USA state quarters - IX

Nebraska state quarter

Nebraska, nicknamed the "Cornhusker State," was admitted into the Union on March 1, 1867, becoming our Nation's 37th state. Nebraska's quarter depicts an ox-drawn covered wagon carrying pioneers in the foreground and Chimney Rock, the natural wonder that rises from the valley of North Platte River, measuring 445 feet from base to tip. The sun is in full view behind the wagon. The coin also bears the inscriptions "Nebraska," "Chimney Rock" and "1867".

Chimney Rock was designated a National Historic Site on August 9, 1956, and is maintained and operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Practically anywhere travelers go in Nebraska they will encounter reminders of America's westward expansion. The state is crisscrossed by the Oregon and Mormon Trails, the Pony Express, the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Texas-Ogallala Trail and the Sidney-Deadwood Trail.

Montana state quarter

Montana, nicknamed "Big Sky Country," was admitted into the Union on November 8, 1889, becoming our Nation's 41st state. The reverse of Montana's quarter features a bison skull depicted above the diverse Montana landscape with the inscription "Big Sky Country." The coin also bears the inscriptions "Montana" and "1889."

The bison skull is a powerful symbol, sacred to many of Montana's American Indian tribes. This symbol can be seen across the State on schools, businesses and license plates, and reflects the rich native tradition of Montana, which was once home to large tribes such as the Crow and the Northern Cheyenne. After a visit from Lewis and Clark, Montana became a destination first for fur trappers and later for gold prospectors following the discovery of gold in the 1860s. Cattle ranchers also made their way west to Montana. This rapid growth in population led to boomtowns. The nickname "Big Sky Country" reminds residents of Montana's open lands and pioneering way.

Missouri state quarter

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. I'm from Missouri. You've 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.

Note: A special series of nickels(5 cents) was released on the Lewis and Clarke expedition from 2004 to 2006.

USA state quarters - VIII

Mississippi state quarter

The Mississippi quarter showcases the beauty and elegance of the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias with the inscription "The Magnolia State".

Although there are several varieties of magnolia found throughout the world, it is the southern magnolia, or Magnolia grandiflora, that is native to the southeastern United States. Boasting large, showy white flowers as big as 15 inches across, they are named for the famed 18th century French botanist Pierre Magnol. Mississippi adopted it as the state flower in 1952.

In 1900, when Mississippi schoolchildren were asked to vote for a state flower, they selected the magnolia over a group that included cape jasmine, yellow jasmine and cotton. The selection remained unofficial, however, as the legislature did not act on the result. A similar election for state tree in 1935 gave the magnolia a landslide victory, one that was made official on April 1, 1938. On February 26, 1952, the Mississippi legislature finally adopted the magnolia as the state flower, opposed by only one vote.

The Mississippi river was home to the fictional character of Tom Sawyer and his adventures, which was made by Mark Twain, also known as the father of American literature.

Minnesota state quarter

The Minnesota state quarter design features a tree-lined lake with two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured outline of the State surrounding its nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes".

The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" actually contains more than 15,000 such bodies of water whose total shoreline exceeds 90,000 miles - more than California, Hawaii and Florida combined. Equally renowned as the home of the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, the name Minnesota is derived from the Dakota Sioux word for "cloudy water".

The natural beauty of Minnesota is vividly depicted on the reverse of this new quarter-dollar. Lined with Norway Pine, many of the lakes throughout the State offer much in the way of outdoor recreation, as well as providing a home for the graceful loon, Minnesota's state bird. Minnesota is also home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This one- million acre wilderness area was established by Congress in 1978, and contains more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes and nearly 2,200 designated campsites.

Michigan state quarter

On January 26, 1837, Michigan became the 26th state to be admitted into the Union. The Michigan quarter depicts the outline of the State and the Great Lakes system. The quarter is inscribed "Great Lakes State".

As indicated by the State's nickname, much of Michigan's history is tied to the Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. These are five of the world's largest lakes that, together, encompass more than 38,000 square miles and form the largest body of fresh water in the world. Michigan is the only State that borders four of the five Great Lakes, more than any other state. Standing anywhere in the State, a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes. To assist in navigating, Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.

The great lakes are supposed to be the vestiges of the antediluvian lake Agassiz, a prehistoric lake which covered perhaps as much area as half of modern day Canada, and the draining of the lake into the Atlantic Ocean is supposed to have caused the Younger Dryas, a period of rapid temperature drop which is also now recognized as a mini ice age.

Read more: Another ice age cometh?

USA state quarters - VII

Massachusetts state quarter

The reverse design features "The Minuteman" against an outline of the state. The coin's reverse was designed and engraved by Thomas D. Rodgers Sr.

"The Minuteman" is a famous statue that stands guard at the Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. The Minutemen were important Revolutionary War forces of regular farmers and colonists who could assemble to fight at a minutes notice.

Delaware state quarter

The Delaware quarter, depicting the historic horseback ride of Caesar Rodney, galloped onto the scene as it kicked off the much anticipated United States Mint's 50 State Quarters.

Caesar Rodney was a delegate to the Continental Congress. On July 1, 1776, despite suffering from asthma and cancer, Rodney set off on the 80-mile journey to Philadelphia withstanding thundershowers and a severe summer heat wave. The next day, he arrived at Independence Hall just in time to cast the deciding vote in favor of our nation's independence. This native of Dover has also held more public offices than any other Delaware citizen. In addition to being an extremely dedicated delegate, Rodney was also a soldier, judge, and speaker of Delaware's Assembly.

Maryland state quarter

The reverse design features the Maryland Statehouse. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, "E Pluribus Unum," and "The Old Line State." The coin's reverse was designed by William J. Krawczewicz and engraved by Thomas D. Rodgers

The Maryland Statehouse is embedded in this country's history. From 1783 to 1784 it served as the first peace-time capital of the United States. The Treaty of Paris was also signed here putting an "official" end to the Revolutionary War.The Maryland Statehouse dates back to 1772 and is the country's largest wooden dome built without using nails. The Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War was ratified in the structure. It also served as the nation's first peacetime capital. On the quarter, the dome is surrounded by White oak leaf clusters.

Maryland is known as both the Old Line State and the Free State.

According to some historians, General George Washington bestowed the name "Old Line State" and thereby associated Maryland with its regular line troops, the Maryland Line, who served courageously in many Revolutionary War battles.

USA state quarters - VI

Maine state quarter

The design of the released quarter represents aspects of Maine's landscape tied to its maritime history.

The year that Maine became a state, 1820, is centered at the top of the quarter. Below are pictured a pine tree, a lighthouse, perched on a rocky cliff, and an Atlantic ocean-going sailing vessel accompanied by two sea birds.

The pine tree, positioned to the left of the lighthouse, represents Maine's official state tree, the white pine. The white pine represents Maine's forestry industries where mills make paper, pulp, toothpicks, and a variety of other wood products. It's also considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States and some of the tallest trees in eastern North America grew in Maine. In the early days of colonization, the tall white pines of Maine were valued for ship's masts.

The white pine played an important part in the history of Maine and has been afforded appropriate recognition. In addition to being honored as Maine's state tree, the white pine also contributed its pinecone and tassel as the official state flower. It also shows up on Maine's state seal, the state flag, and in its nickname, the "Pine Tree State." Almost 90% of Maine is forested.

The lighthouse depicted on the coin is based on the Pemaquid Point Light located near Bristol, Maine. One of Maine's 65 lighthouses, the Pemaquid Point Light marks the entrance to Muscongus Bay and John Bay. In 1826, Congress made $4,000 available to build a lighthouse to ward ships from the dangerous shoals. The original stone tower, built in 1827, was replaced in 1835 by the 38-foot stone tower that stands today and continues to serve as an active aid to navigation. This lighthouse is a popular Maine attraction and is visited by around 100,000 people each year.

The schooner (large ship with two or more masts), depicted on the coin, is based on "Victory Chimes, " the last three-masted schooner of the windjammer fleet. A "windjammer" is simply a large sailing vessel. The term may have originated as a contemptuous term used by sailors on early steam vessels.

Built in 1900 in Bethel, Delaware to carry lumber up and down the shallow bays and rivers of the Chesapeake, the 132' schooner Victory Chimes is the last three-masted schooner on the East coast and the largest passenger sailing vessel (40 passengers) under U.S. flag. . She's registered as a National Historic Landmark, a reminder of the golden age of sail, and takes passengers on week-long cruises along the coast of Maine.

Louisiana state quarter

The Louisiana quarter displays the image of Louisiana's state bird -- the pelican, a trumpet with musical notes, and the outline of the Louisiana Purchase territory, along with the inscription "Louisiana Purchase".

Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 for $15 million. Dubbed the "greatest real estate deal in history" the Louisiana Purchase added thirteen new states to the Union, nearly doubling its size and making it one of the largest countries in the world.

The trumpet on the coin is a tribute to the state's heritage of jazz music, a genre heard and played by millions of enthusiasts around the globe. Jazz was born in New Orleans over a hundred years ago, a combination of elements from blues, ragtime, and marching band music. A multitude of musicians propelled jazz from New Orleans' French Quarter onto the world stage, making the style a dominant force in 20th Century music.

Kentucky state quarter

The Kentucky state quarter design incorporates "My Old Kentucky Home", a Kentucky thoroughbred and the white plank fence common to Kentucky thoroughbred farms.

Home is where the heart is and Kentucky wanted to send a strong message about the value of home among the people of the Commonwealth. The stately mansion engraved on the quarter is Federal Hill, built by Judge John Rowan in 1818. Judge Rowan's cousin, Stephen Foster, is thought to have written My Old Kentucky Home, the Official State Song of Kentucky, while visiting Federal Hill. Judge Rowan's 1818 home, a Kentucky treasure, is commonly referred to as "My Old Kentucky Home".

In the foreground of the coin is another official symbol of Kentucky, the thoroughbred horse, designated the Official Horse of the Commonwealth. Standing behind a white plank fence, in front of the Federal Hill mansion, the Kentucky thoroughbred represents Kentucky's long association with horse breeding and horse racing.

Coin collection: Perception vs reality

Coin collection as a hobby has has always been seen as an eccentric one and collectors like myself are thought to be oddballs(not that we are totally normal ;). Like all other collectors would have been looked on as a freak at some or the other time and know what the popular perception regarding collectors is, may understand where I am getting at. This is a little attempt to change the perception of non-collectors, and I believe that there are quite a few regular visitors of this blog who are just having a passive interest and do not collect seriously or do not spend a size able amount on collecting.

Perception: Coin collection is exclusively for the rich baron types who have lots of spare money at their disposal.
Reality: Just about anyone, even a school student can collect, starting from the coins he or she may get in circulation or from perhaps some old coins from some relative. The only matter of concern is that one can only spend as much as the pocket.

Perception: coin collecting is about reckless spending of money.
Reality: Nothing can be farther from the truth. Even if you are as rich as the king of Egypt, you still cannot buy all the coins in the world. So to maximize the collection, the collector looks for the cheapest deal and is aware of the market prices of what he or she is buying. Most collectors are in the habit of a preliminary market survey before buying anything worth money. One may ask a fellow collector or cross check the value with some other dealer before buying.

Perception: Are you out of your mind?! What sort of a fool would spend 2000 rupees on a 100 rupee coin? You cannot get more than 100 rupees of worth if you give 100 rupees at a shop.
Reality: As a collector, I find this to be the silliest notion that I have ever encountered. If the face value of a coin is 10 rupees, then obviously one won't give it away for a worth of less than 10 rupees. But that's not all. Any coin can have value greater than its face value. In the case of 100 rupee coins, the coin is made of silver and easily has a value of 600 rupees on metal value alone, and the manufacturing cost to the government or mint is an estimated 1000 rupees, or about 10 times the face value. By the time the coin comes into the market, its value crosses 2000 rupees.(These are the estimates at the time when I post this, and values only increase over time). The value of a rare coin can be hundreds or even thousands of times its face value, based on the demand alone. Say if 4000 Tilakji coins are minted, and there are millions of collectors in India, then obviously the value of such a coin is going to be very high.

Perception: Spending on coins is blocking your money. Its a waste of money.
Reality: Buying coins a very good investment, the only prerequisite is that you need to have sufficient knowledge on the item and be aware of the market values. The prices go up more than prices of silver, gold or crude oil. The resale value of coins is unlike any other. People buy electronic items like blackberry for 40k and no one bats an eyelid, but when a collector spends 2500 on a 100 rupee coin he is said to be an idiot. The blackberry's value will be less than half in a few years and after use it has no resale value, whereas the value of coin will more than double in the same time. It has to be kept in mind that a collector invests in coins the money which he would otherwise have spent on movies, pizzas or electronic items and the like.

Perception: I heard that some coin was sold for lakhs of rupees. The buyer must be loaded with tons of spare money and he must be a real idiot. No one is going to buy for a higher price as the price is already too high.
Reality: The buyer would be having lots of money if he buys a single coin for over one lakh, that is undeniable. Personally I won't think of buying any item having cost more than 20 grand. But the catch is, any item which is fetching that high would definitely be a very very rare item, and prices of rare items go up very quickly indeed. Every time we think that the price won't go higher, we are proven wrong. The land resource 2 rupee was originally sold at 500 rupees, and that was thought to be high at that time. Now the price is 80-90k, and going up fast. The 1 rupee of 1960 was recently sold for 2.25 lakh, so you may dismiss the buyer as a complete idiot, but whenever it is sold next time, I believe the price would be in excess of 4 lakh. The 1913 liberty head nickel was sold for the first time in 1920 for 500$ apiece, or about 10,000 times the face value. Many may have dismissed the buyers as idiots, but its current value has risen to 5 million $ after changing hands many times over. Who would have thought the value would rise this much? And that the value would rise even further is inevitable.

Perception: I have over 100 rare coins which I would like to sell for thousands of rupees, East India Company coins with Indian deities which I want to sell for a couple of lakhs and also one 100 rupee coin which I want to sell for one crore. Any buyer please contact me @ 9899573xyz.
Reality: The only person you are fooling is yourself. Firstly, if you have 100 coins, then how can they be rare? The East India company coins with Indian deities are fake and have zero value. A 100 rupee coin is made of silver and the cost is a few thousand, but that is the case if the coin is in a set, and not a loose coin. A loose 100 rupee coin has value around the metal value, and there is no way the value of the set can go up to a crore. If you think that the value of any coin not found in circulation would be of the order of thousands or a few hundreds, then you are sorely mistaken. A coin not being in circulation does not mean it is rare; and if every coin had that sort of value, then no one would be able to collect because then the cost of collection would be too high.

Perception: coins are a way to earn quick bucks. I can simply find some valuable coin in circulation and sell it for thousands, or perhaps I can buy a coin at low cost and sell to some wealthy collector at really high cost.
Reality: Another delusion. As far as my experience goes, there is no such thing as quick money. Even if there is, it will never give you satisfaction. An iron clad rule of life: "Anything that comes easy is worthless". As far as coins go, if you can find something in circulation, then it won't be rare and not having high value. Collectors are always sharp at getting things in circulation. So if you are not a collector, forget about finding something valuable in circulation. Still, it is not uncommon to find items having value as something above face value in circulation. You canNOT make a valuable collection without buying, and for that sufficient knowledge is needed in the first place. The only way to make money through coins is through long term investments, and not any frivolous stupid activity.

P.S. An idiot once said to me that he had bought some East India company coins with Indian deities for thousands, thinking that he would sell them for a crore or so, and then he would marry Katrina Kaif. Such delusions! A modern day Shiekh Chilli, nevertheless.

"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I am not so sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

USA state quarters - V

Kansas state quarter

The Kansas state quarter incorporates a buffalo and a sunflower in its design, both of which are common and endeared in the state, with them being the state animal and state flower, respectively.

Iowa state quarter

The Iowa state quarter shows a one room schoolhouse with a teacher and students plating a tree. The design is based on "Arbor Day," a painting by Grant Wood, who was born near Anamosa, Iowa. Grant Wood is known the world over for his paintings which are based on small town folk and the verdant landscapes.

Iowa prides itself in having a strong foundation in education. when it was admitted to the union in 1846, it already had a number of rural country schools, and high schools were established as early as the 1850s, whereas education was not widespread in the US until 1900.

Indiana state quarter

The Indiana state quarter picture shows how the state cherishes the celebrated Indianapolis 500 race. The design depicts a race car and the words"crossroads of America." The 19 stars symbolize the induction of Indiana as the 19th state in the United States in 1816.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5 mile track built in 1909 for automotive research purposes. While the track was and is used for research, it is best known for hosting auto races, most famously, the Indy 500. The oldest auto race in the world, the Indy 500 has been run every year since 1911, except during the two World Wars. The winner of the first Indy 500 was Ray Harroun whose car, the Marmon Wasp, is thought to have been the first to have a single seat and to use a rearview mirror. In the time since Harroun's victory, the Indy 500 has become an international event, synonymous with auto racing.

USA state quarters - IV

Illinois state quarter

The Illinois state quarter depicts a young Abraham Lincoln within the outline of the state, flanked by a farm scene and the Chicago skyline. Illinois is also known as the "Land of Lincoln" as Lincoln had studied law in Springfield and later on became a great leader of the nation. The 21 stars on the rim of the coin show that Illinois was the 21st state to be admitted to the United States, in 1818.

Idaho state quarter

Idaho, nicknamed the "Gem State," was admitted into the Union on July 3, 1890, becoming USA's 43rd state. The reverse of Idaho's quarter features the Peregrine Falcon imposing its presence above an outline of the State of Idaho. The coin bears the inscriptions "Esto Perpetua" (the State motto which means, "May it be Forever").

The Peregrine Falcon is one of the fastest birds in the world. Once on the endangered species list, it can now be found throughout Idaho and the United States because of conservation efforts.

Hawaii state quarter

Hawaii, spelled "Hawai'i" in the Hawaiian language, is nicknamed "The Aloha State." It became the 50th state admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959. The release of this quarter signals the end of the ten-year 50 State Quarters Program.

The reverse of Hawaii's quarter features Hawaiian monarch King Kamehameha I(same name as Goku's special attack in Akira Toriyama's popular series DragonballZ) stretching his hand toward the eight major Hawaiian Islands. Inscriptions are the state motto "UA MAU KE EA O KA ĀINA I KA PONO," ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"), "Hawaii" and "1959."

King Kamehameha I is a revered figure in Hawaiian history. He unified the governance of the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom in the early 1800s and navigated changes in Hawaii, while maintaining the native practices and traditional ways of island life. His "Law of the Splintered Paddle" guaranteed the protection of citizens from harm during war and became a landmark in humanitarian law. He is honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall.

USA state quarters -III

Guam state quarter

The Guam state quarter is one of the 6 "not a state" state quarters. The island of Guam is a territory of the US which is not included in the 50 states. This is a part of the follow up of the popular state quarters program.

The design features an outline of the island of Guam along with two symbols associated with the island. At left is a sailing vessel known as the "Flying Proa" for its great speed. At right is a Latte, a stone pillar used in ancient houses. The reverse was designed by David Westwood and sculpted by Jim Licaretz.

Georgia state quarter

In the Georgia quarter, the selected design incorporates several symbols associated with this traditional, yet very diverse southern state.

Just from studying the Georgia quarter design, one can learn a lot about the fourth state of the Union. The selected design prominently features the peach - a symbol long associated with the state - within the confines of a silhouetted outline of the state. Live Oak sprigs border the central design paying homage to the official state tree, the Live Oak. And if you ever need to know the Georgia state motto, simply look across the top of the design, where the words "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," can be seen on a hanging banner.

Connecticut state quarter

The Connecticut quarter, the last 50 State Quarters Program coin issued in 1999, features "The Charter Oak": an integral part of Connecticut's heritage and existence. If not for the famed "Charter Oak", Connecticut - and this country in general - might be a very different place than it is today.

On the night of October 31, 1687, Connecticut's Charter was put to a test. A British representative for King James II, challenged Connecticut's government structure and demanded its surrender. In the middle of the heated discussion, with the Charter on the table between the opposing parties, the candles were mysteriously snuffed out, darkening the room. When visibility was reestablished, the Connecticut Charter had vanished. Heroic Captain Joseph Wadsworth saved the Charter from the hands of the British and concealed it in the safest place he could find - in a majestic white oak. This famous tree, "The Charter Oak," finally fell during a great storm on August 21, 1856.

USA state quarters - II

Colorado state quarter

The Colorado quarter depicts a sweeping view of the state's rugged Rocky Mountains with evergreen trees and a banner carrying the inscription "Colorful Colorado."

Colorado's Rocky Mountains are home to some of the Nation's most majestic natural wonders. Among these, rising approximately 10,000 feet from the valley floor in Northwest Colorado, Grand Mesa is the largest flat-top mountain in the world, and is home to more than 200 lakes and many miles of scenic hiking trails.

Colorado was admitted into the Union in 1876, becoming our Nation's 38th state. With statehood gained less than one month after the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State".

California state quarter

California's quarter depicts naturalist and conservationist John Muir admiring Yosemite Valley's monolithic granite headwall known as "Half Dome" and also contains a soaring California condor.

In 1849, the year before California gained statehood, the family of 11-year-old John Muir emigrated from Scotland to the United States, settling in Wisconsin. In 1868, at the age of 30, Muir sailed up the West Coast and landed in San Francisco. He made his home in the Yosemite Valley, describing the Sierra Nevada Mountains as "the Range of Light the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I have seen."

The great condors were once on the verge of extinction but have now been repopulated in the area.

Arkansas state quarter

The Arkansas state quarter design bears rice stalks, a diamond and a a mallard(duck) flying gracefully over a lake. The mallard over the lake signifies the many lakes of the state, and the diamond signifies the crater of diamonds state park.

Arkansas has an abundance of clear streams, rivers and 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.

USA state quarters - I

Arizona state quarter

The Arizona state quarter features the grand canyon on the reverse.The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

The Grand Canyon is 446 km long, ranges in width from 6.4 to 29 km and attains a depth of over a mile. Nearly two billion years of the Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists, recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago.Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to the point we see it as today.

Alaska state quarter

In 1867, the US senate approved the purchase of Alaska from the Russian empire for a total of 7.2million $ at 2 cents per acre. After going through several processes, Alaska was inducted as the 49th state in 1959. Being in the frigid zone, the region supports little flora and the prime fauna is the polar bear, as shown in the picture. Living is definitely not easy as its climate is classified as Tundra and the population density of Alaska is the lowest among all states of USA. It is another matter that USA benefitted a lot in this deal to buy Alaska as petroleum deposits were found later on in Alaska.

Alaska is also called the great land because of its size. Its area is more than twice the area of Texas, the second largest state.

Alabama state quarter

The Alabama state quarter pictures Helen Keller on the reverse. Helen was born on 27th June, 1880 in Tuscumbia, a small town in Northern Alabama. When she was 19 months old, she got was left deaf and blind in the wake of some sickness which could have possibly taken her life. Afterwards, Helen turned out to be a very troublesome child and she went about causing all sorts of trouble in her house. Taking care of her was beginning to look like a very arduous task.

When she was 7 years old, she came into contact with Anne Sullivan, who had lost the majority of her eyesight by the age of five. After 1880, she had two operations on here eyes due to which she became able to read and write. Anne worked hard on the troublemaking Helen and gradually Helen's behavior and attitude changed. Then, after a month of Anne's teaching, what the people of the time called a "miracle" occurred.

Helen had until now not yet fully understood the meaning of words. When Anne led her to the water pump on 5 April 1887, all that was about to change.

As Anne pumped the water over Helen's hand , Anne spelled out the word water in the girl's free hand. Something about this explained the meaning of words within Helen, and Anne could immediately see in her face that she finally understood.

Helen's progress from then on was astonishing. Her ability to learn was far in advance of anything that anybody had seen before in someone without sight or hearing. It wasn't long before Anne was teaching Helen to read, firstly with raised letters and later with braille, and to write with both ordinary and braille typewriters.

During her life, Helen and Anne extensively toured countries over the world, and made a good living from the money raised from Helen's lectures and her political views. Helen's expressions were translated line by line by Anne Sullivan and the money raised from the lectures was utilized in the improvement of the lives of disabled people throughout the world.

On June 1, 1968, at Arcan Ridge, Helen Keller died peacefully in her sleep. Helen was cremated in Bridgeport, Connecticut and a funeral service was held at the National Cathedral in Washington DC where the urn containing her ashes would later be deposited next to those of Anne Sullivan.

Today Helen's final resting place is a popular tourist attraction and the bronze plaque erected to commemorate her life has the following inscription written in braille:

"Helen Keller and her beloved companion Anne Sullivan Macy are interred in the columbarium behind this chapel."

So many people have visited the chapel, and touched the braille dots, that the plaque has already had to be replaced twice.

In Helen's own words:

"The public must learn that the blind man is neither genius nor a freak nor an idiot. He has a mind that can be educated, a hand which can be trained, ambitions which it is right for him to strive to realise, and it is the duty of the public to help him make the best of himself so that he can win light through work."

Truly, Helen Keller was the embodiment of the spirit of courage.

Note:The USA state quarter program was started in 1999 in which quarters of all 50 different states were minted and the series was concluded in 2010 with quarters of 5 different islands in 2010. That makes it a set of 55 different coins. The Washington head on the state quarters has been slightly modified from the previous regular issue head. Subsequently a series of quarters based on the different national parks has been started.