Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 25 Cents 2001, KM# 319, United States of America (USA), 50 State Quarters Program, North Carolina
  • 25 Cents 2001, KM# 319, United States of America (USA), 50 State Quarters Program, North Carolina
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): March 12, 2001 (November 21, 1789).

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
P
QUARTER DOLLAR

Reverse

Depicts the Wright Flyer, John T. Daniels's iconic photo of the Wright brothers.

The Wright brothers, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912), were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903 four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In 1904-1905 the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible.

John Thomas Daniels, Jr. (July 31, 1873 – January 31, 1948) was the amateur photographer who took the photograph of the Wright brothers' first flight on December 17, 1903. The Wright brothers made four flights that day; three were photographed: the first, third and fourth. After the Flyer was hauled back from the fourth flight, a powerful gust of wind caught it. Daniels grabbed a strut in an attempt to hold down the aircraft, but he was caught between the wings as the Flyer flipped end over end. Daniels was not seriously hurt, but the Flyer was destroyed with even the engine block split in half. Daniels would tell the story of the day he "survived the first airplane crash" for the remainder of his life.

Engraver: John Mercanti (JM)

NORTH CAROLINA
1789
FIRST FLIGHT
JM
2001
E PLURIBUS UNUM

Edge

25 Cents

Washington Quarter
KM# 319 Schön# 319
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Copper Nickel Clad Copper
Weight 5.67 g
Diameter 24.3 mm
Thickness 1.75 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mints
Denver Mint (D)
Philadelphia Mint (P)
San Francisco Mint (S)

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