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Louisiana Quarter – A Suitable Port of EntryThe Louisiana quarter design includes thematic elements that together could only represent the storied history and culture of our eighteenth state. The featured bird is, of course, the pelican – the Louisiana state bird.A “state bird”? Well, yes. Every state in the union has a state bird, chosen by those who know what birds inhabit the state and may in some way represent qualities one might associate with the state and its people. As Louisiana is known as The Pelican State, you may rightly assume that the presence of this bird on the Louisiana state quarter is completely appropriate. You will also find a trumpet and some musical notes included on this coin. New Orleans jazz is a pillar of American music, known worldwide. And then there is the US map with a huge portion shaded. That piece of our country is known as The Louisiana Purchase, which as we know, was the best real estate deal anyone could have dreamed of, before or since. Certainly there is room for this on the Louisiana quarter! So these are the images approved by the state for its state quarter – and they are fine symbols indeed. Many other allusions could have been made for sure. One may wonder how the incredible cuisines of this state could have been omitted. But that’s how it is with such a rich and complex history as that of Louisiana. It is probably more than a stretch to expect that every nuance could be portrayed upon the face of a mere quarter-dollar coin. No matter – the Louisiana coin has accomplished its mission. As are the other coins in the 50 State Quarter series, the Louisiana coin has been a point of entry for newly minted coin enthusiasts. It is easy to imagine that, within a state so significant to the ancient and modern history of the United States, there would be more than a few so moved to more carefully examine the numismatic heritage of this region. A collector thus inspired could easily take on the study of a broad array of coins and related ephemera from more than 300 years of human experience. Think... Indian wampum, French and Spanish silver, New Orleans Mint coins made under three different governmental authorities, slave tokens, or even the pocket change held by a relative during his stressful occupation of the Superdome during the days of Katrina. More than a mere product of modern mass production minting, a state quarter like this one is a connector of people with events of state, national, or even personal significance. And its probably one reason why the 50 State Quarter program has been so successful in bringing so many new collectors into our hobby.
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