[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE 50-STATE CIRCULATING QUARTER

 Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, the Senate has approved unanimously 
a bill I introduced with Senator D'Amato which will permit each State 
to design the back of the circulating quarter dollar. I would like to 
express my gratitude to Senator D'Amato for his work to ensure passage 
of this proposal before adjournment and to the long list of colleagues 
who cosponsored this bill.
  As we all know, the circulating quarters in use today are Washington/
Eagle quarters. They have a bust of George Washington on the ``head'' 
side and an eagle on the ``tail'' side. Under this legislation, 
beginning in 1999, the mint will strike only statehood quarters until 
all 50 States are represented. Only the design on the back of quarters 
will change. There will be no changes whatsoever to the size, weight, 
or other specifications of quarters. This uniformity is necessary to 
ensure that these new quarters will continue to work in vending 
machines, telephones, parking meters, and for other similar 
transactions.
  This program will operate for 10 years, with the mint producing five 
different statehood coins per year. The order in which States will be 
represented is based on the order in which States ratified the 
Constitution and joined the Union.
  Some might ask what the purpose of this proposal is; why not leave 
well enough alone. It is my hope that this proposal will spark interest 
in every State across our Nation about its unique history. I hope that 
school children begin to study the history of their States in search of 
an appropriate individual or emblem to represent their States on the 
reverse side of these quarters. I hope that artists, coin collectors, 
historians, and scholars debate and ultimately join together to suggest 
an appropriate representation for their State.
  I know that there are a wide range of appealing options for my own 
State of Rhode Island. Of course, there is the founder of Rhode Island, 
Roger Williams or Anne Hutchinson, who, like Roger Williams, dedicated 
her life to the principles of religious freedom and tolerance. There is 
the Anchor of Hope, which is our State motto and is shown on our flag. 
Rhode Island is the Ocean State, so a seascape would be interesting 
proposal, as would be a lighthouse or a gull.
  As the coins are minted, I hope that school children as well as 
adults will collect these coins, and, in doing so, will become curious 
about the places these coins represent. This modest proposal could lead 
to a greater interest in geography and history.
  The final design for each State will be selected by the Secretary of 
the Treasury in consultation with the appropriate Governor, the 
Commission on Fine Arts, and the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
Committee. Each State will nominate a design to the Secretary.
  Last year, legislation was enacted which instructed the Secretary of 
the Treasury to study the feasibility of a circulating commemorative 
coin. That study found that there is considerable public interest in 
the circulating commemorative quarter and that collecting such coins 
would produce significant earnings. The bill that the Senate approved 
today will implement this program. Identical legislation has been 
approved by the House, and I urge the President to sign it into law 
when it reaches his desk.

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