Description

The 50 State Quarters Program was the release of a series of circulating commemorative coins by the United States Mint. From 1999 through 2008, the 50 state quarters were released by the United States Mint every ten weeks, or five each year.

Each quarter's reverse commemorated one of the 50 states with a design emblematic of its unique history, traditions and symbols. Certain design elements, such as state flags, images of living persons, and head-and-shoulder images of deceased persons were prohibited. There is believed to be a "curse" relating to the sites and landmarks featured on the reverse of the quarters; misfortune of some sort has afflicted 17 of the depicted designs.

The 50 State Quarters Program was started to support a new generation of coin collectors, and it became the most successful numismatic program in history, with roughly half of the U.S. population collecting the coins, either in a casual manner or as a serious pursuit.

Quarters are issued in the order that the states ratified the Constitution. Release date (statehood date): October 12, 1999 (January 9, 1788).

Obverse

Depicts a profile portrait of George Washington facing left, with country name above, date below, "Liberty" on the left and "In God We Trust" and mintmark on the right, value below.

George Washington (1732–1799) was the first President of the United States (1789–97), the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He presided over the convention that drafted the current United States Constitution and during his lifetime was called the "father of his country".

Designer John Flanagan (JF), 1932 version from 1786 bust by Houdon / William Cousins

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN
GOD WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
JF WC
S
QUARTER DOLLAR

Reverse

Depicts the Charter Oak surrounded by inscriptions and dates.

The Charter Oak was an unusually large white oak tree. The name "Charter Oak" stems from the local legend in which a cavity within the tree was used in late 1687 as a hiding place for the Charter of 1662 to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general. This tree thereafter became a famous landmark in Connecticut and a symbol of American independence.

The oak was blown down in a violent storm on August 21, 1856, and timber from it was made into a number of chairs now displayed in the Hartford Capitol Building.

The Charter of 1662 gave the people of Connecticut a clear legal basis for their colony, provided for the absorption of New Haven Colony, and, most importantly, granted the “Governour and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New England in America” an exceedingly generous degree of self-government.

Engraver: T. James Ferrell (TJF)

CONNECTICUT
1788
THE
CHARTER OAK
1999
TJF
E PLURIBUS UNUM

Edge

25 Cents

Washington Silver Proof Quarter
KM# 297a
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 6.25 g
Diameter 24.3 mm
Thickness 1.75 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
San Francisco Mint (S)

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