On August 13, 2001, the U.S. Mint debuted the 14th state quarter in the 50 State Quarters' Program at the Vermont State House. Governor Howard Dean and U.S. Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore led the national celebration, which honored an essential part of the state's history -- the maple industry.
The Vermont quarter, the fourth coin in the 2001 series, honors the "Green Mountain State." The coin features two maple trees being tapped with one of Vermont's most significant landmarks, Camel's Hump Mountain in the background, and the state's motto, "Freedom and Unity."
"The quarter continues the legacy of original designs chosen for the 50 State Quarters Program," said Holsman-Fore. "With Vermont's long agricultural heritage and abundant natural beauty, it is no wonder this design was chosen. The people of Vermont should be thrilled with their unique contribution to the 50 State Quarters Program."
Governor Dean selected the design after an extensive 18-month process led by the Vermont Arts Council. Working with the U.S. Mint, the Arts Council narrowed down over 500 diverse submissions to just three final designs, leaving Governor Dean with the unenviable task of choosing a winner. To aid him in his decision, the Governor held impromptu "focus groups" during public appearances to get input from fellow Vermonters.
Residents from all over the state of Vermont also contributed to the launch ceremony. The festivities opened with the People's Performance Choir singing the new state song "These Green Mountains", and included a video telling the story of the Vermont quarter design which played to the State House Chamber packed to capacity with dignitaries, schoolchildren and residents. Two area students read excerpts from their winning essays on why the maple industry is so important to Vermont and a good choice to highlight on the state's quarter. Following the ceremony, the Vermont Department of Agriculture offered a first-hand taste of Vermont, hosting a "Sugar on Snow" party providing complimentary, maple cotton candy, maple ice cream and maple popcorn to the crowd.
The release of the Vermont quarter marks the end of production of the Rhode Island quarter, released in May 2001. The new quarters are manufactured at both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Together, they produce all legal tender U.S. circulating coins before shipping them to the Federal Reserve for distribution through the banking system. The Federal Reserve orders new quarters to ensure an adequate supply to meet the needs of commerce as commercial banks demand.
Launched in 1999, the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program is a 10-year initiative honoring each of the nation's states in the order that they joined the Union or ratified the Constitution. Each quarter is produced for only about 10 weeks, never to be produced again. U.S. Mint research shows that well over 125 million Americans are collecting the 50 State Quarters.
More information about the 50 State Quarters Program is available through the U.S. Mint's Web site at www.usmint.gov or by calling 1-800-USA MINT.