Quarter Celebrates Missouri

 The Missouri State Quarter was officially launched last month at the state's fair in Sedalia, Missouri. The quarter's design features Lewis and Clark's historic return to St. Louis down the Missouri River, with the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch) in the background. The quarter is inscribed Corps of Discovery 1804-2004.

 In 1804, President Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to explore the Missouri River and the western territories. Two years and four months later, Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery returned to St. Louis.

 The Gateway Arch, also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, was built in St. Louis in 1965. The stainless-steel, 630 foot high arch honors President Jefferson and the westward expansion of our country in the 19th century.
 Missouri's nickname is the "Show Me" state. In 1899, Rep. Willard D. Vandiver said, "Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I'm from Missouri. You've got to show me." 

 The Missouri quarter's launch celebration marks the first time in the 50 State Quarters® Program that the official ceremony has coincided with a state's birthday – its day of statehood. Missouri became the 24th state to be admitted into the Union on August 10, 1821, as part of the Missouri Compromise.
 The 50 State Quarters® Program will honor five states each year over a ten-year period. The program began in 1999 and the quarters are issued in the order in which the states were admitted to the Union.

 The Missouri coin is the fourth state quarter of 2003. Coins honoring Illinois, Alabama, and Maine were issued earlier this year. The last 2003 state quarter will honor Arkansas.