This year marks a milestone in the history of U.S. coinage as the most successful coin program ever comes to an end after ten remarkable years.
I am proud to say that The 50 Statehood Quarters Program reached the peak of its popularity during my tenure as 36th Director of the U.S. Mint. I doubt if anyone could have guessed what a triumph this program was destined to be. It has been estimated that nearly 150 million people have collected these coins - that equates to one out of every two Americans!
This was a truly ambitious project, in which the familiar U.S. twenty-five-cent piece would feature five new designs each year over a ten-year period - resulting in 50 distinctive quarters, each honoring one of the states.
As you know, the reverse designs on these coins differ depending on the state being honored. For instance, the very first quarter in the series - honoring Delaware, our "First State" - celebrated the historic ride of Caesar Rodney on his way to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on 1776 to cast the deciding vote in favor of independence.
The final coin in the series will honor Hawaii, our 50th state. Hawaii's royal pass is celebrated on the reverse that portrays King Kamehameha I pointing toward the eight major Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii's motto The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness - appears in the original Hawaiian: UA MAU KE EA O KA 'AINA KA PONO.
Care to play a little game inspired by the designs of some of the 50 Statehood Quarters? Match the reverse descriptions in the left column with the correct states in the right. Good luck!
| 1. Grand Canyon | A. Maine |
| 2. Naturalist John Muir | B. Minnesota |
| 3. A racecar | C. Wyoming |
| 4. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse | D. New Jersey |
| 5. Mount Rushmore | E. Arizona |
| 6. A lake (one of 10,000) | F. Indiana |
| 7. Washington crossing the Delaware | G. Iowa |
| 8. A trumpet with musical notes | H. Montana |
| 9. A bucking bronco | I. Michigan |
| 10. Grant Wood's "Arbor Day" | J. California |
| 11. "Big Sky Country" | K. South Dakota |
| 12. All 5 Great Lakes | L. Louisiana |
Jay Johnson was the 36th Director of the United States Mint, appointed by President Clinton and serving until August of 2001 at which time he became a Senior Advisor to the Department of the Treasury. During Mr. Johnson's tenure, the Mint set new and unbroken records by producing more than 28 billion coins and returning a $2.6 billion profit to the U.S. Treasury. He oversaw the most successful coin program in history - the 50 State Quarter program - which was collected by nearly 150 million Americans, or roughly half the U.S. population. He also managed the Sacagawea Golden Dollar program (of which a record of over one billion was produced) as well as the launch of the Buffalo Silver Dollar, which became the fastest-selling commemorative coin in history. Mr. Johnson also oversaw the operations of the gold depository at Fort Knox.
Prior to his becoming Mint Director, Johnson was a U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin (8th District) and had a 30-year career as an award-winning local TV newscaster in Wisconsin, Michigan and Florida. In addition to his role as Chief Numismatist, Mr. Johnson will serve as the spokesperson and "face" of The Franklin Mint for any future television programs for medallic art and coin products.
Answers: 1 - E, 2 - J, 3 - F, 4 - A, 5 - K, 6 - B, 7 - D, 8 - L, 9 - C, 10 - G, 11 - H, 12 - I