Launching the State Quarters

In November 1998 the U.S. Mint started working on the Delaware quarter and released it to the public in January of 1999. Can you guess why the state of Delaware was first ? The coins are produced in the order they joined the union and signed the U.S. Constitution. Since 1999 the U.S. Mint has released five new quarters each year with a ten week period between each release. The quarters are minted in U.S. Mints located in Philadelphia and Denver . Then the quarters go to the Federal Reserve Bank and finally to banks all over the country. This program will last for ten years, from 1999 to 2008. In 2009 the mint will go back to making the original quarter again. Unless, of course, a new state joins the union.


This is an illustration of the obverse side of the old quarter.	This is an illustration of the obverse side of the new quarter.

Although our new quarters have a very new look, there are some things that have stayed the same, so people will still recognize our quarters. The size, weight and type of metal used in making the quarters will stay the same. The coins will also keep the picture of the side of George Washington's head on the obverse (front) of the quarter. The words "United States of America" are now printed across the top instead of the word "Liberty." The word "Liberty" has been moved to the left, and the phrase "In God We Trust" is now on the right. On the bottom it says "Quarter Dollar." The year is no longer on the front, but it does appear on the back.

Each state has chosen or will choose its own quarter design. However, there are some rules about the design. Some objects that are not allowed to appear are head or shoulder portraits, living people, state flags or seals. "A key purpose of this program is to retell the history of our states," said Phillip N. Diehl, director of the program. Through these small objects, quarters, discover the wonderful differences in each state. People all over the world are now collecting them. Kermit the Frog has joined in. He was selected as spokesfrog to help make people more aware of this program.

As you can see there are many people involved in getting the new quarters into your pockets! U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow said, "This new series of quarters invites us to learn more about the history of our great states." So join the fun and start a collection of your own! To help you get started visit our Become A Numismatist page.