| Nothing in recent years has done more to | | | | selection process. While some states appoint |
| popularize coin collecting than the 50 State | | | | design committees other states like Michigan and |
| Quarter Program Act of 1997. This unique Act | | | | Vermont have contests that any resident can |
| runs from 1998 until 2008 is easily the most | | | | enter. |
| popular minted coin series in the history of the | | | | In Missouri people voted via the Internet for their |
| U.S. Mint. | | | | favorite design with almost 180,000 people voting |
| Beginning in 1998, five new state quarters are | | | | while other states had the Governor making the |
| released each year for a ten year period with a | | | | final choice based on several designs. |
| new quarter released approximately every ten | | | | Since these coins are in great demand and will |
| weeks. The quarters are minted for a ten week | | | | never be minted again prices of the state |
| period and are never issued to the public again. | | | | quarters have been increasing and some of the |
| Borrowing a page from history a unique method | | | | early state coins are worth $1.00 or more |
| of issuing the coins was devised. Each state | | | | depending on condition. A specialty area of coin |
| quarter is issued according to when they became | | | | collecting known as error coins has also been able |
| a part of the United States. | | | | to participate with some flawed coins going for up |
| Each of the state quarters is minted with the | | | | to $500. |
| image of George Washington on the front, or | | | | A whole new business has cropped up revolving |
| obverse, side of the coin but on the back, or | | | | around the state quarters program with many |
| reverse, side is a design based on something | | | | products like specialty coin holders enjoying |
| noteworthy about that particular state. Once the | | | | immense popularity. Probably the most familiar |
| program is over in 2008 the normal eagle design | | | | example of this would be the United States map |
| will once again be on the reverse side of the | | | | quarter holder. These holders are in the shape of |
| quarter. | | | | a map of the U.S. and have places in each state |
| What makes this coin series different from all | | | | for that state's quarter to proudly reside. They |
| others in the past is that each state gets to | | | | also usually have little state facts printed by them |
| select the design for their own state's quarter | | | | which make for a great learning experience. |
| with the Governor of each state determining the | | | | |