Delaware – Coin Carousel

Delaware 1999 State Quarter:
The Forgotten Founding State with a Hidden Message

Did you know that the Delaware 1999 50 State Quarter holds a hidden message within its design?

The horseman on the coin represents Caesar Rodney, a Delaware delegate who rode 80 miles from Dover to Philadelphia to cast the deciding vote for American independence. But look closely at the horse’s tail, and you’ll notice it forms the shape of the state. This clever design element adds an intriguing layer to the coin’s symbolism, emphasizing Delaware’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s history.

Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning it the nickname “The First State”.

The 50 State Quarter program honored each state in the order of joining the Union or ratifying the Constitution. As the first State Quarter, the Delaware coin is one of the most widely remembered reverse designs.

Quarter Details

STATE

Delaware

PROGRAM

50 State Quarters Program

YEAR

1999

RELEASE DATE

January 4, 1999

NICKNAME

The First State

All five 1999 State Quarters in position in a Coin Carousel

Position 1

Position 2

Position 3

Position 4

Position 5

The 50 State Quarters Program was launched in 1999 by the U.S. Mint and was a 10-year initiative that honored each of the 50 states. The U.S. Mint issued five new quarters each year in the order that the states ratified the Constitution or were admitted into the Union.

The 1999 State Quarters were the first five coins of the 50 State Quarters Program. The program lasted for 10 years (1999-2008) and was extended to include six more territories in 2009. The coins have a common obverse design of George Washington and a state-specific reverse design. The coins were produced for about 10 weeks each and will never be produced again.

Love numbers? Check out the 1999 State Quarters coin production figures