State Quarters - the first 13

This is an old story I eMailed back in Jan 2002. It was fun to write and it got a few laughs, so I thought I would add it to the blog.

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It has been a while since I have had a good rant about anything lately, but I feel the time has come to vent. While the attention of the world monetary system has been focused on the introduction of Euro coins and bills, we in the US are also undergoing a tragedy in our coinage as well. I am speaking of the State Quarters.

Since 1999, our beloved and ever-useful quarter has undergone a startling, and dare I add, ignominious change. I finally received the Rhode Island quarter the other day, the last of the original thirteen colonies. I feel it is my duty to review these quarters - the good, the bad, and the ugly - in the hopes that something can be done with the remaining states. The first 13, as they are the oldest states in the union, should have the most historical material to draw upon for their designs. The majority of the other states will have even less history to pull from, so I fear the trend of lame designs will get worse, unless something is done. How excited, honestly, will you be when you get your first quarter from, say, Nebraska? I urge, nay, I beg you, to send this on to others so that by some small chance, it will get to someone who can do something about the design of their state quarter before it gets too late.

First off, let me say that I was not a fan of this program to begin with. The US has traditionally been loath to change the design or format of their coins. The bald eagle, which has graced the tails side of our quarter has remained, fixed on its perch since 1792. While it has undergone some cosmetic changes, it has remained there, except in 1976 for the bicentennial celebration, but it returned the next year. What the eagle did to deserve being bumped in favor a group of poorly designed state travel ads must have been quite horrific. I was also not sure why 1999 was chosen as the starting date. True, that was the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death, but traditionally, you memorialize positive people (or events) on the date of their birth (or start). E.G. We celebrate Washington, Abraham Lincoln's, and (in most states) Martin Luther King's birthday. Conversely, we remember unpleasant events by their termination, e.g. V-Day as the end of WWII.

The US Mint web site says the purpose of the 50 State Quarter program is to "celebrate … the 50 states with a design honoring its unique history, traditions, and symbols". As that is a bit wide open to interpretation, let me explain the rules I used to judging what makes a good quarter vs. most of the entries. Picture: The picture should be easy to identify, clearly designed, with good detail. It should not be crammed onto the quarter, and be balanced on the frame.

Subject Matter: Ideally the design on the quarter should represent something of historical significance regarding the state. People, places, objects of historical significance should be included. Any item already appearing on your state's license plate should not be considered.

Memorable: Do you remember the design of the quarter and does it speak positively about the US.

Now some of you will say this is not the time to criticize America. I say bullocks! I feel I must criticize because I love this damn country too much not to care! With that, here are my reviews, in order of admission to the Union.

Delaware: B
When the Delaware quarter came out, I thought it was a poor offering; however, compared to others, its stature has slowly grown to the upper ranks. The good thing about the quarter is it portrays an important, yet often overlooked figure in the Revolutionary War, Caesar Rodney, a man who held almost every
position of importance within the state of Delaware. Also considering how few historical events or figures have come from Delaware, this was a good choice. The picture itself is kinda lame and unimpressive (like the rest of the state).

Pennsylvania: C-
I think it goes without saying that a picture of the state probably takes the least effort in designing. How lame. On top of this, it is a jumbled mess of images: some chick in the middle, the state motto on the side, and what the heck is that thing on the left side of the quarter, anyway? Couldn't they put out a little thought, and say, put the Liberty Bell on the back?

New Jersey: B+
New Jersey gets high marks for two reasons. First, the subject matter - Washington crossing the Delaware River. A historic event in the Revolutionary War which surprised the British troops. Second, the Jersey quarter provides ample grifting opportunities by putting Washington's face on both the head and tail side of the quarter (okay - call it! "tails." damn - lost again!). NJ looses points, however, because the picture is a bit cramped and lacking detail.

Georgia: C
Like Pennsylvania, Georgia lamed out and put a picture of their state on the back, dressed up by branches, a big peach, and the state motto. While this looks better than Pennsylvania's, the problem with Georgia's quarter is the state motto: Wisdom, Justice, Moderation. Humm . . . lets remove "Justice" and focus on the other two, "Wisdom" and "Moderation". To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson in the 1988 VP debate, "I know Georgians. Georgian's are friends of mine. This sir, does not describe Georgians."

Connecticut: A-
Connecticut's quarter covers most all the bases for a good state quarter. While under British Rule, a representative of King James II demanded the Connecticut Charter, which was deemed inappropriate. During a heated debate, the lights were blown out, and the Charter was spirited away, and hid inside the white oak tree. The only knock against it is the picture is a bit big in the frame; the tree could use a bit of pruning, but besides that, well done.

Massachusetts: D+
A poorly designed AAA brochure would look better than this cacophony of images. What the hell is going on in this quarter anyway? You have an unidentified minuteman on one side, the (lame) state motto on the other, and the ever-unimpressive picture of your state in the background. With all the historical events and figures the state has produced, this is the best they could come up with? How about the battle of the Old North bridge in Concord, where the first shots of the revolution took place? Even a picture of Teddy Kennedy at Chapaquidic would have been better than this.

Maryland: D-
Possibly the worst quarter designed yet. The only thing keeping it from getting an "F" is the picture is very well done. The problem is what the picture and image represent. "The Old Line State" refers to the fact that Maryland held the line during the Civil War. It was part of the Union, but it was a slave holding state during most of the war. Its resistance to emancipation was quite embarrassing to the rest of the Union. Maryland urged Lincoln to make peace with the Confederacy at the start of the war, and they attacked Union troops crossing Maryland on their way to defending Washington, DC. They wanted Compensated Emancipation, trying to get a cash-strapped Union to pay slaveholders for granting slaves their freedom. And this is what they choose to symbolize their state to the rest of the America on their quarter? Even South Carolina was smart enough not to put a picture of Ft. Sumter on their quarter. The only thing that would be worse is if Missouri put a picture of Dred Scott on theirs.

New Hampshire: D
"Old Man of the Mountain" is particularly lame for many reasons. First, it already appears on the states License Plates. Second, the image says nothing about the people of history of the state. It is a random geological formation of rocks which somebody thought looked like an old man. When erosion hits that mountain, the people of NH are going to be SOL. It must make all the real-living people who have contributed to NH's history feel very proud to have been beaten by such a worthy and deserving rock. (UPDATE: In May 2003, the Old Man collapsed. Read all about it: http://www.boston.com/news/daily/03/nh_old_man.htm)

Virginia: A
Well done on all counts. Great picture, capturing a historically important event in our country's history, the settlement at Jamestown. Other states could take a lesson from Virginia, and possibly borrow their quarter designer, too.

South Carolina: D
Like Massachusetts, but worse. A poorly blended group of images that just muddle the back of the quarter. I can not say enough bad things about this design. In fact the only good thing which can be said is it does not have a picture of Ft. Sumter where the Civil War began (see Maryland).

New York: A-
I know what you are saying - I am breaking my own rule about pictures of the state on quarters, but in this case, I am willing to make an exception. NY had the problem of so many NYC focused images that it would ignore the rest of the state. They had little choice, less they risk alienating a large portion of the state's population. Unlike the other picture-of-the-state quarters, this one is not too busy or cluttered. They did a good job with the Statue of Liberty juxtaposed against the state, with the "Gateway to Freedom" on the side. Well done.

North Carolina: C-
Not only did they copy what is already on their license plate, but the Wright Brothers were not even from North Carolina. They were from Ohio. So on top of recycling an already used image, they had to borrow outsiders, too. The picture is okay - a bit too big for the frame - but okay. Something new would have been better, like the origin of the motto "the Tar Heel State" of even a pack of smokes would have been good.

Rhode Island: D
I keep looking at the quarter expecting some great revelation to come forward, yet none does. An extremely lame entry, which is probably helped by the poor artwork. Had the image looked better, and we could actually identify what it is, the quarter probably would have gotten a lower rating. As best as I can make out, it is a boat on water, heading towards a bridge. This image hardly qualifies it as a unique identifier among our 50 states. The boat, as best as I can make out, looks like an America's Cup sailing vessel. If so, the state deserves an even lower rating, as it was in Newport, RI, in 1983 where the US lost the America's Cup for the first time in it's 100+ years, setting of a battle of lawsuits, changed boat designs, and endless controversy, which reduced the Cup race to a meaningless filler for ESPN.

There, I have said my peace; if you have any complaints, send 'em to me. Spread the word and let's hope this nightmare to our monetary system ends. I will wait, and hope for better, the next time I get change.