The statehood quarter, or state quarters program, as it is also known began in 1999 and over 10 years produced 50 state quarters all with a special reverse design honoring each state. Five state quarters were issued each year through 2008 and all were released in the order the state entered the union. All design themes are approved by the individual states governor. The obverse of the state quarter was modified slightly to include some wording previously found on the reverse. The U.S. Mint has stated that millions of people have been collecting state quarters. State quarters are affordable and everyone can collect them. You can find circulated state quarters in your change, though more serious coin collectors usually buy rolls of uncirculated state quarters from the U.S. Mint or coin dealers like Mint Products! A coin can be precious for many reasons: as a piece of history, as an expression of a culture, as a window on a particular time or place.