The timed release of commemorative U.S. state quarters started in 1999, featuring each of the 50 individual states of the Union. While Washington still claims the front of each coin, each state has created a unique design for the reverse side of the quarter. The United States Mint has been releasing five new state quarters each year, with the final set projected to be completed in 2008. A resident within the state is usually responsible for the design of the quarter. Each of the state quarters is designed to represent its unique traditions, symbols, and history. For instance, New York chose to honor the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River, and the Erie Canal along with the caption: "Gateway to Freedom." Vermont chose maple trees with sap buckets in order to recognize the massive production of maple syrup in Vermont, as well as the spirit of old-fashioned charm. The quarters are being released in the order that the states were admitted to the Union, beginning with Delaware and ending with Hawaii. Just as the US Mint hoped, collecting state quarters has become a hobby for more than one hundred million individuals. Many of these burgeoning collectors are children, while others are avid coin collecting hobbyists. Collecting state quarters is a great way to connect with the history of the United States of America. In fact, many parents and teachers are finding it a fun and interactive way to introduce children to the significance of each state. Plus, starting a collection is easy--in fact, you probably have a number of state quarters in your change purse right now!
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