2003 Quarter Sets Illinois State Quarter The Illinois quarter is the first quarter of 2003, and the 21st in the 50 State Quarters® Program. The Illinois quarter design depicts a young Abraham Lincoln within the outline of the state. A farm scene and the Chicago skyline appear on the left and to the right of the states outline. Twenty-one stars border the coin, signifying Illinois as the 21st state to be admitted into the Union on December 3, 1818. The Prairie State, also commonly known as the Land of Lincoln, pays tribute to our nations 16th president. The young Lincoln lived and practiced law in Springfield before becoming one of our nations greatest leaders. President Lincolns historic home, burial site and new presidential library are all located in the Springfield area. Quarter Specifications Release Date: January 2, 2003 Reverse (tails) Side: The Land of Lincoln Engraver: Donna Weaver Standard Weight: 5.670g Standard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in) Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge Detail: Reeded Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel / 91.67% Copper) Alabama State Quarter The Alabama quarter is the second quarter of 2003, and the 22nd in the 50 State Quarters® Program. Alabama became the 22nd state to be admitted into the Union on December 14, 1819. The Alabama quarter design features an image of Helen Keller with her name in English, and in a reduced-size version of braille. The Alabama quarter is the first U.S. circulating coin to feature braille. An Alabama long leaf pine branch and magnolias grace the sides of the design, and a Spirit of Courage banner underlines the central image. Helen Keller was born at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1880. When she was a small child, an illness destroyed her sight and hearing and, consequently, depriving her of the senses by which we normally learn to speak. Despite her disabilities, Helen Keller learned to speak and read using the raised and manual alphabets, as well as Braille. Miss Keller also graduated with honors, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe. She went on to publish numerous books, articles and essays. Helen Keller lived out her life addressing social issues for disabled persons and women. Every year at Ivy Green, a weeklong celebration is held to commemorate her lifetime of accomplishments and her Spirit of Courage. Quarter Specifications Release Date: March 17, 2003 Reverse (tails) Side: Spirit of Courage Engraver: Norman E. Nemeth Standard Weight: 5.670g Standard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in) Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge Detail: Reeded Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel / 91.67% Copper) Maine State Quarter The Maine quarter is the third quarter of 2003, and the 23rd in the 50 State Quarters® Program. Maine became the 23rd state to be admitted into the Union, as part of the Missouri Compromise on March 15, 1820. The Maine quarter design incorporates a rendition of the Pemaquid Point Light atop a granite coast and of a schooner at sea. Pemaquid Point Light is located in New Harbor, and marks the entrance to Muscongus Bay and Johns Bay. Since the beginning of ship activity in the area, a shoal created hazardous navigation conditions, causing many shipwrecks. As maritime trade increased in the area, so did the need for a lighthouse. In 1826, Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse at Pemaquid Point. Although the original building was replaced in 1835, and the original 10 lamps in 1856, the light is still a beacon for ships and remains one of Maines most popular tourist attractions. The schooner resembles Victory Chimes, the last three-masted schooner of the Windjammer Fleet. Victory Chimes has become synonymous with Maine windjamming. Quarter Specifications Release Date: June 2, 2003 Reverse (tails) Side: Pemaquid Point Light Engraver: Donna Weaver Standard Weight: 5.670g Standard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in) Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge Detail: Reeded Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel / 91.67% Copper) Missouri State Quarter The Missouri quarter is the fourth quarter of 2003, and the 24th in the 50 State Quarters® Program. Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821, as a part of the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri quarter depicts Lewis and Clark�s historic return to St. Louis down the Missouri River, with the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch) in the background. The quarter is inscribed Corps of Discovery 1804-2004. While much of the state�s history is tied to the mighty rivers that flow through it, the Show Me State got its nickname because of the devotion of its people to simple common sense. In 1899, Rep. Willard D. Vandiver said, Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. Im from Missouri. Youve got to show me. It is easy to imagine President Thomas Jefferson saying show me as he sent Lewis and Clark forth on their trek into the uncharted Louisiana Purchase territory. Their 8,000-mile journey westward and back, which some claim was the greatest U.S. military expedition ever, began in St. Charles, Missouri just 20 miles west of St. Louis, in 1804 and ended when they returned to St. Louis, Missouri in 1806. Quarter Specifications Release Date: August 4, 2003 Reverse (tails) Side: Corps of Discovery Engraver: Alfred Maletsky Standard Weight: 5.670g Standard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in) Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge Detail: Reeded Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel / 91.67% Copper) Arkansas State Quarter The Arkansas quarter is the fifth and final quarter of 2003, and the 25th in the 50 State Quarters® Program. Arkansas was admitted into the Union on June 15, 1836. Arkansas was acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and later became the Arkansas Territory before gaining statehood. The Arkansas quarter design bears the image of rice stalks, a diamond and a mallard gracefully flying above a lake. It is fitting that the Natural State, Arkansass official nickname, chose images of natural resources. Arkansas has an abundance of clear streams, rivers and lakes. In fact, Arkansas has more than 600,000 acres of natural lakes. Arkansas is also known for its sportsmanship and boasts mallard hunting as a main attraction for hunters across the nation. Visitors to Arkansas can search Crater of Diamonds State Park for precious gems including, of course, diamonds. The mine at Crater of Diamonds State Park reportedly is the oldest diamond mine in North America, and the only one in the United States open to the public-visitors get to keep what they find. Visitors can also experience Rice Fever in Arkansas-just the way W.H. Fuller did when he grew the first commercially successful rice crop in Arkansas. Soon after, thousands of acres of the Grand Prairie were changed to cultivate rice, and Arkansas became the leading producer of the grain in the United States. Quarter Specifications Release Date: October 20, 2003 Reverse (tails) Side: Natural State Engraver: John Mercanti Standard Weight: 5.670g Standard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in) Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge Detail: Reeded Composition: Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel / 91.67% Copper)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:03:12 +0000
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