Washington 50 States Quarters (1999 - 2008)

Overview

Beginning in 1999 and continuing until 2008, the Washington 50 States Quarters Program is widely considered to be one of the most successful and extensively collected series in the history of United States coinage. The purpose of the program was to increase the general public's awareness of the several states, as well as their histories and geographical features, as well as the national heritage. It was signed into law by President William Jefferson on December 1, 1997, shortly after it was authorized by the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act.

The Obverse shows the face of George Washington, which was sculpted by John Flanagan in 1932, and continued to be featured on the obverse from the beginning. Among the inscriptions that were shown were the phrases "United States of America," "Liberty," and "In God We Trust," as well as the denomination "Quarter Dollar."

Design in the other direction includes each of the states, the quarter had a unique design that highlighted the history, emblems, or monuments of that state. The name of the state, the year it became a member of the Union, and the year the coin was minted were all included on the reverse.

• • When the Delaware State Quarter was released in 1999, television coin shopping shows were shown on the very first night of its introduction.
• • In the year 2000, collectors' enthusiasm for the State Quarters began to pick up pace. This was partially due to the novelty of the "2000" date, which was originally considered to be a futuristic number, but it was also because the public had become familiar with the new coin reverses.
• • During the remaining eight years of the 50 State Quarters Program the George W. Bush administration began in 2001 series.
• • Every single one of the issues, except for the floral design that was featured on the Mississippi Quarter in 2002, was infused with an artistic flair that was reminiscent of royalty-free clip art.
• • Three of the State Quarters from 2003 are dedicated in memory of historical personalities. The form of Illinois is used to frame Abraham Lincoln, and Helen Keller's name is spelled out in Braille on the Alabama State Quarter. Both figures are shown on the state quarter.
• • In the year 2004, the states of Florida, Iowa, Texas, Michigan, and Wisconsin were given their turn.
• • In the year 2005, five states that were brought into the Union during the most volatile period in the history of the United States were honoured with quarters.
• • The 2006 State Quarters, with its busiest designs, unintentionally hint at the America the Beautiful Quarters series, which will start running in 2010.
• • Quarters dedicatory the states of Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Washington, and Idaho came out in 2007.
• • Quarters that privileged the 46th through 50th states were issued as part of the 50 State Quarters Program, which came to an end in 2008. The designs were visually appealing in general, with the reverses of the Arizona and Oklahoma designs being the most visually appealing.

The Philadelphia (P), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S) Mints were responsible for striking the quarters in a variety of compositions, including the following:

• • For the sake of broad circulation, most quarters were constructed with a copper-nickel clad composition.
• • Among the special collector sets that were created in 90% silver and made available by the United States Mint are the Silver Proofs.