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.

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 16, 2000 (June 25, 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

Three ships (Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery) and the captions: "Jamestown, 1607–2007", "Quadricentennial" (the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607).

Susan Constant (full-rigged ship under Captain Christopher Newport, the largest of three ships), Godspeed (full-rigged ship under Captain Bartholomew Gosnold) and Discovery (a small 20-ton flyboat) were the ships of the English Virginia Company of London. Their the 1606-1607 voyage to the New World resulted in the founding of Jamestown in the new Colony of Virginia in 1607, the first permanent English-speaking settlement in what is now the United States of America.

Engraver: Edgar Z. Steever (EZS)

VIRGINIA
1788
JAMESTOWN
1607-2007
EZS
QUADRICENTENNIAL
2000
E PLURIBUS UNUM

Edge

25 Cents

Washington Silver Proof Quarter
KM# 309a
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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