Under a new plan approved by the Secretary of the Treasury there will be 50 new twenty-five pieces issued by the United States Mint.

Each one of the 50 states would be allowed to pick the design they wanted to appear on the back of the current quarter which now features an eagle. Five new quarters would be issued per year, starting in 1999, based on the order of the states being admitted to the union. That would make Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut the first states with their own designs.

Since each of these states have famous lighthouses, this would be a ideal time to promote lighthouses and their preservation. Which state of the 50 will be the first to have a lighthouse design or will any of the states even pick a lighthouse, or should the question be how many states will pick a lighthouse? It's up to the people.

Since the coin designs will be decided several years in advance, now is the time to start writing letters to your state and federal representatives requesting a lighthouse.

The plan, which still needs Congressional approval, is likely to pass, since the Treasury has lost a lot of money making non-circulating coins for such events as the World Cup and the Olympics. Special coins such as these would be a boost for the slumping U.S. coin collecting industry and create income for the Treasury.

It is estimated that 1.194 billion quarters will be produced this year. However, a minimum of 400 million of each state's design would be minted.

This story appeared in the September 1997 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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