The third state quarter of 2008, and the 48th coin in the 50 State Quarters Program®, honors the Grand Canyon State of Arizona.

 The coin's design features the Saguaro cactus - its blossom is Arizona's state flower - in the foreground, a banner with the words "Grand Canyon State" and an image of the Grand Canyon with the sun on the horizon.  The coin also bears the inscriptions Arizona and 1912, the year that Arizona was admitted to the Union. 

 The Arizona State Quarter was officially launched into circulation by Governor Janet Napolitano at a ceremony in Phoenix on June 2. 

 "When Americans reach into their pockets, this quarter will remind them of two iconic images of Arizona and the American West – the Grand Canyon and Saguaro Cactus," Governor Napolitano said.

 One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon covers more than 1.2 million acres in northwestern Arizona. The Canyon, sculpted by the mighty Colorado River, is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. It is home to numerous rare and threatened plant and animal species. The Grand Canyon joined the National Park system in 1919 and is visited by more than four million tourists a year.

 Other designs considered for the Arizona quarter were "Grand Canyon," featuring an overview of the Grand Canyon; "Grand Canyon with Saguaro Cacti," featuring the Saguaro cactus as the central design with the Grand Canyon in the background; "Powell's Grand Canyon Expedition," depicting the John Wesley Powell expedition in a boat going through rapids; and "Navajo Code Talkers," depicting two Navajo Code Talkers using World War II field communication equipment.

 Earlier this year, quarters honoring Oklahoma and New Mexico were released. Later this year, coins honoring the last two states, Alaska and Hawaii, will be issued, bringing the 50 State Quarters Program® to a close.