Beginning next week, people of all ethnicities ought to pay a little bit more attention to their spare change. Because it coul
d turn out that we all will be carrying a little piece of Puerto Rico in our pockets.
The Mint will begin on Monday in making commemorative quarters depicting the Island of Enchantment – the image opposite of George Washington’s head in profile will be that of a sentry box in Old San Juan and the hibiscus – the commonwealth’s official flower.
OFFICIALS NOTE THIS is the second coin in a series of quarters meant to pay tribute to the District of Columbia and all of the United States’ territories around the world.
But I can’t help but think such a tribute is long overdue, since the Mint spent a decade paying tribute to each of the 50 states (seriously, at five states on quarters per year, it took half a score to complete).
If we can give Delaware or Idaho their own quarter, then why not Puerto Rico?
So I’ll have to admit that I’ll be watching my change in coming weeks. I’m curious to see how long it takes for a “Puerto Rico” quarter to turn up in my change.
I’M NOT UNDER any delusion that such a quarter will have any significant numismatic value. With inflation, who’s to say what the buying power of 25 cents U.S. will be in the future.
And people will be able to note that the Puerto Rico quarter managed to beat out the quarter for the neighboring Virgin Islands in terms of being issued.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Aside from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa (http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/DCAndTerritories/), the Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands will be among the territories that get their own quarter.
d turn out that we all will be carrying a little piece of Puerto Rico in our pockets.The Mint will begin on Monday in making commemorative quarters depicting the Island of Enchantment – the image opposite of George Washington’s head in profile will be that of a sentry box in Old San Juan and the hibiscus – the commonwealth’s official flower.
OFFICIALS NOTE THIS is the second coin in a series of quarters meant to pay tribute to the District of Columbia and all of the United States’ territories around the world.
But I can’t help but think such a tribute is long overdue, since the Mint spent a decade paying tribute to each of the 50 states (seriously, at five states on quarters per year, it took half a score to complete).
If we can give Delaware or Idaho their own quarter, then why not Puerto Rico?
So I’ll have to admit that I’ll be watching my change in coming weeks. I’m curious to see how long it takes for a “Puerto Rico” quarter to turn up in my change.
I’M NOT UNDER any delusion that such a quarter will have any significant numismatic value. With inflation, who’s to say what the buying power of 25 cents U.S. will be in the future.
And people will be able to note that the Puerto Rico quarter managed to beat out the quarter for the neighboring Virgin Islands in terms of being issued.
-30-
EDITOR’S NOTE: Aside from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa (http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/DCAndTerritories/), the Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands will be among the territories that get their own quarter.
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