Delaware State Quarter
- Year of Issue: 1999
- Authorizing Legislation: Public Law 105-124
Background
The Delaware State Quarter is the first coin in the 50 State Quarters Program. The U.S. Mint released it on January 4, 1999.
The quarter shows Caesar Rodney on his historic ride in 1776. Rodney made the 80-mile ride through terrible heat and thunderstorms to cast his vote in favor of Delaware signing the Declaration of Independence. Rodney’s vote turned out to be the tie-breaker.
In 1787, 11 years later, Delaware voted unanimously to ratify the United States Constitution. It was the first state to do so.
Delaware Facts
Nickname: The First State
Capital: Dover
Statehood: December 7, 1787
Characteristics
The obverse (heads) design features the familiar image of George Washington by John Flanagan, used on the quarter since 1932.
The reverse (tails) design shows Caesar Rodney's historic horseback ride in 1776 to cast his vote in favor of Delaware signing the Declaration of Independence.
Obverse Inscriptions
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- LIBERTY
- IN GOD WE TRUST
- QUARTER DOLLAR
Reverse Inscriptions
- THE FIRST STATE
- DELAWARE
- 1787
- 1999
- E PLURIBUS UNUM
Mint and Mint Mark
Artist Information
Obverse- Designer: John Flanagan and William Cousins
- Designer: William Cousins