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Two State quarter dollars depict men on different sides of the world who may have more in common than what collectors might believe at first.
A portrait of Caesar Rodney appears on the 1999 Delaware quarter dollar, with Delaware the first state honored in the 50 State quarter dollar circulating commemorative coin program.
The other man is King Kamehameha I, or Kamehameha the Great; he is depicted on the 2008 Hawaii coin. The Hawaii coin, due to be released into circulation in early November, is the last issue in the State quarter dollars program.
Both men were born in the 18th century. Rodney was born in 1728 and died in 1784 at the age of 56. Kamehameha was born in 1758 and died in 1819 at the age of 61.
Both were leaders.
On the Delaware coin, Rodney is shown making the 80-mile journey on horseback to attend the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. History records that he arrived at Independence Hall in time to vote in favor of the American Colonies seeking independence from Great Britain.
Rodney served Delaware not only as a delegate to the Continental Congress but as a law enforcement officer, military leader and life-long politician.
Kamehameha is credited with uniting rival chiefs on individual islands into one nation to be known as the Kingdom of Hawaii. His leadership was foretold in a Hawaiian legend that said the child born in the same year that a light in the sky appeared would signal the birth of a great chief. Halley's Comet passed over Hawaii in 1758 and that was taken as fulfillment of prophesy.
The Hawaii coin design shows a full-body depiction of the king stretching his hand toward the eight major islands of Hawaii. The coin also bears Hawaii's state motto ua mau / ke ea o ka / 'aina i ka pono, ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness").
Kamehameha formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810 and ruled the kingdom until his death nine years later.
Both Rodney and Kamehameha helped establish new nations. Both served the people of those lands. Both have the distinction of being depicted on United States coins – something neither one probably ever thought would happen.
These are not the only two people depicted on State quarter dollars. Many of those depicted made the world a better place and some even opened up new ways of looking at the world.
Even those unnamed individuals represented by the buildings, ships, flying machines, mountains and plains depicted on the coins made a difference. Though history may not record their deeds for all to read, part of being a human being means leaving the world and the people around you glad for the part you played in history.
How are you leaving your mark on the coin hobby? It's not too late to make your mark.
First Reports
Peg Marmie of Iowa reported July 16 that she received a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in her change.
Kela Kitkowski of Hawaii reported July 18 that he received a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in change.
Circulation Reports
We did not receive any reports this week.
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