 |
|
::: Important
Dates ::: |
Statehood
Date |
June 21, 1788 |
Release
Date |
August 7, 2000 |
|
::: Mintage Facts
::: |
|
Philadelphia |
673,040,000 |
|
Denver |
495,976,000 |
|
Total |
1,169,016,000 |
|
|
The New Hampshire
quarter, the ninth coin released under the 50 State Quarters® Program,
honors one of the state's most unique natural attractions, "The Old
Man of the Mountain." The state motto, "Live free or die," and nine
stars, signifying the fact that New Hampshire was the ninth state to
ratify the Constitution, complete the design.
"The Old Man of the Mountain" is a rock formation that can be found on
Mt. Cannon in the Franconia Notch gateway to Northern New Hampshire.
From the right view, this unique rock formation, comprised of five
layers of Conway red granite, depicts the distinct profile of an
elderly man gazing eastward. Geographers believe that the layers of
granite were formed by the melting and slipping away action of an ice
sheet that covered the Franconia Mountains at the end of the glacial
period - some 2,000 to 10,000 years ago. Today, the formation,
measuring over 40 feet high with a lateral distance of 25 feet, is
held in place by cables and turnbuckles to prevent further slipping
and possible destruction.
The "formation" of the New Hampshire quarter design began when New
Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen established a Commemorative Quarter
Committee with representatives from the Department of Cultural
Affairs, Arts Educators, Numismatics, Historical Societies, the Senate
and House and New Hampshire citizens. The Committee held a competition
to all New Hampshire residents to submit design concepts for the New
Hampshire quarter. They even created a website to broadcast the
selection process and other information about the program.
The final design concept selection honoring "The Old Man of the
Mountain" was then forwarded to the Secretary of the Treasury who gave
final approval.
|
|
