The 50 State Quarters Program transformed an everyday piece of American pocket change into a decade-long tour of the United States. From 1999 through 2008, the United States Mint issued a different quarter honoring each of the 50 states, with five new state designs released every year.
While billions of ordinary State Quarters were produced for circulation, the U.S. Mint also created special 90% silver proof versions for collectors. These San Francisco silver proofs are the State Quarters used for CoinCrafters' Silver State Quarter Coin Rings.
A Ten-Year Tour of the United States
Congress authorized the 50 State Quarters Program through Public Law 105-124. Beginning in 1999, states were honored in the order in which they ratified the Constitution or were admitted into the Union.
Five different states appeared each year. Delaware opened the program in 1999, and Hawaii became the 50th and final state honored in 2008.
The program generated extraordinary public interest. According to the United States Mint, an estimated 147 million Americans collected State Quarters, and more than 34 billion quarters were shipped to Federal Reserve Banks during the program's ten-year run.
Fifty States, Fifty Different Reverse Designs
The familiar portrait of George Washington remained on the obverse, or heads side, of each State Quarter. The reverse was redesigned for every state to feature imagery connected with that state's history, geography, culture or identity.
To make room for the larger state designs, inscriptions that had traditionally appeared on the reverse—including UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, QUARTER DOLLAR, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST—were placed on the obverse.
The result was a series in which the common Washington obverse connected all 50 coins while each state received its own distinctive reverse.
How the State Designs Were Chosen
The design process involved both the individual states and the federal government. Each governor determined a process for developing concepts representing the state's character, heritage and contributions to the nation.
Concepts were submitted to the United States Mint, where artists developed candidate coin designs. The designs went through federal review before returning to the states for selection, with final approval resting with the Secretary of the Treasury.
This process allowed the quarters to reflect subjects chosen to represent the individual states while remaining part of a unified national coin program.
The 50 State Quarters by Year
| Year |
States Honored |
| 1999 |
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut |
| 2000 |
Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia |
| 2001 |
New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky |
| 2002 |
Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi |
| 2003 |
Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Arkansas |
| 2004 |
Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin |
| 2005 |
California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia |
| 2006 |
Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota |
| 2007 |
Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah |
| 2008 |
Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii |
Most State Quarters Are Not Silver
State Quarters produced for normal circulation were made in the same copper-nickel clad composition used for standard circulating Washington Quarters. Finding a State Quarter in pocket change therefore does not mean that the coin is silver.
The United States Mint also produced special collector versions of the State Quarters, including silver proof coins. These silver proofs were struck at the San Francisco Mint and carry an S mint mark.
The 90% Silver State Quarters
The special silver proof State Quarters issued during the original 1999–2008 program were struck in 90% silver. They were included in the U.S. Mint's annual Silver Proof Sets along with silver versions of other denominations.
These coins should not be confused with either the ordinary copper-nickel State Quarters made for circulation or standard non-silver proof State Quarters. The S mint mark alone identifies San Francisco production, but the specific issue must still be identified to determine whether a particular proof quarter is the silver version.
What Is a Proof Coin?
“Proof” describes a special manufacturing process rather than a grade of coin. The United States Mint produces proof coins for collectors using specially prepared coin blanks and polished dies. The coins are struck to create sharp design details, frosted elements and mirror-like fields.
During the State Quarters era, the Mint produced both standard proof sets and separate silver proof sets. The State Quarters in the silver sets combined the specialized proof finish with the traditional 90% silver coinage alloy.
Silver State Quarter Specifications
| Denomination |
Quarter Dollar / 25 Cents |
| 50 State Quarters Program |
1999–2008 |
| Silver Proof Composition |
90% silver |
| Silver Proof Mint |
San Francisco |
| Mint Mark |
S |
| Number of State Designs |
50 |
What Came After the 50 State Quarters?
The original 50 State Quarters Program concluded with Hawaii in 2008. In 2009, the United States Mint issued six additional quarters honoring the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories under a separate program.
Those 2009 coins are related to the era of changing quarter designs, but they are not part of the original 50 State Quarters Program.
Silver State Quarters at CoinCrafters
CoinCrafters' Silver State Quarter Coin Rings are handcrafted from genuine special-issue 90% silver State Quarters from the original 1999–2008 program.
These are not ordinary copper-nickel State Quarters taken from circulation. Each ring begins with an authentic 90% silver proof State Quarter, allowing customers to choose the state whose original coin will be transformed into their ring.
With all 50 states available, the series can represent a home state, birthplace, favorite destination, family connection or another place with personal meaning while retaining the history of the original U.S. coin.
Sources & Further Reading
This history was prepared using information from the United States Mint. For additional information, visit the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program, its announcement of the first 50 State Quarter, and its 2008 Silver Proof Set information.
