Back in 1999, the United States began producing commemorative quarters for each of the 50 states in the nation. The program ran until 2008 when all 50 coins had been released into circulation. This exciting program opened up coin collecting to a whole new legion of fans, as anyone could get involved in collecting these special-edition coins. With cost not being a barrier to entry, more than half of the U.S. population joined in on the coin collecting fun. Although many of these amateur collectors only gathered the quarters casually, serious numismatists approached the task with the same care as they would give to more expensive aspects of their collections.
The Structure of the Program
Throughout the program, U.S. Mints produced coins for each of the 50 states. The coins were produced and released for 10 weeks each, resulting in five new coins being issued each year for the duration of the program. The coins came out in the order that each state either ratified the Constitution or officially became a state. After each coin’s 10-week period, no more of that particular variety were ever produced, giving the collection an air of exclusivity reserved only for the patient and dedicated. In the first few years of the program, about 1 billion coins were produced for each state. In the later years, though, the Mints scaled back production to about half a billion units.
The Design of the Coins
The front of each state quarter bears the familiar facial profile of George Washington, like the quarters previously in circulation. However, to accommodate the custom designs on the reverse side, the notations of “United States,” “Quarter Dollar,” “Liberty,” and “In God We Trust,” all moved to the front of the coin.
On the back of the coin, each state quarter features a unique design specific to that state. The designs for these coins vary widely, with some bearing the state’s motto, a depiction of the state flower, bird or animal, significant landscape features or any other design related to the state.
Extending the Program
The commemorative coin program was wildly successful, generating more than $3 billion for the federal government as collectors took the coins out of circulation to keep in their collections. After the final state quarters had been issued in 2008, the program was extended for an additional year in order to produce coins for the District of Columbia and the five United States Territories.
Again, in 2010, the Treasury Department continued the trend of creating commemorative quarters. This ongoing program produces coins designating National Parks and other national sites across the United States and its territories. This phase of the program will run through 2022.
Join the Coin Collecting Fun!
The commemorative state quarters haven’t increased in value in the way that some investment coins do, making them the perfect collecting opportunity for beginners. At Roswell Gold, Silver & Coins, we’ll be happy to help you get started on your coin collecting journey. Stop by our shop today to see what coins we have available. Our selection is always changing!