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How to Collect State Quarters

The Commemorative Coin Program Act provided for the design and minting of the 50 State Quarters Series. The first of these coins was issued in 1999 (Delaware) and ends with a Hawaii quarter in 2008. Each year since the beginning of the series, five states have been represented. The design of each coin is thematic and includes landmarks, nature scenes, state icons or famous people. Younger people have been introduced to the numismatic hobby and have learned a lot about United States history, thanks to this program. The opportunity remains to collect these coins. Many can be found in circulation. However, as time goes by, the supply will diminish as more and more people want to save a set for themselves or their children. Serious collectors will want to go for the Proof or Silver issues. Here is a rundown of the quarter issues by year and the various types of sets.

Things You'll Need

A Statehood quarter album
A small magnifying glass
A good light source

Instructions

- 1
  1999
  
  Delaware
  Pennsylvania
  New Jersey
  Georgia
  Connecticut
- 2
  2000
  
  Massachusetts
  Maryland
  South Carolina
  New Hampshire
  Virginia
- 3
  2001
  
  New York
  North Carolina
  Rhode Island
  Vermont
  Kentucky
- 4
  2002
  
  Tennessee
  Ohio
  Louisiana
  Indiana
  Mississippi
- 5
  2003
  
  Illinois
  Alabama
  Maine
  Missouri
  Arkansas
- 6
  2004
  
  Michigan
  Florida
  Texas
  Iowa
  Wisconsin
- 7
  2005
  
  California
  Minnesota
  Oregon
  Kansas
  West Virginia
- 8
  2006
  
  Nevada
  Nebraska
  Colorado
  North Dakota
  South Dakota
- 9
  2007
  
  Montana
  Washington
  Idaho
  Wyoming
  Utah
- 10
  2008
  
  Oklahoma
  New Mexico
  Arizona
  Alaska
  Hawaii
- 11
  THE BASIC SET
  
  The easiest and least expensive way to assemble a complete set is to collect one coin of each state. Don't worry about mint marks or the Proof coins. There are plenty of circulated state quarters out there. Go to the bank and purchase two or three rolls and get started. Repeat the process as you return the duplicates. The more recent issues will be in better condition. Purchase a generic quarter album and make year labels for each state.
- 12
  THE INTERMEDIATE SET
  
  The next step up is the uncirculated Clad Set. These can be purchased at very reasonable prices from a dealer or coin distributer and will look a lot nicer in your album. And you will have the option of including one coin for each state from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints.
- 13
  DELUXE SET (THE BIG KAHUNA)
  
  If you want to have the "top of the line" quarter collection, you will need to purchase the Danso Deluxe State Quarter Album. It will have room for FOUR issues for each state (Uncirculated Philadephia and Denver mints; Proof Clad and Proof 90 Percent Silver releases from the San Francisco mint). This is a pricey set to assmemble. The 1999 Silver Proof set lists for $400!

Coin Collecting