2000 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof Set NEW

1.- Massachusetts

            The Massachusetts quarter, the first quarter of the new millennium, features a design of "The Minuteman," a famous statue that stands guard at The Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts.

The selected design captures a piece of the Bay State's exceptional history. The Minutemen played a big role in protecting our nation, as they rallied together to help defeat the British during the Revolutionary War. These small, influential forces consisting of regular farmers and colonists, were always at-the-ready and were trained to assemble and fight on just a minute's notice-hence the term 'minutemen'.

In February 1998, Governor Paul Cellucci initiated a unique contest encouraging Massachusetts elementary school students to submit designs for the state's commemorative quarter - and more than 100 did! A 10-member advisory council then narrowed the finalist field to five proposals. After receiving final approval from former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Governor Cellucci and Lt. Governor Jane Swift announced the selected design concept in June 1999. The Minuteman design concept was submitted by a sixth grader and a seventh grader. So far, Massachusetts remains the only state to limit its design contest to children.

2.- Maryland.

            The Maryland quarter, the 2nd in the Year 2000 series, highlights the striking dome of the Maryland Statehouse.

Through its new quarter, our 7th state shares its pride for the honored Maryland Statehouse. A distinctive building dating back to 1772, it features the country's largest wooden dome built without nails. Besides housing Maryland's colonial legislature, it was also crucial to our national history. From 1783-1784, the Maryland Statehouse served as the nation's first peacetime capital. The Treaty of Paris was ratified here, officially ending the Revolutionary War. A treasure preserved, the Statehouse continues as the country's oldest state capital building still in legislative use.

Leaf clusters from the official state tree, the White Oak, and the nickname The Old Line State complete the selected design. Maryland is nicknamed the Old Line State in honor of its "troops of the line." These troops won praise from George Washington, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

Governor Parris N. Glendening favored this design over five others recommended by the Maryland Commemorative Coin Committee. He established this commission specifically to evaluate quarter design submissions.

3.- South Carolina.

            The South Carolina quarter, the eighth coin released under the 50 State Quarters Program™ shows key state symbols- a Palmetto Tree, the Carolina Wren and the Yellow Jessamine. An outline of South Carolina, the nickname "The Palmetto State" and a star indicating the capital, Columbia, form the quarter’s background.

The Carolina Wren, the state bird, and the Yellow Jessamine, the state flower, are native throughout South Carolina; the importance of the Palmetto Tree, the state tree, dates back to the Revolutionary War. In 1776, colonists in a small fort built of Palmetto logs successfully defeated a British fleet trying to capture Charleston Harbor. Since then, South Carolina has been called "The Palmetto State."

Beginning in 1998, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) accepted quarter design suggestions. Contributions came from PRT’s offices, school children and the South Carolina Numismatic Society.

From these contributions, PRT compiled five semi-finalist design concepts. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the Fine Arts Commission narrowed these five semi-finalist design concepts down to three choices. Governor Jim Hodges then made his final decision, indicating that the Palmetto Tree represents South Carolina’s strength; the

Carolina Wren’s song symbolizes the hospitality of the state’s people; and the Yellow Jessamine, a delicate golden bloom-a sign of coming spring-is part of South Carolina’s vast natural beauty.

4.- New Hampshire.

            The New Hampshire quarter, the ninth coin released under the 50 State Quarters® Program, honors one of the state's most unique natural attractions, "The Old Man of the Mountain." The state motto, "Live free or die," and nine stars, signifying the fact that New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, complete the design.

"The Old Man of the Mountain" was a distinctive rock formation on Mt. Cannon in the Franconia Notch gateway to northern New Hampshire. From the right view, this unique rock formation -- comprised of five layers of Conway red granite -- depicted the distinct profile of an elderly man gazing eastward. Geographers believe that the layers of granite were formed by the melting and slipping away action of an ice sheet that covered the Franconia Mountains at the end of the glacial period 2,000 to 10,000 years ago. Until it crumbled in early 2003, the formation measured over 40 feet high with a lateral distance of 25 feet.

The "formation" of the New Hampshire quarter design began when New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen established a Commemorative Quarter Committee with representatives from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Arts Educators, Numismatics, Historical Societies, the Senate and House and New Hampshire citizens. The Committee held a competition to all New Hampshire residents to submit design concepts for the New Hampshire quarter. They even created a website to broadcast the selection process and other information about the program.

The final design concept selection honoring "The Old Man of the Mountain" was then forwarded to the Secretary of the Treasury who gave final approval.

5.- Virginia.

The Virginia quarter, the tenth coin released under the 50 State Quarters® Program, honors Jamestown, Virginia, our nation's first permanent English settlement. Jamestown turns 400 years old in 2007. The selected design features the three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. These ships brought the first English settlers to Jamestown.

On April 10, 1606, King James I of England chartered the Virginia Company to encourage colonization in the New World. The first expedition, consisting of the three ships depicted on the quarter, embarked from London on December 20, 1606. On May 12, 1607, they landed on a small island along the James River nearly 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It was here the original settlers (104 men and boys) established the first permanent English settlement called Jamestown, in honor of King James I.

The selection of the design for Virginia's new quarter began when Governor James Gilmore III selected State Treasurer Susan F. Dewey to serve as liaison to the United States Mint for the 50 State Quarters® Program. Ideas were solicited from colleges, universities, museums, and state agencies. Public comment was overwhelming, with thousands of responses received.

Representatives from the Library of Virginia, the Department of Historic Resources, the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Department of General Services assisted the State Treasurer in selecting design concepts for the Virginia quarter. The citizens of Virginia were encouraged to provide their comments. Governor Gilmore then forwarded his final design concept recommendation, the Jamestown Quadricentennial, to the Secretary of the Treasury who gave final approval.