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): May 22, 2000 (May 23, 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

Carolina wren on a branch of yellow jessamine and cabbage palmetto against an outline of the state is accompanied by the state's nickname The Palmetto State.

The Carolina wren is a common species of wren that is a resident in the eastern half of the United States of America, the extreme south of Ontario, Canada, and the extreme northeast of Mexico. Severe winters restrict the northern limits of their range while favorable weather conditions lead to a northward extension of their breeding range. Their preferred habitat is in dense cover in forests, farm edges and suburban areas. This wren is the state bird of South Carolina.

Yellow jessamine or jasmine, Carolina jasmine or jessamine is a twining vine in the family Gelsemiaceae, native to subtropical and tropical America. Despite the hazards, this is a popular garden plant in warmer areas, frequently being trained to grow over arbors or to cover walls. Yellow jessamine is the state flower of South Carolina.

Sabal palmetto, also known as cabbage palmetto, Carolina palmetto, is one of 15 species of palmetto palm. It is native to the subtropical Gulf coast/south Atlantic coast of the USA, as well as Cuba, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and The Bahamas. It is the state tree of both South Carolina and Florida.

Engraver: Thomas D. Rodgers (TDR)

SOUTH CAROLINA
1788
THE
PALMETTO
STATE
TDR
2000
E PLURIBUS UNUM

Edge

25 Cents

Washington Silver Proof Quarter
KM# 307a
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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