US Statehood Quarters of 2002:
Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi
Numismatic and Historic Info, Images
Coins' Specifics:
Diameter:
24.3 mm
Weight: 5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Composition: outer layers of copper-nickel (.750 copper, .250 nickel) bonded to
inner core of pure copper
Quantity minted: 3,313,704,000
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
TENNESSEE STATE QUARTER
The Tennessee quarter celebrates the state's contributions to the nation's musical heritage. The design incorporates musical instruments and a score with the inscription "Musical Heritage." Three stars represent Tennessee's three regions and the instruments symbolize each region's distinct musical style.
The fiddle represents the Appalachian music of east Tennessee, the trumpet stands for the blues of west Tennessee for which Memphis is famous, and the guitar is for central Tennessee, home to Nashville, the capital of country music.
Release Date: January 02, 2002
Statehood Date: June 01, 1796
Mintage Numbers: 648,068,000
OHIO STATE QUARTER
The Ohio quarter honors the state's contribution to the history of aviation, depicting an early aircraft and an astronaut, superimposed as a group on the outline of the state. The design also includes the inscription "Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers."
The history making astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn were both born in Ohio, as was Orville Wright, co-inventor of the airplane. Orville and his brother, Wilbur Wright, also built and tested one of their early aircraft, the 1905 Flyer III, in Ohio.
Release Date: March 11, 2002
Statehood Date: March 01, 1803
Mintage Numbers: 632,032,000
LOUISIANA STATE QUARTER
The Louisiana quarter displays the image of Louisiana's state bird - the pelican, a trumpet with musical notes, and the outline of the Louisiana Purchase territory, along with the inscription "Louisiana Purchase."
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 for $15 million. Dubbed the "greatest real estate deal in history" the Louisiana Purchase added thirteen new states to the Union, nearly doubling its size and making it one of the largest countries in the world.
The trumpet on the coin is a tribute to the state's heritage of jazz music. Jazz was born in New Orleans over a hundred years ago, a combination of elements from blues, ragtime, and marching band music. A multitude of musicians propelled jazz from New Orleans' French Quarter onto the world stage, making the style a dominant force in 20th Century music.
Release Date: May 20, 2002
Statehood Date: April 30, 1812
Mintage Numbers: 764,204,000
INDIANA STATE QUARTER
The Indiana quarter represents the state pride in the famous Indianapolis 500 race. The design features the image of a racecar superimposed on an outline of the state with the inscription "Crossroads of America." The design also includes 19 stars signifying Indiana as the 19th state admitted into the Union.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5 mile track built in 1909 for automotive research purposes. While the track was and is used for research, it is best known for hosting auto races, most famously, the Indy 500. The oldest auto race in the world, the Indy 500 has been run every year since 1911, except during the two World Wars. The winner of the first Indy 500 was Ray Harroun whose car, the Marmon Wasp, is thought to have been the first to have a single seat and to use a rearview mirror.
Release Date: August 02, 2002
Statehood Date: December 11, 1816
Mintage Numbers: 689,800,000
MISSISSIPPI STATE QUARTER
The Mississippi quarter depicts the beauty and elegance of the state flower, combining the blossoms and leaves of two magnolias with the inscription "The Magnolia State."
The southern magnolia, or Magnolia grandiflora, is native to the southeastern United States. Boasting large, showy white flowers as big as 15 inches across, they are named for the famed 18th century French botanist Pierre Magnol. Mississippi adopted it as the state flower in 1952.
Release Date: October 15, 2002
Statehood Date: December 10, 1817
Mintage Numbers: 579,600,000
Total of state quarters minted in 2002: 3,313,704,000
Year of issuance: