Pennsylvania State Design

There is also a picture of a keystone on this quarter. The keystone honors the state's nickname, the "Keystone State." Pennsylvania is being compared to a keystone, which is a special stone used in building arches. In the middle of an arch, there is a stone called the keystone. It holds all the other stones up so they won't collapse. All the other stones depend on the keystone. The colony of Pennsylvania was called the Keystone because the other twelve colonies depended on Pennsylvania in many ways. The location of Pennsylvania made it the center colony. Six of the colonies were located south of Pennsylvania, and the other six were east or north of Pennsylvania, so it was a convenient place for people from all of the colonies to meet. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania became our capital city from 1790 to 1800, and many important meetings were held there. For example, the Second Continental Congress was the meeting where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. Also the Constitutional Convention in 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this meeting the United States Constitution was written. In 1792 Congress established the United State Mint. This was the first federal building constructed under the new Constitution. This is why Pennsylvania is called the "Keystone State."

Pennsylvania's state motto, "Virtue, Liberty, Independence" also appears on the quarter. The motto names three things that are very important in Pennsylvania. Virtue means goodness; liberty means freedom; and independence means able to survive on your own without the control of others.

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Pennsylvania became a state on December 12, 1787. The Pennsylvania quarter was the second state quarter to be released by the U.S. Mint. It was released in 1999. The Commemorative Quarter Committee received over 5,300 ideas from people in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Ridge chose the final design and recommended it to the Secretary of the Treasury. The Pennsylvania quarter has an outline map of the state. In front of the map is a picture of a statue called "Commonwealth," which is another word for state. Her right arm reaches out in kindness, and her left hand holds a ribbon that stands for justice. Roland Hinton Perry designed this sculpture. It has been on the top of the state capital dome in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania since May 25, 1905.
There is also a picture of a keystone on this quarter. The keystone honors the state's nickname, the "Keystone State." Pennsylvania is being compared to a keystone, which is a special stone used in building arches. In the middle of an arch, there is a stone called the keystone. It holds all the other stones up so they won't collapse. All the other stones depend on the keystone. The colony of Pennsylvania was called the Keystone because the other twelve colonies depended on Pennsylvania in many ways. The location of Pennsylvania made it the center colony. Six of the colonies were located south of Pennsylvania, and the other six were east or north of Pennsylvania, so it was a convenient place for people from all of the colonies to meet. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania became our capital city from 1790 to 1800, and many important meetings were held there. For example, the Second Continental Congress was the meeting where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. Also the Constitutional Convention in 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this meeting the United States Constitution was written. In 1792 Congress established the United State Mint. This was the first federal building constructed under the new Constitution. This is why Pennsylvania is called the "Keystone State." Pennsylvania's state motto, "Virtue, Liberty, Independence" also appears on the quarter. The motto names three things that are very important in Pennsylvania. Virtue means goodness; liberty means freedom; and independence means able to survive on your own without the control of others.