| The 50 States Commemorative Coin Program | | | | The first state quarter, Delaware, was released |
| Act was signed into law December 1, 1997. The | | | | January 4, 1999. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, |
| program was designed to serve three purposes. | | | | Georgia and Connecticut followed later that year. |
| First, it was to honor the states that make up | | | | The year 2000 brought quarters for |
| the United States. Second, it was to promote | | | | Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New |
| knowledge about the states, their history and | | | | Hampshire and Virginia. In 2001, New York, North |
| culture, and the national heritage among the | | | | Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and Kentucky |
| youth. Finally, it was designed to encourage a new | | | | were minted. Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana |
| generation of numismatists, or coin collectors. | | | | and Mississippi quarters were released in 2002. |
| The first thirteen states which formed the United | | | | In 2003, the mint released quarters for the states |
| States were minted in the order they ratified the | | | | of Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri and Arkansas. |
| United States Constitution. The remaining | | | | 2004 releases included Michigan, Florida, Texas, |
| thirty-seven states were minted in the order they | | | | Iowa and Wisconsin. California, Minnesota, Oregon, |
| were admitted to the Union. Coins were minted | | | | Kansas and West Virginia followed in 2005. |
| approximately ten weeks before the next state | | | | January 2006 brought Nevada. Nebraska, |
| quarter's minting began. | | | | Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota were |
| The quarters feature each state's individual design | | | | also released that year. |
| on the reverse, or tails side of the coin. In order | | | | 2007 brought Montana, Washington, Idaho, |
| to accommodate the designs, the quarter had to | | | | Wyoming and Utah. 2008 was the final year for |
| be modified. The words "United States of | | | | the 50 State Quarters Program. Oklahoma, New |
| America" and "Quarter Dollar" were moved to the | | | | Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii were the final |
| obverse side. The year minted, formerly on the | | | | quarters of the program. |
| obverse, was moved to the reverse. | | | | Due to the overwhelming success of the 50 |
| Each state played a role in deciding the design for | | | | State Quarters, Congress signed two other |
| their coin. Many state governors called upon the | | | | commemorative coin programs into law in 2007 |
| citizens of their state to submit design ideas. Once | | | | and 2008 respectively. While commonly believed |
| the time for submission of design ideas was | | | | to be part of the 50 State Quarters Program, the |
| complete, the suggestions were sent to a | | | | quarters for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, |
| governor-mandated commemorative coin | | | | Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands and |
| committee for review. The committee narrowed | | | | Northern Mariana Islands are not. These six |
| down the choice to a handful and the governor | | | | quarters, released in 2009, make up the District |
| usually made the final choice, subject to approval | | | | of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter |
| by the Secretary of Treasury. | | | | Program. |