State Quarters

The 50 State Quarters Program has now run its course with the release of five different quarters each year for the past ten years. Each quarter featured a different design highlighting the uniqueness and history of each state.

The program has been credited with reinvigorating the hobby of coin collecting. It provided individuals with the opportunity to build an impressive collection of coins from their daily pocket change. This brought many newcomers to the hobby of coin collecting. The program also provided a valuable learning experience about the richness and diversity of the 50 States.

50 State Quarters Program

The State Quarter Program was authorized by the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act (Public Law 105-124) signed into law on December 1, 1997 by President Clinton. The Act provided for the redesign and issuance of a quarter dollar commemorative coin for each of the 50 States beginning in 1999.

At the time this was an unprecedented program. It provided for a change in design five times per year for a 10 year period. It also marked the first change to the quarter's design since 1987.

The purpose of the program was to 'honor the unique Federal Republic of 50 States that comprise the United States; and to promote the diffusion of knowledge among the youth of the United States about the individual states, their history and geography, and the rich diversity of the national heritage…" and to encourage "young people and their families to collect memorable tokens of all of the States for the face value of the coins."

State Quarter Designs

The obverse of each State Quarter bears a consistent design featuring a portrait of George Washington. The design is similar to the prior design of the Washington Quarter series. It bears inscriptions normally found on the quarter's reverse- "United States of America," "Liberty," "In God We Trust," and "Quarter Dollar."

The reverse carries single state designs with each design emblematic of one of the 50 States. Under the Act, each quarter must bear a dignified design of which the citizens of the United States can be proud. No frivolous or inappropriate designs should be selected. In addition, the reverse design cannot use a head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person living or dead. No living person may be included in a design.

Reverse designs are selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Governor of the state being commemorated and the Commission of Fine Arts. In addition, each design is reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee.

State Quarter Releases

State Quarters have been released during the ten year period beginning with 1999 and concluding in 2008. Five different reverse designs have been released per year. Each state is commemorated in the order it ratified the Constitution or was admitted into the Union.

View the full State Quarter Release Schedule.

After the 50 State Quarters

The 50 State Quarters Program recently reached completion with the 50th State of Hawaii. Under a provision to the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, six newly designed quarters will be issued in 2009 honoring the District of Columbia and the five United States Territories. The familiar obverse design from the State Quarters Program will be used. This separate program is known as the District of Columbia and US Territories Quarter Program.

For 2010 quarters, another program featuring rotating reverse designs has recently been approved. The new series will likely come to be known as the National Park Quarters. Under the program each state will select a national park of other national site to be commemorated. Five different reverse designs will be issued each year for at least 11 years.