State-Quarter.com

Buckeye State’s History of Aviation and Space Development Honored with New Coin

Dayton, Ohio – Governor Bob Taft today joined United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore and Treasurer of the United States Rosario Marin at the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to unveil the Ohio commemorative quarter-dollar coin, the 17th under the 50 State Quarters® Program.

Ohio joined the Union on March 1, 1803, becoming the 17th state. The Buckeye State quarter’s reverse design 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 claim of this inscription is well justified — the history-making astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn were both born in Ohio, as was Orville Wright, one of the inventors of the airplane. Ohio was also the site of the development and testing of the Wright brothers’ 1905 Flyer.

“From Man’s first airplane to Man’s first steps on the moon, Ohio is truly the birthplace of aviation pioneers,” said Director Fore. “It is fitting that the Ohio quarter honors the technological achievements that have changed the world forever.” She added that Ohioans should be proud of this coin and the place it now takes as the 17th state in the 50 State Quarters Program.

Governor Taft selected the final design after the Ohio Coin Commission received and reviewed more than 7,000 design suggestions from across the state. U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill approved the final design.

“This is an exciting time for Ohio,” said Governor Taft. “The quarter design celebrates our state’s legacy of leadership and commemorates the pride we have in being the home of the pioneers of aviation. In fact, we added another chapter to our aviation history earlier this month, when astronauts Nancy Currie of Troy, Ohio, and Richard Linnehan, who both graduated from The Ohio State University, carried four of our state’s quarters into space on the space shuttle Columbia.”

Now that the quarters have returned to Earth, Currie and Linnehan will keep one each, and the other two will be donated to the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where they will be displayed for the public.

“Ohio’s tradition of reaching for the stars serves as a great example for our children and, indeed, all Americans,” said U.S. Treasurer Marin. “With that in mind, I am especially proud to be here today to honor this new state quarter.”

Hundreds of Ohioans attended the launch ceremony held in the Modern Flight Hangar of the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight kicked off the event, which included remarks from Governor Taft, U.S. Treasurer Marin, Director Fore, Senator John Glenn, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Stephen Wright, a descendant of Orville and Wilbur Wright.

The release of the Ohio quarter marked the end of production of the Tennessee quarter, released in January 2002. The quarters are manufactured at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, which produce all U.S. circulating coins and ship them to the Federal Reserve for distribution to the nation’s banks.

Launched in 1999, the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program is a 10-year initiative that honors each of the nation’s states in the order that they joined the Union. Each quarter is produced for about 10 weeks and will never be produced again. Surveys show that over 139 million adults are collecting the quarters.

The 50 State Quartersâ products, besides the popular collectible proof sets featuring the five state quarters of each year, are available as gift items including collectible spoons, key fobs, bookmarks, golf divot tools and pendants. Watches and desk clocks featuring the Ohio state quarter will be available later this spring. These products, and more information about the 50 State Quarters Program, are available through the Mint’s Web site at www.usmint.gov or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT.

Created by Congress in 1792, the United States Mint is a manufacturing and international marketing enterprise with $2.4 billion in annual revenue and about 2,400 employees. In FY 2001, the United States Mint produced approximately 24 billion coins, fulfilling its primary mission to produce an adequate supply of circulating coinage for the nation’s commerce. For more information, please visit www.usmint.gov.

Popular Spoons, Jewelry and Gift Items Available March 18

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Mint announced today that quarters honoring Ohio, the second coin under the 50 State Quarters® Program to be struck for the year 2002, will go on sale beginning March 11, 2002, at 12:00 noon (ET), and will be available for purchase the entire 10-week release period. The Ohio quarters are available in two-roll sets (40 coins per roll), including one Philadelphia and Denver Mint Mark coin roll each, and in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins. The Ohio quarters are also available as part of the Mint’s popular subscription program. The 50 State Quarters collectibles featuring the Ohio state quarter will go on sale beginning March 18, 2002.

Ohio joined the Union on March 1, 1803, becoming the 17th state. The Ohio quarter’s reverse design 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 claim of this inscription is well justified — the history-making astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn were both born in Ohio, as was Orville Wright, one of the inventors of the airplane. Ohio was also the site of the 1905 Flyer’s development and testing.

Each coin roll is wrapped in a specially designed U.S. Mint paper coin wrap that prominently displays the 50 State Quarters Program logo, a “P” or “D” representing the roll’s mint of origin, “OH” designating the state of Ohio and “$10” representing its dollar value. Each bag is marked with the Mint of origin and the dollar value of its contents ($25 or $250). Two roll sets will sell for $32.00, bags of 100 coins for $35.50, and bags of 1,000 coins for $300. These rolls and bags, featuring quarters used in regular transactions and struck on our main production floors at the Philadelphia and Denver Mint facilities, will be shipped directly to you from the U.S. Mint. Note that there are no order limits on these products.

Ohio Quarter Jewelry and Gift Items Go on Sale March 18

In addition, the Mint’s popular 50 State Quarter gift items featuring the Ohio quarter become available March 18, including the 2002 Ohio Collector’s Spoon, with the Ohio quarter mounted at the top of the handle and “OHIO” spelled out in block lettering down the 4-and1/2-inch stem.

Other items showcasing the Ohio quarter include the black leather fob and the key ring; the Ohio Quarter sterling silver bookmark, the nickel-plated Ohio quarter golf divot tool, and the Ohio quarter pendant and sterling silver rope chain. Wristwatches and desk clocks featuring the Ohio quarter will be available later this spring.

Customers can purchase the Ohio quarter bags and rolls and Ohio quarter collectables three ways. First, they can be purchased online using the Mint’s secure website at http://www.usmint.gov/.

As an added convenience, customers may participate in a subscription-ordering program where specific products, such as quarter bags and rolls, are charged and shipped to the customer automatically as each new state quarter is released. Second, they may call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Third, they may download a fax order form from the website and fax it to (301) 918-2039. A shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order will be added to all phone and fax orders. Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). Please allow approximately 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Astronauts with Ohio Roots Show State Pride in Space

Washington - Two astronauts with Ohio ties carried Ohio commemorative quarter-dollar coins into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, which was launched today on an 11-day mission to repair the Hubble telescope (Mission STS-109).

The Ohio quarter, the 17th in the U.S. Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program, celebrates Ohio as the “Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers.” More than 20 astronauts call Ohio home, including John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Lt. Col. Nancy Currie and Dr. Richard Linnehan, DVM, also have Ohio ties and are members of the crew that was launched into space this morning. Currie was raised in Troy, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio State University. Linnehan also received his degree from Ohio State University.

“I am delighted that NASA has chosen to send four Ohio quarters on Space Shuttle Columbia’s mission that began this morning,” said U.S. Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore. “Colonel Currie and Dr. Linnehan join an illustrious group, from Orville Wright and Eddie Rickenbacker, to John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and Judith Resnik, as Ohio’s latest aviation pioneers.”

Placing the four quarters on the shuttle mission was a joint effort involving the U.S. Mint, the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, NASA, and the offices of Governor Bob Taft and Senator George V. Voinovich. When the quarters return to earth, Currie and Linnehan will keep one each, and the other two will be donated to the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where they will be displayed for the public.

“Ohio’s quarter pays tribute to the brave men and women who pushed aviation and space exploration further and further,” said Governor Taft. “It is only fitting that two such pioneers are carrying these quarters as they continue in the tradition of other aviation pioneers.”

The Ohio quarter will be released into general circulation on March 11th, with an official ceremony on March 18th at the U. S. Air Force Museum in Dayton. The space quarters will be on display for the official ceremony that will include Governor Taft, U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin, Mint Director Fore and Senator Glenn.

The 50 State Quarters Program is a 10-year initiative commemorating each of the 50 States in the order in which they ratified the Constitution or joined the Union. The Mint will release a new quarter approximately every 10 weeks.

To learn more about the Ohio quarter and the 50 State Quarter Program or to order 50 State Quarter products, please visit the Mint’s Web site at www.usmint.gov.