This listing is for Washington Quarters: State Collection Volume 1 1999-2003 Booklet.  

The first release of the State Quarter coin holders by H. E. Harris & Company - Serving the collector since 1916.  

The quarter, also known as the quarter dollar, has gone through many changes over the years.  In 1796 silver was used to make the first quarters.  By 1873 the government felt the coin was not heavy enough, so more silver was added to give it extra weight.  The Coinage Act of 1965  made another change to the quarter by using copper-nickel instead of silver.  But, to our eyes the quarter still looks like it’s made of shiny silver! How did the quarter get its looks?  It was the Mint Act of April 2, 1792 that gave the quarter its first design.  Some of the coin’s features were: the year it was minted, a picture of  Lady Liberty (a female figure symbolizing liberty), and the word "Liberty" on the obverse (front) side.   On the reverse (back) side an eagle and the words "United States of America" appeared.  

The U.S. Mint changed the way the quarter looked many times over the years.  During the 115 years that Lady Liberty, was on the quarter, she went through many different looks.  Perhaps to keep up with fashion!  For instance, her hair was originally flowing. Originally, the eagle was smaller; many people thought it looked like a pigeon.  Over the years the eagle increased in size and had a more patriotic look.  In 1932, to celebrate two hundred years after George Washington’s birth date, his silhouette (an outline of his face), replaced Lady Liberty on the quarter. To recognize another celebration, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, a colonial drummer temporarily replaced the eagle.

  

Its greatest change is happening now with the 50 State Quarters® Program. By the year 2008 the quarter will have 50 different makeovers to represent each state in our country. Before the beginning of the program, on the reverse side of the quarter, the words "E Pluribus Unum" were written. These Latin words translated to English mean "Out of many, one"  which symbolizes the 13 colonies joining as one to become a nation.

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