Pocket change will never look the same. Tennessee’s new quarter has been released, and the jingle of coins will no longer be the only music associated with loose change.
It won’t be difficult to spot the new quarter — it will be the only one of the state quarters released so far to feature musical instruments. According to Coin World, the design for the Tennessee quarter depicts a guitar, a violin, sheet music and a trumpet, reflecting the state’s contribution of blues, folk and country music to American culture.
The inscription on the banner below the instruments reads MUSICAL HERITAGE. Three stars represent Tennessee’s three regions and the distinct musical styles from each. Tennessee was the 16th state to join the Union, so it’s the 16th state to be honored in the U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters Program.
According to Coin World, Gov. Don Sundquist sent three design concepts to the U.S. Mint. The designs were chosen from nearly 1,000 designs sent to the governor.
When the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the designs, they favored one that would represent Tennessee’s musical heritage and contained little in the way of clutter.
“Tennessee is most known for its music throughout the world,” said Charles W. Crawford, professor of history at The University of Memphis. “I don’t think any other symbol could better represent Tennessee.”
The Federal Reserve began delivering the new quarters to local banks Jan. 2, and the demand has been high. Many coin collectors have taken advantage of the opportunity to collect the new quarter.
“The first truckload of new quarters has already sold out,” said Richard Criswell, vault manager for First Tennessee. “We will receive another shipment of about $3 million the first week of February.”
According to Coin World, the Tennessee quarters will be offered in 100-coin and 1,000-coin bags of quarters from the Denver and Philadelphia Mints, and two-roll sets containing one 40-coin roll from each of the two Mint production facilities.
“I can’t wait to get the new quarter,” said Crawford.
A formal launch ceremony was held Monday in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The ceremony was followed by an open house at the State Capitol.
The quarters won’t last long. The U.S. Mint will make the Tennessee quarters for only 10 weeks, then never mint them again.
Students across the state of Tennessee are now participating in similar programs through the Regents Online Degree Programs. While participating in these programs, students can take classes from professors who teach at any participating school in the state of Tennessee. Some participating colleges and universities include Middle Tennessee State University, East Tennessee State University, Jackson State Community College and Dyersburg State Community College.
Students participating in the Regents Online Degree Program can earn bachelor’s degrees in Professional Studies with a concentration in Information Technology or Organizational Leadership, or a bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies. The program also offers three different associate’s degrees including an associate’s in Applied Science with a concentration in Information Technology, an associate of Science in General Studies and an associate of Arts in General Studies.
Students interested in taking an online class should contact the department in which the course is offered in order to obtain a permit.
