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The Mississippi State Quarter The design elements of the Mississippi State Quarter are simple and direct. The beautiful leaves and magnolia blossoms are inspiring. The inscription, "The Magnolia State," in a stately script complements the blossoms. 1817, the year that Mississippi was granted statehood is printed at top center. Governor Ronnie Musgrove declared October 22, 2002 the official "State Quarter Day in the Classroom" in the State of Mississippi and encouraged "...schools to celebrate this honor and use this quarter in their classrooms to explore the history and heritage of our great state." Magnolias are not a native species, but have become to be uniquely representative of the southern states. They were introduced from Asia and became very popular under the ideal growing conditions found in much of the southern United States. In 1900, Mississippi school children were asked to vote for an official flower to represent the state. They chose the beautiful magnolia blossom over some competition from various strains of jasmine and cotton. This choice remained unofficial, however, for over fifty years, until the Mississippi legislature finally adopted the magnolia blossom as the Official State Flower on February 26, 1952. In the meantime, the Magnolia Tree had been overwhelmingly adopted as the Official State Tree of Mississippi on 1935. On October 22, 2002, the official launch ceremony was held at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Almost 1,000 people turned out to witness the unveiling. Governor Ronnie Musgrove was joined by U.S. Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore and special guests such as Jewel Bass, Raphael Semmes, and John Maxwell to celebrate Mississippi. Governor Musgrove remarked, "This is an exciting and historical day for Mississippi. This coin showcases the beauty throughout our state and symbolizes our southern heritage....For years to come, Mississippians can be proud of this coin and its unique design. " Source: United States Mint, http://www.usmint.gov, August 20, 2002. |
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The Mississippi State Quarter was released into general circulation by the U.S.
Mint on October 15, 2002. It was the 20th quarter to be released in the U.S. Mint's 50 State
Quarters™ Program and the fifth, and last, to be released in 2002.
Though there was some effort, by some Mississippians, to promote design concepts
representing Hernando DeSoto's visit to the Mississippi River and Elvis Presley, the three final designs
reviewed by the U.S. Fine Arts Commission centered around the Mississippi State Flower and the
Mississippi State Bird. The overwhelming favorite of the commission depicted magnolia leaves and blossoms
with the inscription, "The Magnolia State." We think this is one of the most elegant designs released.