United States Mint "50 State Quarters™ Program"
Connecticut Commemorative Quarter Dollar
In 1997, President Clinton signed the "50 State Quarters Program Act" which provided for the release of quarter dollars with designs emblematic of each of the 50 American states. Five coins will be issued every year by the United States Mint over a 10-year period in the sequence in which states became part of the United States.
Obverse
The Treasury and the respective states, in a collaborative process, will design the individual coins. The Mint, with Congressional authorization, has also redesigned the obverse of the coin to provide more room for individual state designs on the coins. As shown above, Connecticut's coin features a depiction of the Charter Oak, framed by the words "The Charter Oak" and a stone wall on the reverse side. The design was submitted by Andy Jones, of Hampton, as part of a special competition.
Reverse
The Mint began releasing the coins in January 1999, starting with Delaware and continuing with Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia. The official striking of the Connecticut quarter took place on October 7, 1999 at the Philadelphia Mint to complete the first set of 5 coins. (Connecticut was the 5th state to ratify the Constitution and join the Union). Connecticut quarter dollars entered circulation during the Fall of 1999.
All 50 State Quarters™ are considered legal tender to be used in all commercial transactions. The Mint projects production of up to 750 million quarters for each state design. The coins will circulate normally via commerce as they are released. They will also be available from the U.S. Mint in collector sets.
Related Link:
Visit the United States Mint for more information on the 50 State Quarters™ program and other Quarter Dollar programs that depict various designs of the coin.