Missouri quarter enters into circulation on state's 182nd birth

SEDALIA, Mo. -- The new and much debated commemorative Missouri quarter has entered circulation.

A pony express rider delivered the coin to the Missouri State Fair during a Sunday celebration of the state's 182nd birthday. Gov. Bob Holden then placed the coin on a map of the nation, with help from his wife, Lori Hauser Holden, and Henrietta Holsman Fore, director of the U.S. Mint.

The coin features the Gateway Arch and the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery on the side opposite George Washington's face. Its design was based on a concept by Columbia artist Paul Jackson, who had protested the U.S. Mint's modifications -- going so far as to distribute thousands of stickers with his original design and encouraging people to place them on the "tails" side of quarters.

But there was little talk of the design debate over the weekend.

"Missouri became a state on Aug. 10, 1821, 182 years ago on this very date," Holden said. "What a great day this is."

Holden said the Missouri coin is the first to be made public on the anniversary of the statehood.

And Fore praised the state quarter program, saying it has turned a $1 billion profit to the country last year.

"More than 130 million people are collecting the coins," she said. "They are a wonderful resource to study the history of the states and the United States."

After the ceremony, 1,700 free Missouri quarters were given to children at the fair. Nearby, people lined up to buy a two-coin set of quarters from the Philadelphia and Denver mints, for $3. Profits will go to the State Fair Foundation.

Christina Hutton of Spickard, Mo., bought five sets to give to her children and in-laws as Christmas presents.

"They may be pretty valuable some day," Hutton said. "For right now, they're just pretty to look at."