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What a resounding success! The State Quarters 1999-2008 program has
welcomed
huge numbers of new people to the coin collecting hobby. According to the
U.S. Mint, State Quarters are currently collected by about 130 million people -
which translates to about one person in every home in America. No other
collectible commodity in history has ever achieved such soaring popularity.
The 50 State Quarters program is a 10-year initiative launched in January
1999, and runs through the end of 2008. The program honors each state with
a specialized design on the reverse of its State Quarter. The obverse of all U.S. State Quarters displays a refined image of
George Washington. A newly designed quarter reverse has been released five times a
year since the inception of the 10-year program. States are honored in the
order in which they were admitted to the Union, beginning with
Delaware, our
first state.
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United States Mint image
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Legislation in late 2007 was passed to similarly honor the District of Columbia and several U.S.
territories. The Mint will coin six newly designed quarters in 2009
honoring the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories: the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin
Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The
2009 quarters will continue to feature the image of President George Washington on the
obverse. The reverse will
commemorate the history, geography or traditions of the District of Columbia and
each territory, in a manner of the State Quarters. The first quarter to be
issued in 2009 will honor the District of Columbia. The five United States
territories will follow throughout the year. The eagle reverse, last used
in 1997, will return in 2010.
Taxpayers will be delighted to know that the 50 State Quarters program is
much more than just self-supporting. Thanks to the sale of
State Quarter Proof Sets,
and something known as
seigniorage, hundreds of millions of dollars in profits flow into
the Treasury annually!
Click on any link from the list of State Quarters below to see a design
image, and to obtain more detailed information about the coin you selected.
The 2008 quarters can be ordered directly from the U.S. Mint as soon as they
available. Check the
US Mint Product Availability Page to confirm
when they go on sale. To plug
holes in your collection from previous years, there are other reputable sources
of
State Quarters 1999-2008.
One stated goal of the State Quarters program was to bring history to the
American people. So far, we've done fairly well. Many of the State
Quarter designs whisk us back in time to some memorable event, such as the 1999
New Jersey quarter showing Washington and his men crossing the icy Delaware
River on December 26, 1776. Other State Quarters teach culture, geography
and the unique heritage of the state. For example, the 2002 Tennessee quarter
boasts a guitar, reflecting the state's musical legacy. Without a doubt,
the roll call of the 50 State Quarters is bringing to life the history and
beauty of our country.
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