Fast Facts and Interesting Tidbits
About the Minting of the Michigan's Quarter

Once again, we’re sifting through our pocket change looking for a special quarter – this time it’s the Michigan coin we seek. The long-awaited Michigan quarter made its debut on a frosty January 26 at the State Capitol.

While attendees at the special ceremony could get the quarters that day, most Michiganders will have to wait as the quarters gradually make their way into banks, stores, etc., says Lansing coin dealer Pat Heller. Heller, a CPA and member of MACPA, served on the Michigan Quarter Commission. It often takes several weeks before the coins show up in general circulation, he explained.

Michigan’s quarter, featuring a textured map of the state along with outlines of all five of the Great Lakes plus the motto “Great Lakes State,” is the first to be released in 2004 and the 26th in the series of quarters honoring the 50 states.

The Michigan Design

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm selected this design from five final design candidates approved by the U.S. Mint. The Michigan Quarter Commission and the Fine Arts Commission recommended this design to the Governor.

“Michigan Quarter Commission members recognized that many important industries developed in Michigan because of the state’s unique geographical relationship with the Great Lakes, but the small size of the quarter did not provide enough room to honor the breadth and depth of the state’s historical, industrial and agricultural accomplishments,” says Heller. “Therefore, the Commission reached consensus on the symbolically all-inclusive design.”

Heller served as chair of the Michigan State Numismatic Society 2004 Michigan Quarter Design Committee and as a member of the Michigan Quarter Commission appointed by former Governor John Engler. He volunteered his time for more than three years soliciting, tabulating and evaluating Michigan Quarter design ideas from the public, sharing his knowledge of the coin production process with other members of the Michigan Quarter Commission, and conducting surveys of the popularity of the five final designs.

A Very Special Ceremony

As an active member of the Commission, Heller was invited to participate in the Michigan Quarter’s First Strike Ceremony at the Denver Mint. His six-year-old son, Daniel, was also among the handful of people who participated in the ceremony.

“Daniel is reportedly one of the youngest to participate in any of the State Quarter ceremonies,” says Heller. “The U.S. Mint modified its restriction that did not allow attendees under the age of ten in order to include my six year-old son in the Ceremony.”

Daniel is a coin collector, like his dad. Sharing in the excitement of Michigan’s new quarter, Daniel and his first-grade classmates recited the Pledge of Allegiance at the Lansing ceremony on January 26.

Cans for Quarters

Heller’s business, Liberty Coin Service (LCS), launched a special food drive to celebrate the introduction of the Michigan quarter. LCS will give away thousands of Michigan quarters in return for non-perishable food donations to the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Also, LCS is working with area schools, providing quarters to students at schools that conduct food drives. LCS is at in the Frandor Shopping Center at 300 Frandor Ave., Lansing (ph: 517.351.4720).

“We’ve had a tremendous start to the food drive – more than $1,000 in cash and almost a ton of food,” reports Heller. “I’ve budgeted $20,000 in quarters. It’s really a special occasion.”

Livingston County residents can participate in a similar program offered by Rich Parsons of Brighton Coins. Parsons will give two Michigan quarters to anyone who donates two cans of food for the Livingston County Food Bank. Brighton Coins is at 409 Main St., Brighton (ph: 810- 227-1477).
For more on the Michigan quarter, visit www.usmint.gov. Also, visit Pat Heller’s Web site.

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