Indiana 50 State Quarter
50 State Quarter of Indiana
Designed by Donna Weaver
Released August 8, 2002
Indiana is a Midwestern state located in the Great Lakes regions known for its farmland and renowned auto race, the Indianapolis 500. Indiana became the 19th state on December 11, 1816. There was a residue of Indiana Territory that continued to exist under that name until Dec. 3, 1818, when it was attached to Michigan Territory
Mintage: 689,800,000
The Indiana quarter, the fourth quarter of 2002 and nineteenth in the series, represents the state pride in the famous Indianapolis 500 race. The 50 State Quarter of Indiana was released on August 8, 2002 and featuring a racecar superimposed on an outline of the state reflecting state pride in the famous Indianapolis 500 race. Held Memorial Day weekend each year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 is synonymous with automobile racing. The design also includes 19 stars which symbolize Indiana as the 19th state admitted into the Union. Inscription: Crossroads of America.
Indiana 50 State Quarter
The Indiana quarter, the fourth quarter of 2002 and nineteenth in the series, represents the state pride in the famous Indianapolis 500 race. The design features the image of a racecar superimposed on an outline of the state with the inscription "Crossroads of America." The design also includes 19 stars signifying Indiana as the 19th state admitted into the Union.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5 mile track built in 1909 for automotive research purposes. While the track was and is used for research, it is best known for hosting auto races, most famously, the Indy 500. The oldest auto race in the world, the Indy 500 has been run every year since 1911, except during the two World Wars. The winner of the first Indy 500 was Ray Harroun whose car, the Marmon Wasp, is thought to have been the first to have a single seat and to use a rearview mirror. In the time since Harroun's victory, the Indy 500 has become an international event, synonymous with auto racing.
The First Lady of Indiana, Judy O'Bannon, requested design concept submissions for the Indiana quarter at the Indiana State Fair on August 17, 1999. From the 3,736 submissions it received, the Indiana Quarter Design Committee narrowed the field to 17 semi-finalists and asked Indiana residents to vote for their favorites. The Committee received nearly 160,000 votes and submitted four candidate concepts to the United States Mint, including sports icons, state symbols and Chief Little Turtle, generally considered the last chief of the Miami Indians.
The Mint sent Governor O'Bannon four candidate designs on June 26, 2001. Through a July 18, 2001, letter, Governor O'Bannon indicated his selection of the "Crossroads of America."
Source: United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program
