North Carolina 50 State Quarter

50 State Quarter of North Carolina

Designed by John Mercanti

Released March 12, 2001

North Carolina is a southeastern US state with a diverse landscape ranging from Atlantic Ocean beaches to the Appalachian mountains. North Carolina, one of the thirteen colonies, became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. North Carolina troops suffered the greatest losses of all the states during the Civil War while fighting for the Confederacy, re-entered the Union after the fighting ceased.

Mintage: 1,055,476,000

The North Carolina quarter, the 12th in the series and the second quarter to be released in the 2001 series, highlights the famous 1903 photograph of the "First Flight." The 50 State Quarter of North Carolina was released on March 12, 2001, featuring the "Wright Flyer"the world's first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled flight. Designed and built by the Wright brothers, the historic first flight took place December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk. The Flyer flew four times that day ultimately completing a run of 852 feet in 59 seconds. Inscription: First Flight.

North Carolina 50 State Quarter

The North Carolina quarter, the 12th in the series and the second quarter to be released in the 2001 series, highlights the famous 1903 photograph of the "First Flight."

The North Carolina quarter commemorates the historic feat that took place on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with the first successful flight of a heavier-than-air, self-propelled flying machine. The craft, called the Flyer, traveled a distance of approximately 37 meters (120 feet) on its first flight and soared even further as one of the most significant human achievements in history.

Governor James B. Hunt appointed the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources as the lead in the state's design concept process. The Department established the North Carolina Commemorative Coin Committee, which consisted of members from the State Department of Cultural Resources, the Division of Archives and History, as well as coin collectors. The Committee solicited design ideas from the residents of North Carolina.

Some alternate design concepts suggested were the 1903 Flyer superimposed over an outline of the state, the Hatteras Lighthouse superimposed over an outline of the state, and the Hatteras Lighthouse showing a dune and sea gulls. On June 5, 2000, the Governor was provided with three candidate designs, and the Committee and Governor Hunt selected the "First Flight" theme for the official design. 

Source: United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program