During the program, a new statehood quarter is released by the United States Mint every ten weeks, meaning that five designs are released each year. Each quarter's reverse celebrates one of the 50 states with a design honoring its unique history, traditions and symbols, usually designed by a resident of that state and chosen by the state government.

The quarters are released in the same order that the states joined the Union. The obverse of each quarter is a slight redesign of the previous design of the quarter.

The statehood quarters program has become one of the most popular commemorative coin programs in United States history; the United States Mint has estimated that over one hundred million individuals have collected state quarters, either formally or informally.

But the series will get an extra breath of life. A bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate banking committee, and was signed into law by President George W. Bush. honoring the following 6 quarters to be honored in 2009:

1. District of Columbia    (Release Date: January 26, 2009)

2. Puerto Rico    (Release Date: March 30, 2009)

3. Guam    (Release Date: May 26, 2009)

4. American Samoa    (Release Date: July 27, 2009)

5. United States Virgin Islands    (Release Date: September 28, 2009)

6. Northern Mariana Islands    (Release Date: November 30, 2009)

Since the program is extended to DC and the territories, the additional six coins to be minted in 2009 would generate renewed interest in the series, generate over $400 million in additional revenue to the Treasury and lead many publishers to produce new products to accommodate the additional six coins.

In 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue six quarter-dollar coins in honor of the District of Columbia and the five United States Territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These coins will be issued in equal sequential intervals in 2009 in the order listed.

The image of George Washington as seen on the obverse of the 50 State Quarters coins will remain unchanged. The reverse of each quarter will be distinctly different with images emblematic of the District of Columbia and each of the United States Territories.

If you enjoy changing quarter designs, you may be happy for many more years. Legislation passed calling for a new 11-year series of circulating quarters starting in 2010.

The legislation is popular. It quickly passed in the House on July 9, 2008 and passed the Senate on December 10, 2008. President Bush signed the bill into law on December 23, 2008. With that, five differently designed quarters will be released yearly beginning in 2010. (National Parks Quarters)

To learn more about the National Park Quarters, please click on the link below.

I have created a web page that shows the designs for all the Quarters. Please copy the link below and paste it into the address bar.
http://www.geocities.com/juicemeter/quarters.html