dover has also held more public offices than any other Delaware citizen. In addition to being an extremely dedicated delegate, Rodney was also a soldier, judge, and speaker of Delaware's Assembly. Through an Executive Order issued by Delaware Governor Thomas R. Carper on February 2, 1998, state residents were encouraged to submit quarter design concepts to the Delaware Arts Council. The Council received over 300 submissions. With the governor's approval, the Council forwarded several concepts to the United States Mint for review and execution of drawings. From there, three selected designs were reviewed and approved by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, the Fine Arts Commission, and the Secretary of the Treasury. Next, the governor's office conducted a telephone and e-mail opinion poll. Caesar Rodney received 948 of the 1,519 total votes. The quill pen and parchment and the allegorical 'Lady Liberty' designs received 336 and 235 votes, respectively. Friday, June 12, 1998, the Caesar Rodney selection for the Delaware quarter was made public at a press briefing in Dover, DE. An art and drama teacher, fittingly employed at Caesar Rodney High School, submitted the selected design concept. The Delaware quarter's reverse celebrates Caesar Rodney's historic horseback ride in 1776.

Pennsylvania

  

The Pennsylvania quarter, the second coin in the 50 State Quarters® Program, depicts the statue "Commonwealth," an outline of the state, the state motto, and a keystone. This design was chosen to further help educate people about the origins of our second state, founded on December 12, 1787. The statue "Commonwealth," designed by New York sculptor Roland Hinton Perry, is a bronze-gilded 14' 6" high female form that has topped Pennsylvania's state capitol dome in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania since May 25, 1905. Her right arm extends in kindness and her left arm grasps a ribbon mace to symbolize justice. The image of the keystone honors the states nickname, "The Keystone State." At a Jefferson Republican victory rally in October 1802, Pennsylvania was toasted as "the keystone in the federal union." The modern persistence of this designation is justified in view of the key position of Pennsylvania in the economic, social, and political development of the United States. Selections for the Pennsylvania circulating quarter began on January 30, 1998. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge issued a proclamation establishing a Commemorative Quarter Committee to review possible designs. The 14-member committee included representatives from major cultural, conservation, travel, and tourism organizations; a teacher; a high school student; the president of the state Numismatic Society; and the state treasurer. The governor invited all Pennsylvanians to submit design concepts to the committee - and received more than 5,300 ideas. The committee reached consensus on their recommendations, and the governor forwarded five preferred concepts to the United States Mint. Four of the designs were recommended by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the Fine Arts Commission and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury. From these final four candidates, the governor chose the current design to represent Pennsylvania in the 50 State Quarters® Program. The Pennsylvania quarter's reverse features the "Commonwealth" statue, an allegorical female figure.

New Jersey

 

The New Jersey quarter, the third coin in the 50 State Quarters® Program, depicts General George Washington and members of the Colonial Army crossing the Delaware River en route to very important victories during the Revolutionary War. The design is based on the 1851 painting by Emmanuel Leutze, "Washington Crossing the Delaware," which currently hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It was a cold Christmas night in 1776 and the Delaware River was frozen in many places. General George Washington calculated the enemy would not be expecting an assault in this kind of weather. He and his soldiers courageously crossed the Delaware River into Trenton, NJ. Using surprise as their greatest weapon, Washington's army captured over 900 prisoners and secured the town. Later that night, his army continued towards Princeton, NJ, again taking the enemy by surprise. These two victories proved very important to his army as they gave the soldiers courage, hope, and newfound confidence. The ammunition, food and other supplies confiscated from their captives also helped them survive the brutal winter of 1777. The selection process for the New Jersey quarter began November 17, 1997, when Assembly Joint Resolution Number 68 was passed to establish the New Jersey Commemorative Coin Design Commission. The 15 members of the Commission were selected for their backgrounds in history, art, and numismatics. The Commission chose five design concepts for execution into drawings by the United States Mint's engravers. After consultation with the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, the Fine Arts Commission, and approval by the Secretary of the Treasury, three of these designs were returned to New Jersey Governor, Christine Todd Whitman, for the final design selection. With her approval, the Commission chose the "Washington Crossing the Delaware" design, creating the first circulating coin to feature George Washington on both the obverse and reverse sides. The New Jersey quarter's reverse features General George Washington crossing the Delaware River.

Georgia

 

The Georgia quarter, the fourth quarter released under the 50 State Quarters® Program, is a real peach. The selected design incorporates several symbols associated with this traditional, yet very diverse southern state. Just from studying the Georgia quarter design, one can learn a lot about the fourth state of the Union. The selected design prominently features the peach - a symbol long associated with the state - within the confines of a silhouetted outline of the state. Live Oak sprigs border the central design paying homage to the official state tree, the Live Oak. And if you ever need to know the Georgia state motto, simply look across the top of the design, where the words "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," grace a hanging banner. The selection process for the Georgia quarter was initiated when Georgia Governor Zell Miller tasked the Georgia Council for the Arts with the development and selection of the Georgia circulating quarter design. The Council responded by submitting five design concepts to the United States Mint. Of these five designs, four candidates were reviewed and recommended by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the Fine Arts Commission, and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury for use on the 1999 Georgia quarter. Upon receipt and careful review of the designs, Governor Miller selected the featured design. The Georgia quarter's reverse celebrates the state's geographical outline, motto, tree, and nickname.

Connecticut

The Connecticut quarter, the last 50 State Quarters® Program coin issued in 1999, features "The Charter Oak": an integral part of Connecticut's heritage and existence. If not for the famed "Charter Oak", Connecticut - and this country in general - might be a very different place than it is today! On the night of October 31, 1687, Connecticut's Charter was put to a test. A British representative for King James II, challenged Connecticut's government structure and demanded its surrender. In the middle of the heated discussion, with the Charter on the table between the opposing parties, the candles were mysteriously snuffed out, darkening the room. When visibility was reestablished, the Connecticut Charter had vanished. Heroic Captain Joseph Wadsworth saved the Charter from the hands of the British and concealed it in the safest place he could find - in a majestic white oak. This famous tree, "The Charter Oak," finally fell during a great storm on August 21, 1856. In a press release issued February 3, 1998, Governor John G. Rowland announced the Connecticut Coin Design Competition. More than 112 citizens ranging from ages six to 87 from 46 cities and towns submitted design concept entries to the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. Nineteen entrants submitted renditions of the Charter Oak and five of those were selected and forwarded to the United States Mint. Following the required review and approval process, three designs were returned to Governor Rowland for consideration. The Connecticut Commemorative Coin Design Competition Review Committee, with the governor's approval, unanimously selected the Connecticut circulating quarter design. Twenty-three people from 18 towns received honorable mentions for their design concepts. The Connecticut quarter's reverse celebrates "The Charter Oak" tree, which proved to be a good hiding place.

Massachusetts

 

The Massachusetts quarter, the first quarter of the new millennium, features a design of "The Minuteman," a famous statue that stands guard at The Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. The selected design captures a piece of the Bay State's exceptional history. The Minutemen played a big role in protecting our nation, as they rallied together to help defeat the British during the Revolutionary War. These small, influential forces consisting of regular farmers and colonists, were always at-the-ready and were trained to assemble and fight on just a minute's notice hence, the term 'minutemen'. In February 1998, Governor Paul Cellucci initiated a unique contest encouraging Massachusetts elementary school students to submit designs for the state's commemorative quarter – and more than 100 did! A 10-member advisory council then narrowed the finalist field to five proposals. After receiving final approval from former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Governor Cellucci and Lt. Governor Jane Swift announced the selected design concept in June 1999. The Minuteman design concept was submitted by a sixth grader and a seventh grader. So far, Massachusetts remains the only state to limit its design contest to children. The Massachusetts quarter's reverse bears a likeness of the celebrated Minuteman of the American Revolution against an outline of the state.

Maryland

The Maryland quarter, the 2^nd in the Year 2000 series, highlights the striking dome of the Maryland Statehouse. Through its new quarter, our 7th state shares its pride for the honored Maryland Statehouse. A distinctive building dating back to 1772, it features the country's largest wooden dome built without nails. Besides housing Maryland's colonial legislature, it was also crucial to our national history. From 1783-1784, the Maryland Statehouse served as the nation's first peacetime capital. The Treaty of Paris was ratified here, officially ending the Revolutionary War. A treasure preserved, the Statehouse continues as the country's oldest state capital building still in legislative use. Leaf clusters from the official state tree, the White Oak, and the nickname The Old Line State complete the selected design. Maryland is nicknamed the Old Line State in honor of its "troops of the line." These troops won praise from George Washington, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Governor Parris N. Glendening favored this design over five others recommended by the Maryland Commemorative Coin Committee. He established this commission specifically to evaluate quarter design submissions. The Maryland quarter's reverse highlights the striking Maryland Statehouse surrounded by White Oak leaf clusters and the nickname "The Old Line State."

South Carolina

 

The South Carolina quarter, the eighth coin released under the 50 State Quarters Program™ shows key state symbols- a Palmetto Tree, the Carolina Wren and the Yellow Jessamine. An outline of South Carolina, the nickname "The Palmetto State" and a star indicating the capital, Columbia, form the quarter’s background. The Carolina Wren, the state bird, and the Yellow Jessamine, the state flower, are native throughout South Carolina; the importance of the Palmetto Tree, the state tree, dates back to the Revolutionary War. In 1776, colonists in a small fort built of Palmetto logs successfully defeated a British fleet trying to capture Charleston Harbor. Since then, South Carolina has been called "The Palmetto State." Beginning in 1998, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) accepted quarter design suggestions. Contributions came from PRT’s offices, school children and the South Carolina Numismatic Society. From these contributions, PRT compiled five semi-finalist design concepts. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the Fine Arts Commission narrowed these five semi-finalist design concepts down to three choices. Governor Jim Hodges then made his final decision, indicating that the Palmetto Tree represents South Carolina’s strength; the Carolina Wren’s song symbolizes the hospitality of the state’s people; and the Yellow Jessamine, a delicate golden bloom-a sign of coming spring-is part of South Carolina’s vast natural beauty. The South Carolina quarter's reverse is an outline of the state complimented by an intriguing group of state symbols.

New Hampshire

 

The New Hampshire quarter, the ninth coin released under the 50 State Quarters® Program, honors one of the state's most unique natural attractions, "The Old Man of the Mountain." The state motto, "Live free or die," and nine stars, signifying the fact that New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, complete the design. "The Old Man of the Mountain" was a distinctive rock formation on Mt. Cannon in the Franconia Notch gateway to northern New Hampshire. From the right view, this unique rock formation -- comprised of five layers of Conway red granite -- depicted the distinct profile of an elderly man gazing eastward. Geographers believe that the layers of granite were formed by the melting and slipping away action of an ice sheet that covered the Franconia Mountains at the end of the glacial period 2,000 to 10,000 years ago. Until it crumbled in early 2003, the formation measured over 40 feet high with a lateral distance of 25 feet. The "formation" of the New Hampshire quarter design began when New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen established a Commemorative Quarter Committee with representatives from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Arts Educators, Numismatics, Historical Societies, the Senate and House and New Hampshire citizens. The Committee held a competition to all New Hampshire residents to submit design concepts for the New Hampshire quarter. They even created a website to broadcast the selection process and other information about the program. The final design concept selection honoring "The Old Man of the Mountain" was then forwarded to the Secretary of the Treasury who gave final approval. The New Hampshire quarter's reverse showcases the rock formation, "The Old Man of the Mountain."

Virginia

 

The Virginia quarter, the tenth coin released under the 50 State Quarters® Program, honors Jamestown, Virginia, our nation's first permanent English settlement. Jamestown turns 400 years old in 2007. The selected design features the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. These ships brought the first English settlers to Jamestown. On April 10, 1606, King James I of England chartered the Virginia Company to encourage colonization in the New World. The first expedition, consisting of the three ships depicted on the quarter, embarked from London on December 20, 1606. On May 12, 1607, they landed on a small island along the James River nearly 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It was here the original settlers (104 men and boys) established the first permanent English settlement called Jamestown, in honor of King James I. The selection of the design for Virginia's new quarter began when Governor James Gilmore III selected State Treasurer Susan F. Dewey to serve as liaison to the United States Mint for the 50 State Quarters® Program. Ideas were solicited from colleges, universities, museums, and state agencies. Public comment was overwhelming, with thousands of responses received. Representatives from the Library of Virginia, the Department of Historic Resources, the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Department of General Services assisted the State Treasurer in selecting design concepts for the Virginia quarter. The citizens of Virginia were encouraged to provide their comments. Governor Gilmore then forwarded his final design concept recommendation, the Jamestown Quadricentennial, to the Secretary of the Treasury who gave final approval.