The U.S. Mint's recent state-quarters program has been a boon to coin collecting. According to a survey conducted by the Mint, nearly half of all Americans have collected the coins, resulting in billions of dollars in profits for the U.S. Treasury.
Begun in 1998, the program has introduced five new state quarters into circulation each year. Quarters were minted in the order of statehood—Delaware first, Hawaii last. On the coin’s obverse is a William Cousins update of the 1932 John Flanagan design for the Washington quarter. Because state information would take up the space on the coin’s reverse, the words "United States of America" were moved to top of the coin’s front. This pushed the word "Liberty" to the spot below Washington’s chin, which, in turn, forced the words "In God We Trust" to the area behind the founding father’s ponytail.
The design of each state quarter’s reverse side was left to the states and their governors. Delaware’s design features the historic horseback ride of Continental Congress delegat...
Other quarters are themselves pieces of history. The reverse of the New Hampshire quarter, which was minted in 2000, is dominated by a rock formation known as The Old Man of the Mountain, which crumbled in 2003. Some states chose icons (a Wright Brothers airplane for North Carolina, the Gateway Arch for Missouri), others picked animals (both Kansas and North Dakota selected buffalo), and a few states placed noted figures on its coins (Helen Keller in Alabama, John Muir in California).
Only a handful of production anomalies have occurred. Some Minnesota quarters from 2005 have an extra tree on them, while the obverse of some Kansas quarters struck the same year read "In God We Rust."
But the most famous flaw in the program occurred at the Denver mint during the striking of the Wisconsin quarter in 2004. The coin’s reverse features a dairy cow, a wheel of cheese, and an ear of corn, all above the state’s motto, "Forward." But that ear of corn has an extra leaf pointing up on some coins, and an extra leaf pointing down on others. These variations have made the Wisconsin quarter the most expensive in the program.
Finally, smaller runs of all state quarters were produced in silver versions. For these quarters, the Mint went back to the pre-1965 recipe of 90-percent silver.
In 2009, the Mint produced coins for the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but these coins are not considered part of the state-quarters program.
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Recent News: State Quarters
Source: Google News
Mush should 'fly out' of Pakistan
The Nation, May 18thHowever, they refused to divulge the details of the modalities being discussed or finalised so far by the international guarantors of Musharraf and the state's quarters concerned. PML-Zia chief Ijaz-ul-Haq, who is believed to be close to the real...Read more
Lady Bears reach state quarters
Sanford Herald (registration), May 17thLady Bears reach state quarters. Chatham Central blanks Gray Stone, 8-0. May. 17, 2013 @ 10:14 PM. Andrew Giermak. ccsb1.jpg. Andrew Giermak | The Sanford Herald Chatham Central pitcher Kelsey Hayes throws to first baseman Hanna Batten for an out...Read more
Kaps Koins opens in Clare
Clare County Review, May 17thI am very pleased that the state quarters/President dollars have renewed an interest in coin collecting. Although these often won't hold value since so many were minted, and are in collections they are still a good way to start. We also have books...Read more
Girls water polo | State quarters: Jackovich guides Knights to first semi
Chicago Tribune, May 16thGirls water polo | State quarters: Jackovich guides Knights to first semi. May 17, 2013|By Mike Helfgot | Special to the Tribune. Lincoln-Way Central senior Danijela Jackovich looks for an open teammate during the third period against Loyola at the...Read more
Soccer: Richland boys advance to state quarters
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, May 14thFormer Richland High goalie Nash Yamauchi is long gone, but his legacy lives on with the Bombers. On Tuesday night, Tyler Duncan scored the only goal Richland would need on a 'Nash' play, helping Richland to a 3-0 victory over Stadium High of Tacoma...Read more
Spartans advance to state tennis quarterfinals
Reading Eagle, May 14thDefending champ Wyomissing defeated District 4 runner-up Galeton 4-1 with four straight-set victories Tuesday at Hershey Racquet Club to advance to Friday's quarterfinal round of the PIAA Class AA team tennis tournament. The Spartans (17-0) played...Read more
Lady Crusaders reach state quarters
Sanford Herald (registration), May 11thLady Crusaders reach state quarters. May. 11, 2013 @ 07:49 PM. Andrew Giermak. IMG_0841.JPG. Lee Christian's Peyton Sprouse, right, defends against Grace Christian's Madison Bolen during an NCISAA State Tournament match at Grace Christian on...Read more
3-1 win pushes DHS girls to state quarters
The Daily Citizen, April 30th3-1 win pushes DHS girls to state quarters. By Marty Kirkland martykirkland@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Tue Apr 30, 2013, 06:57 AM EDT. Dalton High School sophomore tennis player Anna Grace Wilson never feels like her singles match is...Read more
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