|
Release date of Hawaii State Quarter:
November 03, 2008.
The fifth and final quarter-dollar coin released
in 2008 honors the State of Hawaii, and is the 50th and last coin in
the United States Mint’s popular 50 State Quarters® Program.
Hawaii, spelled "Hawai’i" in the Hawaiian
language, is nicknamed "The Aloha State." It became the 50th state
admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959. The release of this quarter
signals the end of the ten-year 50 State Quarters Program.
The reverse of Hawaii’s quarter features Hawaiian monarch King
Kamehameha I stretching his hand toward the eight major Hawaiian
Islands. Inscriptions are the state motto "UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘AINA I KA
PONO" ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"),
"Hawaii" and "1959."
 |
| “King Kamehameha I," features
Hawaiian monarch King Kamehameha I stretching his hand toward the eight
major Hawaiian Islands. Inscriptions are the state motto “UA MAU KE EA
O KA ‘AINA I KA PONO” (“The life of the land is perpetuated in
righteousness”), “Hawaii” and “1959.” United States Mint image.
|
King Kamehameha I is a revered figure in
Hawaiian history. He unified
the governance of the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom in the early
1800s and navigated changes in Hawaii, while maintaining the native
practices and traditional ways of island life. His "Law of the
Splintered Paddle" guaranteed the protection of citizens from harm
during war and became a landmark in humanitarian law. He is honored
with a statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
The 36-member Hawaii Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission,
composed of leaders and students from around the State, invited
citizens to submit themes for the coin’s design. From the 400 ideas it
received, the Commission developed five narratives to send to the
United States Mint for consideration. These narratives were developed
into design candidates by the United States Mint’s Sculptor-Engravers
and artists in the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. The
designs were then proposed to the State, where an online poll was
conducted to determine the citizens’ preference. More than 26,000 votes
were cast. On April 23, 2007, Governor Linda Lingle announced her
selection of the "Hawaii, the Island State" design featuring King
Kamehameha I, which was the recommendation of the Commission and also
the winning design of the online poll.
The Department of the Treasury approved the design on May 25, 2007.
Four other designs were considered, including "Hawaii – Diverse but
Unified," an alternate design depicting the eight major Hawaiian
Islands and King Kamehameha I; "Aloha Spirit," featuring a traditional
female hula dancer; "Diamond Head," featuring the State’s iconic
landmark; and "Surfing – Hawaii’s Gift to the World."
Purchase a Hawaii
State Quarter
|
