Anyone who has handled coins of the United
States in recent years has most likely noticed
the wide variety of designs on the 25 cent
pieces or quarters. The quarter dollar coin
has been in use with various designs since
1796. It was between 1932 and 1998, that the
design of the quarter included a portrait
of George Washington on the obverse side and
a bald eagle, the national bird, on the reverse
side. The eagle perched on a bundle of arrows
with olive branches below. In 1997, Congress
issued the United States Commemorative Coin
Program Act, which was signed into law by
then President Bill Clinton on December 1,
1997, which established the 50 state quarter
program. Beginning in 1999, the long familiar
eagle design was replaced with a design emblematic
of each of the 50 states. Five coins were
issued each year between 1999 and 2008, or
one every 10 weeks. The coins were issued
in the order that the states ratified the
Constitution. George Washington’s portrait
on the observe side was also slightly redesigned.
The United States of America scrolls above
his head, while the words Quarter Dollar are
displayed beneath. The word Liberty appears
to the left of Washington and the national
motto of “In God We Trust,” adopted in
1956, appears to the right. The Mint mark
for each coin appears below this, an S for
the San Francisco Mint, a D for the Denver
Mint, and a P for the Philadelphia Mint. The
great majority of coins in circulation are
from the Denver and Philadelphia mints, while
coins from the San Francisco Mint are mostly
proof coins produced for collectors. The reverse
side’s central design is different for each
quarter, but always displays the states name
across the top with the year that the state
ratified the Constitution directly below that.
The Latin phrase of “E Pluribus Unum,”
in use since 1776, appears at the bottom,
which translates to “Out of Many One.”
Above this is the year that the coin was minted.
The first coin of the series, Delaware’s
quarter, features Caesar Rodney on horseback
with the captions “Caesar Rodney” and
“The First State,” one of the state’s
nicknames. Caesar Rodney was an American lawyer,
politician, and military officer who served
with the Delaware militia during the French
and Indian War and the American Revolution.
He was a representative of Delaware for the
Continental Congress during the Revolution.
To break a deadlock on the vote to declare
independence, Rodney rode through a thunderstorm
on the night of July 1, 1776. He arrived in
Philadelphia on July 2 when voting took place
on declaring independence. His arrival allowed
the vote to pass and Rodney went on to sign
the Declaration of Independence. Later in
the war, he served as Delaware’s president
between 1778 and 1781.
Pennsylvania’s quarter features the Commonwealth
statue with an outline of the state behind
her. The state’s motto of “Virtue, Liberty,
Independence,” adopted in 1778, appears
to the right, while a keystone appears to
the left. The Commonwealth statue is a gilded
statue created in 1905 that stands atop the
dome of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building
in Harrisburg. The keystone is a reference
to the state’s nickname, the “Keystone
State.” A keystone is a wedge shaped stone
piece at the apex of a masonry vault or arch
that allows the arch to bear weight, hence
the name keystone. The name keystone was associated
with Pennsylvania, as the state was at the
center of the original 13 colonies that declared
independence, and home to the nation’s first
capital of Philadelphia.
New Jersey’s quarter features an image based
off of the famous 1851 painting titled Washington
Crossing the Delaware. The painting is an
idealized representation of General George
Washington crossing the Delaware River on
the night of December 25, 1776 during the
American Revolution. The crossing was the
first action in a decisive surprise attack
against Hessian forces at Trenton that became
one of the turning points of the Revolutionary
War. George Washington stands near the front
of the boat while James Monroe holds the flag
behind him. Monroe was only a young solider
at the time, but would later serve as president.
The caption, Crossroads of the Revolution,
refers to the key crossings that American
and British forces made across the Delaware
River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania
during the course of the war.
Georgia’s quarter features a peach fruit
in the center of an outline of the state.
The peach is the state fruit and has long
been associated with Georgia as it grows in
abundance there. Sprigs of the live oak, the
state tree, flank the outline of Georgia,
while the state’s motto of “Wisdom, Justice,
Moderation” is written across a banner.
An apparent mistake in the outline of the
state has left out Dade County, which is located
in the extreme northwestern portion of the
state.
Connecticut’s quarter features the Charter
Oak, an unusually large white oak tree that
grew in Hartford from around the 12th or 13th
centuries until it fell in a storm in 1856.
Tradition tells that Connecticut’s Royal
Charter of 1662 was hidden within the hollow
of the tree to prevent its confiscation in
1687 by the English Governor-General Sir Edmund
Andros. This was when King James II consolidated
several colonies into the short lived Dominion
of New England in an attempt to take closer
control of them. After the tree fell in 1856,
wood from it was used to create the desk of
the Governor of Connecticut, as well as the
chairs for the Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President of the Senate. These pieces
of furniture are still at the state capitol
building in Hartford.
Massachusetts’ quarter features an outline
of the state with The Concord Minuteman of
1775 statue that was erected in 1875. The
statue commemorates the militiamen who responded
to stand against British forces in the first
battles of the American Revolution at Lexington
and Concord on April 19, 1775. The caption
of “The Bay State” appears to the right.
Maryland’s quarter features the dome of
the Maryland State House in Annapolis. The
building dates to 1772 and is the oldest state
capitol building in continuous legislative
use. The dome is the largest wooden dome in
the United States constructed without nails.
Clusters of the white oak, the state tree,
flank the dome on the quarter. The caption
of “The Old Line State” is one of Maryland’s
nicknames. It may have originated during the
Revolutionary War, referring to the Maryland
line of troops.
South Carolina’s quarter features the state
bird of the Carolina wren, the state flower
of the yellow jessamine, the state tree of
the cabbage palmetto, and the state’s outline.
The state’s nickname of “The Palmetto
State” appears as a caption. The palmetto
is a common tree along the south Atlantic
coast. The palmetto’s spongey bark helped
to absorb the impact of British cannonballs
when American forces under William Moultrie
defended a fort constructed of palmetto logs
on Sullivan’s Island in 1776.
New Hampshire’s quarter features The Old
Man of the Mountain, a great face of stone
that used to protrude from granite cliffs
of the White Mountains that was first recorded
in 1805. The rock formation collapsed in May
2003, less than three years after the quarter’s
release. The quarter also features nine stars
to the left a reference to New Hampshire being
the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
The state’s motto of “Live, Free, or Die”
appears as a caption, the phrase was first
used by a Revolutionary War veteran in 1809
and recalls the assertive independence of
the United States.
Virginia’s quarter features three English
ships of sail from the early seventeenth century,
the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the
Discovery. It was these ships that transported
the settlers of Jamestown to Virginia in 1607
when the first permanent English colony was
established in what is now the United States.
The captions of Jamestown, 1607-2007 and quadricentennial
speaks to this history and the 400th anniversary
of Jamestown’s founding.
New York’s quarter features one of America’s
most iconic symbols, the Statue of Liberty,
in front of a map of the state. The 11 stars
are a reference to New York being the 11th
state to ratify the Constitution. The caption
“Gateway to Freedom” recalls New York
City’s history as an arrival point for millions
of immigrants, especially at Ellis Island
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886
and was a gift from the people of France.
The statue was often one of the first sights
that European immigrants saw upon their arrival
by ship across the Atlantic. The map of New
York featured on the quarter displays the
Hudson River, a key waterway throughout the
state’s history, and the Erie Canal, built
in the early 19th century.
North Carolina’s quarter features the Wright
brothers’ Wright Flyer in Kittyhawk mid-flight
on December 17, 1903. This was the first successful
heavier-than-air powered aircraft. The text
reads “first flight.”
Rhode Island’s quarter features the 1903
America’s Cup racing yacht Reliance on Narragansett
Bay. The Pell Bridge or Newport Bridge, opened
in 1969, appears in the background. The nickname
of The Ocean State appears above.
Vermont’s quarter features a man collecting
sap from maple trees, while Camel’s Hump
Mountain, part of the Green Mountain range,
with its distinctive profile appears in the
background. The caption reads “Freedom and
Unity,” the state’s motto.
Kentucky’s quarter features a thoroughbred
racehorse, a reference to the state’s connection
to horse racing. The Federal Hill Mansion
appears in the background, a former planation
built in 1795. The mansion served as inspiration
for the song “My Old Kentucky Home” in
1852.
Tennessee’s quarter features a collection
of musical instruments and a banner that reads
musical heritage.
Ohio’s quarter features an outline of the
state and the Wright Flyer, the same aircraft
that appears on North Carolina’s quarter.
The Wright brothers were born in Dayton, Ohio.
An astronaut also appears, a reference to
the fact that Neil Armstrong, the first man
on the moon, was a native of Ohio. The caption
reads Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers.
Louisiana’s quarter features a map of the
United States with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase
outlined. A trumpet with musical notes is
a reference to Louisiana’s musical heritage,
especially jazz music. The state bird of a
brown pelican also sits beside the map.
Indiana’s quarter features an IndyCar in
front of a map of the state, a reference to
IndyCar auto racing and the Indianapolis 500.
19 stars signify the fact that Indiana was
the 19th state to ratify the Constitution.
The state’s motto of “Crossroads of America”
also appears to the right.
Mississippi’s quarter features two magnolia
blossoms, the state’s flower, with the associated
nickname, “The Magnolia State.”
Illinois’ quarter features a young Abraham
Lincoln, a native of Illinois, in front of
an outline of the state. The state’s nickname
of Land of Lincoln appears to the left and
the caption of 21st state / century appears
to the right. A farm scene and part of the
skyline of Chicago can also be seen.
Alabama’s quarter features a seated Helen
Keller, the first deaf and blind person to
earn a bachelor of arts degree and a native
of Alabama. Her name appears in standard text
and in braille. A longleaf pine branch, the
state tree, and magnolia blossoms are seen
off to the sides. A banner with the text “Spirit
of Courage” appears below.
Maine’s quarter features the early 19th
century Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and the
schooner Victory Chimes, built in the year
1900.
Missouri’s quarter features the Gateway
Arch of St. Louis, which was built in 1935.
The arch is the world’s tallest at 630 feet
and a monument to westward expansion. The
return of Lewis and Clark in a canoe being
rowed by the slave named York is shown as
they come down the Missouri River. The Lewis
and Clark Expedition is also recalled in the
caption of Corps of Discovery and the dates
of 1804 and 2004, representing the 200th anniversary
of the expedition.
Arkansas’ quarter features a diamond, the
state gem, rice stalks, and a mallard flying
above a lake. Arkansas was the only diamond
bearing state in the country before more recent
discoveries in Colorado and Montana.
Michigan’s quarter features an outline of
the state along with an outline of all five
of the Great Lakes.
Florida’s quarter features a Spanish galleon,
representing the state’s early history as
a Spanish colony, cabbage palmettos, the state
tree, and a space shuttle, a reference to
the many NASA missions launched from Cape
Canaveral. The caption reads “Gateway to
Discovery.”
Texas’ quarter features an outline of the
state with a single star. Ropes form a border,
recalling cowboys and ranching. The Lone Star
state was once a country of its own, the Texas
Republic, between 1836 and 1846.
Iowa’s quarter features a schoolhouse with
a teacher and students planting a tree and
the caption of “Foundation in Education.”
The name of “Grant Wood,” the famous American
painter, appears below.
Wisconsin’s quarter features the head of
a cattle, a round of cheese, and an ear of
maize, symbols of the state’s dairy and
agricultural industries. A banner with the
state motto of forward is shown below.
California’s quarter features John Muir,
the American naturalist, who was an early
advocate of preserving wildness areas in the
United States. Muir is shown exploring the
Yosemite Valley with Yosemite National Park’s
Half Dome in the background and a California
condor soaring above.
Minnesota’s quarter features the state bird
of the common loon swimming in a lake as people
are seen fishing in the background. Minnesota
is known for its many lakes and the state’s
nickname of “Land of 10,000 Lakes” appears
on a map of the state to the left.
Oregon’s quarter features a scene at Crater
Lake National Park, the fifth oldest national
park in the United States. The park includes
the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of a
destroyed volcano, and the surrounding forests.
Kansas’ quarter features an American bison,
the state mammal that historically populated
the Great Plains in huge numbers before being
brought to near extinction in the late 19th
century. Sunflowers, the state flower, appear
to the left of the bison.
West Virginia’s quarter features the New
River Gorge Bridge opened in 1977. The 1,700
feet long arch spans the gorge in the Appalachian
Mountains.
Nevada’s quarter features wild mustang horses
with mountains and a rising sun in the background.
Sagebrush, the state flower, appears to the
sides. The banner holds the state’s nickname
of the Silver State.
Nebraska’s quarter features Chimney Rock,
a famous landmark that was used by settlers
traveling west, represented by the covered
wagon.
Colorado’s quarter features Longs Peak in
the Rocky Mountains and the state’s slogan
of Colorful Colorado.
North Dakota’s quarter features American
bison in the badlands of the state.
South Dakota’s quarter features Mount Rushmore
a huge sculpture carved into granite in the
Black Hills in 1925. It serves as a national
memorial to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, four
of the country’s most influential presidents.
The state bird, a ring-necked pheasant flies
above and wheat appears to the sides. While
South Dakota has the second highest proportion
of Native Americans of any state, the quarter
features three items related to European settlement:
Mount Rushmore, which was carved into the
sacred Black Hills of the Lakota, a pheasant,
which is an exotic species originally from
Asia and introduced to North America in 1881,
and wheat, which has replaced tens of thousands
of square miles of native grasslands.
Montana’s quarter features an American bison
skull with mountains and the Missouri River
in the background. The state’s slogan of
Big Sky Country is written to the right.
Washington’s quarter features a leaping
salmon in front of Mount Rainier, the tallest
mountain in the state. The state nickname
of the Evergreen State is also featured, a
reference to the lush temperate rainforests
of the Pacific coast.
Idaho’s quarter features a peregrine falcon,
adopted as the state raptor in 2004. A map
of the state is shown with a star indicating
the location of the state capital of Boise.
The state motto of Esto Perpetua, which is
Latin for Let it be eternal, is written above
the map.
Wyoming’s quarter features a bucking horse
and rider and the state’s nickname of the
Equality State, a reference to the fact that
Wyoming was the first territory and state
to allow women the right to vote.
Utah’s quarter features the Golden Spike,
the final spike driven to join the rails of
the First Transcontinental Railroad across
the United States, joining the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts in 1869. The railway with locomotives
on each side is shown below.
Oklahoma’s quarter features a scissor-tailed
flycather, the state bird, and Indian blankets,
the state wildflower.
New Mexico’s quarter features a map of the
state with the Native American Zia sun symbol
that also features on the state’s flag.
The caption includes the state’s nickname
of the Land of Enchantment.
Arizona’s quarter features the Grand Canyon,
the largest canyon in the world. A Saguaro
cactus, an iconic species endemic to the Sonoran
Desert is also featured. A banner with the
state’s nickname of the Grand Canyon State
separates the two scenes as the Grand Canyon
is located in the northern portion of the
state, while Saguaros only grow in the southern
desert portion of the state.
Alaska’s quarter features a grizzly bear
with a salmon in its mouth. The salmon is
extremely important to Alaska’s ecology,
economy, and native peoples. The North Star,
a symbol of Alaska, is also included. The
caption of the Great Land appears to the right,
a reference to the fact that Alaska is by
far the country’s largest state. This map
shows just how big Alaska is compared to the
rest of the continental United States.
Hawaii’s quarter features a map of the state
with the state’s motto in Hawaiian below
that translates to “The life of the land
is perpetuated in righteousness.” The famous
Honolulu statue of King Kamehameha I, the
first king of hawaii, appears to the right
with an outstretched arm. Hawaii’s quarter
is the first U.S. coin produced for circulation
that has featured royalty or a monarch of
any kind.
After the conclusion of the 50 state quarters
in 2008, six additional new quarters were
issued the following year in 2009 for the
federal District of Columbia and the five
territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American
Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern
Mariana Islands
Washington, D.C.’s quarter features Duke
Ellington seated at a grand piano. Ellington
was a composer, pianist, and bandleader of
jazz orchestras. The caption reads “Justice
for All.”
Puerto Rico’s quarter features a sentry
box of the historic Castillo San Felipe del
Morro, a Spanish fortress built in San Juan
in 1539. A hibiscus flower appears to the
right and the caption reads “Isla del Encanto,”
Spanish for Island of Enchantment.
Guam’s quarter features a map of the island,
a native seagoing vessel, and a latte stone,
an ancient pillar used for the base of homes.
The caption translates to Guam - Land of the
Chamorro.
American Samoa’s quarter features an ava
bowl, a whisk and staff, all symbols of the
native peoples. The ava bowl is used to make
special ceremonial drink for island chiefs
and guests during important events and the
ava ceremony is one of the most significant
traditional events in Samoan culture. The
whisk and staff symbolize the rank of the
Samoan orator at these gatherings. A coconut
tree appears on the shore in the background.
The motto of American Samoa is featured as
a caption and translates to Samoa, God is
First.
The U.S. Virgin Islands’ quarter features
an outline of the three major islands, a yellow
banana quit, the territory’s official bird,
a yellow elder, the official flower, and a
tyre palm tree. The official motto of the
territory of United in Pride and Hope also
appears to the right.
The Northern Mariana Islands’ quarter features
images of the islands’ many natural resources.
An ancient limestone latte stone stands on
the shore while a seafaring canoe of the indigenous
Carolinians appears at sea. Two white fairy
tern birds fly overhead. A Carolinian mwar
or head lei makes up the bottom border.
After the conclusion of the state and territorial
quarters in 2009, the America the Beautiful
Quarters began to be minted in 2010. This
program features five new quarters each year
until the year 2021. Each quarter will depict
a national park or national site, one from
each state, the federal district, and each
territory.
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This page was last edited on 15 April 2021, at 00:44