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I'll admit, I was dreaming that Nevada would be bold enough to create a quarter with show girls, white tigers, and slot machines. Nothing could be more bold. Not surprisingly, they didn't do it. What amazes me, is that they went with a completely conservative quarter and knocked it out of the park! This quarter literally defines the perfect quarter. They start with the western scenery theme which works great by taking you away. They used the better tricks of engraving by surrounding the scene with plant branches (sagebrush is the state plant); they used the flowing banner to tell us the state nickname as well. But the real magic of this quarter is the use of space. On top of engraving picture perfect mustangs, the state animal, with a great sense of movement, the whole scene fills up the entire quarter. The sun's rays are the perfect finishing touch; they complete the circle of the whole scene while adding a majestic, spiritual feeling to the whole thing. As of this writing, the best quarter so far. -- Sean
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I'm a big sucker for boats on a quarter. There's something about naval scenes that lends itself to engraving. I see those boats and yearn to be on them, sailing the high seas, seeking adventure in the New World. The overall balance is good, with a nice triangular shape, similar to New Jersey. Bravo Virginia. -- Sean
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This one is a tough one for me. Firstly, I think the trees look great, the hazy mountain is perfect. I love the way the 1791 blends in with the branches. And what the heck, I'll even go with the syrup thing, its cute. But the dude bums me out. He isn't nearly as bad as some of them on othe quarters, as his flickering scarf and hunters cap do give me some feeling of being there. But it still feels like a little kid engraved him. -- Sean
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New Jersey www.usmint.gov
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Thankfully New Jersey returns to classic design with the famous Washington Crossing the Delaware. They made a smart move by working from an already great work of art. It has that natural balance and triangle structrue that is found in so many older paintings. And the "Crossroads of the Revolution" fits evenly and nicely under the scene. Really a good quarter. I do take off a few points for lack of originality and a few more points off for having a slightly misproportioned people in the engraving. Up close they seem a little off. But I'd rather end on a high note, so well done New Jersey. -- Sean
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I flat out love this quarter. Simple and focused wins hands down for quarters. Here they give us a beautiful glimpse of the Colorado rockies. If you haven't been, start planning your trip. Its worth every penny. They worked this perfectly by filling up the whole quarter with the mountain scene. And its a nice subtle touch the way the shape of the scroll mirrors the shape of the mountain. "Colorful Colorado" sounds a little silly to me, but I'm not here to judge state mottos. Instead, I'll just let this one take me away to where I'd rather be. -- Sean
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The first of the western scenery states to come out swinging. I want to be there, plain and simple. -- Sean
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You know me and state outlines, but this one works, and works well. Texans love their big 'ol country boy state and are known for it. The big star is great for engraving. And the subtle rope border keeps with the theme. Simple and solid. A really fine quarters. One of the best. -- Sean
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Washington www.usmint.gov
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A truly nice quarter. Again, the western motif works perfectly. It fills the space and takes us away from our droll consumer lives. They keep it simple with a mountain and a pretty decent fish engraving. I'm a little confused as to what that tuft of stuff is near the fish's tail is, though. I'm guessing that it is some splash from the tail, but it sticks out too much to me without having a clear meaning. Overall, a fine quarter. Next time you get this one in change, stop for a moment and imagine sitting on a foresty lake in Washington for a few minutes. You will feel better. -- Sean
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This is a quality quarter. Its a classic Maine theme (lighthouse + boat) that fills up the space and takes us away. Very nice. If we can't all find the time to get away to this classic New England state for fresh Lobster and clean air, at least we can escape into their quarter from time to time. -- Sean
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Rhode Island www.usmint.gov
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Another naval scene. Love it. The boat looks great, the ocean looks great. I personally would have left the bridge out, since it makes things look out of proportion. Even the bridge itself is off; it doesn't seem like the two halves would even connect in the center. It could have been among the best, but just misses the target slightly. -- Sean
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Connecticut www.usmint.gov
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Connecticut also comes out swinging. I appreciate the mini history lesson in the Charter Oak. As soon as I saw the quarter the first time, I wanted to learn more. These little tidbits of Americana make everything more fun. I also have to give it to them for simplicity. They went with one very focused theme and that's all. The tree itself looks good (although I often call this one "the brain quarter" -- it does sorta look like one, right?). It fills up the space of the quarter nicely and is very original. -- Sean
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I think this is a fine quarter. They did start off with the uninspired state outline theme, but made up for it by using classic engraving and patriotic symbols. The laurel leaves fill up the space of the quarter and the flowing banner gives a nice highlight to the wording. Too many other states just throw some words up there and call it a day. I find the peach to be a little funny, but at the same time I'm ok with it. Georgia has never once wavered from their peach, so I give them full props for throwing it front and center. -- Sean
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North Dakota www.usmint.gov
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Definitely the better of the two buffalo quarters. Although there is something uninspiring about the mighty buffalo doing nothing but grazing. The quarter itself follows the western quarter theme of state scenery. The space is filled up well, but overall, there isn't a whole lot of inspiration here. -- Sean
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Nice idea, poor implementation. Chimney Rock is relegated to a small fallic symbol on the right instead of the majestic formation that it is. The pioneers are oddly placed, looking as if they were just "placed" there after the fact. The tuft of clouds are random, and the sun is just killing space. Its all the right pieces just done wrong. -- Sean
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I wish they'd left out the state shape, but I do admit, I wish I were there fishing on that boat. Overall, they didn't overdo it, so it survives, but if you're going to go with a scenery theme, don't toss some random overlay on it just to fill up space. -- Sean
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New Hampshire www.usmint.gov
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Its all fine and well that New Hampshire threw up a symbol, and maybe its a grand looking rock, but it makes for an ugly undescernable blob on a quarter engraving. "Live Free or Die", I love that one, that's a strong state motto. So Good for them for putting it on there. But all around the blob on the right is just too weak. As a side note, the quarter gods may have sent a message to New Hampshire by having this famous stone monument collapse under its own weight. I'm sorry it had to end that way guys, but there always is a price to pay. -- Sean
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I dig this one. The cow head skull is a bold call. With fifty different quarters, a bold call is what we need. I've also been to Montana, so I understand what's going on with the landscape below. This enormous state is vast swaths of plains that all of a sudden take off into high mountains of the northern rockies in the western side. But the land does detract from the skull a little. I think if they did nothing but the skull right in the middle it would be worthy of a perfect rating, but they chickened out. Still, I like this one for a quality engraving and a simple concept. -- Sean
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West Virginia www.usmint.gov
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I think this looks like a nice scene, but it is too simple. There is no movement, and most parts of the scene are difficult to discern from one another. I can't tell which is tree or mountain. -- Sean
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Mississippi www.usmint.gov
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I really like this quarter. The magnolia thing works really well as an engraving, luring in the eye to linger on this quarter for awhile. The overall design fills up the space of the quarter very nicely, one of the basic tennets of good quarter design. The cursive in the top right provides explanation in a way that fits with the flower. Nicely done. -- Sean
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This one is actually pretty nice. The people are pretty well proportioned compared to most other quarters. The scene is pleasant, the whole Little House on the Prarie thing. And the subtle rolling hills in the background come off nicely. I actually think this picture of it doesn't do it justice. Looking at the quarter in real life helps. Its a solid effort. -- Sean
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Despite the state boring state outline, they went bold with the racecar idea, placing it front and center. So it holds up better than many of them. The star circle fills up the open space to give it balance. -- Sean
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I like that they went with a theme here. The musical instruments are fun; although, the floating trumpet doesn't work (the other items appear to be placed on a consistent plane). I also like the wording on the scroll. But despite some silly choices, the overall musical theme is a nice. -- Sean
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I think the idea is cute enough. I like the way they are trying to make a miniature scene for us to disappear in -- a trick that will work very well for many western state quarters in the future. I think the horse is a little off, and the perspective of the building in the back seems wrong to me. So ultimately I'm giving it a lower score than it could have gotten. -- Sean
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South Carolina www.usmint.gov
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I think I like this one more than I should. It falls into the standard bad category of "state+random objects" that is uninspired and often dowright bad. I guess they stuck with all the standard primary school facts about the state: motto, tree, bird. I'll give it a passing score because the palmetto tree and bird are nicely done, better than on most quarters. -- Sean
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Massachusetts www.usmint.gov
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I have a real fondness for Massachusetts as a state. It's a beautiful New England state, but as for its shape, it's not really one to brag about. Overall, the quarter feels mostly balanced, the minuteman is actually one of the better people engravings amongst those on the quarters, and the design is simple. But as a whole, it fails. There just isn't enough to inspire me. I expected better from this classic colonial state. -- Sean
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