1999-2008 (10 years or $12.50)

To the ordinary eye it's $12.50. In the eye of the numismatist, it's ten years of work!

Now, my collection is complete — jealousy and envy abounds around me.

Now, on to the six US territories collection...

Ten years ago

Ten years ago: I was beginning my numismatistic adventures – the 50 state Quarter program had begun. Not a gray hair was in sight.

Five years ago: I crossed over the half-century mark and looking forward to 50 more.

One year ago (plus a bit): I lost two daughters, but gained two FSILs – now the gray hairs are in abundance. Continuing my numismatistical ways I joined Where's George? and have found peace, joy, and happiness knowing where my dollars are traveling.

3 days ago: Was actually the day before the 4th, so I was at work doing what I do, to bring home the bacon. When I got home we had another family discussion about Swedish ancestry.

Yesterday: Was a day of rest to get ready for the day of rest and I watched/tended c8 for at least a good 2 hours…or more!

Today: I'm looking forward to Babette's feast of the week.

Arizona Quarter

I got mine today.

The third commemorative quarter-dollar coin released in 2008 honors Arizona, and is the 48th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program. Arizona was admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912, becoming our Nation’s 48th state, and the last in the continental United States.

The Arizona quarter features an image of the Grand Canyon with a Saguaro cactus in the foreground. A banner reading "Grand Canyon State" separates the two images to signify that the Saguaro cactus does not grow in the Grand Canyon. The coin also bears the inscriptions "Arizona" and "1912."

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon covers more than 1.2 million acres in northwestern Arizona. The Canyon, sculpted by the mighty Colorado River, is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. It is home to numerous rare and threatened plant and animal species. The Grand Canyon joined the National Park system in 1919 and is visited by more than four million tourists a year.

James Monroe

On February 14, the latest Presidential $1 Coin honoring James Monroe will be available to the public. Born in 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States (1817–1825).

After graduating from the College of William and Mary in 1776, James Monroe fought in the Revolutionary War, serving with distinction at the Battle of Trenton, where he was shot in his left shoulder. He continued to serve his country as the governor of Virginia (twice), as the 8th United States Secretary of War, and as the 7th United States Secretary of State.

The best-known of Monroe's accomplishments is the fundamental policy that later became known as the Monroe Doctrine. In a message to Congress in 1823, Monroe declared U.S. opposition to European countries attempting to colonize the Americas or interfering in sovereign countries' affairs. In addition, during Monroe's Presidency the United States acquired Florida (1819), and Congress passed the Missouri Compromise bill, granting statehood to Missouri and barring slavery north and west of Missouri forever.

Perhaps less widely known is that in the famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware by artist Emanuel Leutze (also depicted on the New Jersey State Quarter), James Monroe is standing behind George Washington, holding the American flag.

A new (George) adventure

Due to popular demand (threats), I have created another blog to document my Where's George? adventures.

I am looking for a good name for the site and am open for suggestions. Until then, it will be titled: (ld)²'s George Adventures.

The website will be dedicated to the hits, documentation, travels, and adventures of my George, Abe, Alexander, Andrew, Ulysses, and Ben bills. It will be a blog for money lovers everywhere i.e. cs.

So visit it often and see where my bills have travelled and how many hits I have had. I'm working to get my 50 state bingo. How long will it take?

4th day & another hit

Hit #15 on Where's George? today @ 2:00 p.m. This time it was a ten-spot Hamilton that landed in Salt Lake City. It was input on December 17, 2007. Having travelled 26 miles in 31 Days, 16 Hours, 27 Mins at an average of 0.83 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

No user notes were input.

Now, my stats are: 464 bills with 14 hits and 15 total hits for a hit rate of 3.02%, slugging percentage of 3.23% and a George score of 525.05. My rank is #9,926 out of 50,710 current users with a George score. [80.4 percentile].

3 days in a row!

Hit #14 on Where's George? today @ 12:40 p.m. This George landed in San Mateo, California. It was input on August 20, 2007. Having travelled 598 miles in 149 Days, 15 Hours, 4 Mins at an average of 4.0 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

User note states: Dana gave it to me from his Beli Deli Change. Great sandwich by the way.

Sounds like George was hungry.

Now, my stats are: 464 bills with 13 hits and 14 total hits for a hit rate of 2.80%, slugging percentage of 3.02% and a George score of 518.59. My rank is #10,090 out of 50,765 current users with a George score. [80.1 percentile].

#13 - a hit 2 days in a row

Hit #13 on Where's George? today @ 12:47 p.m. This George landed in Park City, Utah. It was input on December 1, 2007. Having travelled 27 miles in 45 Days, 20 Hours, 33 Mins at an average of 0.58 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

User note states: its in great condition and visiting the olympic park in utah.

Sounds like George is on a ski trip.

Now, my stats are: 464 bills with 12 hits and 13 total hits for a hit rate of 2.59%, slugging percentage of 2.80% and a George score of 511.69. My rank is #10,271 out of 50,726 current users with a George score. [79.8 percentile].

Washington for #12

Hit #12 on Where's George? today @ 8:08 a.m. This George landed in Washington, Utah. It was input on July 18, 2007. Having travelled 240 miles in 181 Days, 8 Hours, 11 Mins at an average of 1.3 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

User note states: Wrinkled and Torn, Co-Payment @ Dr's Office.

Sounds like my George was in for a check-up!

Now, my stats are: 455 bills with 11 hits and 12 total hits for a hit rate of 2.42%, slugging percentage of 2.64% and a George score of 503.89. My rank is #10,435 out of 50,742 current users with a George score. [79.4 percentile].

$1.50 — Six more quarters

The 50 state quarter program is due to be completed at the end of this year. Congress recently passed a bill to add six more quarters for 2009. This bill is intended to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to commemorate the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Comments from the congressional records by Congressman Michael Castle:

As Members are aware, the 50-State quarter program that began in 1999 has been a truly successful effort. I had the privilege of serving as the Chairman of the then-Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee at the time the 50-State Quarter bill was signed into law. The program calls for the production over 10 years of quarter dollar coins with the reverse, or back, of the coins depicting scenes representing each of the 50 States. Five are produced each year.

That program has been wildly successful. It is not uncommon for people to stop and examine the change in their pocket before making a transaction, perhaps saving a new quarter out of a pocketful. The result has been as much as a five-fold increase in the demand for quarters. But the bottom line is that every time someone looks at the back of a quarter, they learn something about the State represented.

At the time the bill was moving through Congress, not everyone was convinced that it would be a great success. This skepticism kept us from including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories in the program. Because the program has been a wild success, it is appropriate for us to create a sister program for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories.

The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories are not States, but they are certainly part of the United States' history. In the case of the territories, particularly, I know we could all stand to learn a little more about them. Therefore, I think it is self-evident that this program is a good idea. It creates an entirely separate program from the State quarters program, so there is no confusion that inclusion somehow confers statehood.

The program would run for 1 year when the other program finished, issuing all six quarters in that year, 2009. And if the history of the State quarters program is any guide, the D.C. and territories' quarters taken out of circulation permanently by collectors would total as much as $1 billion which would accrue to the U.S. Treasury in the form of money deposited into the general fund.

The design on the reverse side of each quarter dollar issued during 2009 shall be emblematic of one of the following: The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Okay, now a geography question: Where in the world is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands? (Other than the obvious — just north of the Commonwealth of the Southern Mariana Islands.)

SLC for #11

I was starting to feel ignored. I had seeded plenty of payola during the holidays with my Where's George? stamps. I was soliciting the kids, FSIL I, FSIL II, and cs to let me stamp their bills too. I missed the boat by not sending some stamped bills to Cancún with FSIL II & Megs.

Hit #11 on Where's George? today @ 3:10 p.m. This George landed in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was input on December 19, 2007. Having travelled 30 miles in 14 Days, 18 Hours, 2 Mins at an average of 2.1 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

User note states: I got this from a drunk guy on the street that needed gas for his car that ran out of gas. I got him the gas with my VISA and filled up my car to then keep Ole George in Orem, Utah.

Sounds like my George bills are becoming collector items.

Now, my stats are: 388 bills with 10 hits and 11 total hits for a hit rate of 2.58%, slugging percentage of 2.84% and a George score of 492.64. My rank is #10,575 out of 50,711 current users with a George score. [79.1 percentile].

Ogden for #10

Another dollar bill was hit #10 on Where's George? today @ 6:33 p.m. This George landed in Ogden, Utah. It was input on October 30, 2007. Having travelled 59 miles in 49 Days, 23 Hours, 40 Mins at an average of 1.2 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

User note states: I bought it out of my till at work, Snow Basin Utah.

Now, my stats are: 354 bills with 9 hits and 10 total hits for a hit rate of 2.54%, slugging percentage of 2.82% and a George score of 482.06. My rank is #10,880 out of 51,150 current users with a George score. [78.7 percentile].

Money Origami

My father's best advice, Son, the surest way I know of to double your money is to fold it in half.

Best advice ever! — still holds true today. For other doubling your money (folding) techniques click here. It's called, Money Origami.

cs & Charlie

cs got a $5 bill that was registered with Where's George today while Christmas shopping. You can view the report here.

It was another one of Charlie from Pleasant Grove bills. I got four of his $1 bills previously from Costco.

Charlie's stats are:
Bills Entered: 13,466. Hit Rate: 14.32%
Bills with Hits: 1,929 Total Hits: 2,291
Days of Inactivity: 2 George Score: 1,082.07

When I told cs that this is one of Charlie's bills, she stated, So, there are just two of you that are weird?

Charlie's my hero.

#3 hit for a double

My #3 George hit that ended up in Champagne, Illinois just got hit again. This is my first double hit. The bill has now travelled another 179 miles in 73 days, 12 Hrs, 54 Mins and landed in Union Grove, Wisconsin. You can view the report here.

The user note states: walmart, no cuts, not many wrinkles.

Now, my stats are: 300 bills with 8 hits and 9 total hits for a hit rate of 2.67%, slugging percentage of 3.00%, and a George score of 469.08. My rank is #11,211 out of 51,447 current users with a George score. [78.2 percentile].

Now, I get to view all of the places my money has been that I'll never see.

2008 Quarters

The United States Mint is announcing today the designs for the five new 2008 commemorative quarter-dollars in the 50 State Quarters® Program. The new quarters-honoring Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii-signal the end of the most popular coin program in the history of U.S. coinage.

The first commemorative quarter of 2008 honors Oklahoma. It is the 46th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program. Oklahoma, nicknamed the "Sooner State," became the 46th state admitted into the Union on November 16, 1907. The reverse of the coin features Oklahoma's State bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher, in flight with its distinctive tail feathers spread. The bird is soaring above the State wildflower, the Indian Blanket, amid a field of similar wildflowers. The coin's design also bears the inscriptions "Oklahoma" and "1907."

The second commemorative quarter of 2008 honors New Mexico. It is the 47th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program. Nicknamed the "Land of Enchantment," New Mexico was admitted into the Union on January 6, 1912, becoming the 47th state. The reverse of the New Mexico quarter features the Zia sun symbol. The symbol is superimposed over a topographical outline of the State. The coin's design also bears the inscriptions "Land of Enchantment," "New Mexico" and "1912."

The third commemorative quarter of 2008 honors Arizona. It is the 48th coin in the 50 State Quarters Program. Arizona, nicknamed the "Grand Canyon State," was admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912, becoming the Nation's 48th state and the last in the continental United States. The reverse of the coin features a detailed image of the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, with Arizona's State flower, the Saguaro Cactus, in the foreground. Inscribed on the coin is a banner reading "Grand Canyon State." The coin's design also bears the inscriptions "Arizona" and "1912."

The fourth commemorative quarter of 2008 honors Alaska. It is the 49th coin in the 50 State Quarters Program. Alaska was admitted into the Union on January 3, 1959, becoming the 49th state. The reverse of the Alaska quarter features a grizzly bear emerging from the water clutching a salmon in its jaw. The coin's design includes the North Star displayed above the inscription "The Great Land." The coin's design also bears the inscriptions "Alaska" and "1959."

The fifth and final commemorative quarter in the 50 State Quarters Program honors Hawaii. Nicknamed the "The Aloha State," Hawaii became the 50th state admitted into the Union on August 21, 1959. The Hawaii quarter features King Kamehameha I 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"), "Hawaii" and "1959."

The quarters are scheduled to revert back to their pre-1999 designs after next year. George Washington will remain on the "heads" side of the coin, but the "tails" side where the state designs had been placed will once again feature an American eagle.

Collectors who are missing some states should not lose heart since the coins already produced should remain in circulation for about 30 years.

Ten note

A ten note was hit #8 on Where's George? today @ 6:23 p.m. The Hamilton landed in American Fork, Utah. It was input on August 11, 2007. Having travelled 6.8 miles in 108 Days, 8 Hours, 35 Mins at an average of 0.06 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

Now, my stats are: 291 bills with 8 hits and 8 total hits for a hit rate of 2.75% and a George score of 457.91. My rank is #11,386 out of 51,608 current users with a George score. [77.9 percentile].

Still waiting for the first double hit — a bill that has already been hit to be entered again.

Someone you love…

Have you seen the ads?

Someone you love may be a numismatist. I've seen several of the ads produced by the U S Mint on TV the last two days. It does a body good.

Eagle, Idaho??!!!

Hit #7 on Where's George? came in today @ 2:33 p.m. The George note landed in Eagle, Idaho. Where in Idaho is that? I had to google it to find out. Maybe the Bennetts are the ones that wound up with the buck. It was input on October 30, 2007. Having travelled 336 miles in 17 Days, 19 Hours, 40 Mins at an average of 19 miles per day. You can view the report by clicking here.

Now, my stats are: 285 bills with 7 hits and 7 total hits for a hit rate of 2.46% and a George score of 445.69. My rank is #11,851 out of 51,951 current users with a George score. [77.2 percentile].

I have tried getting cs to join in on the fun, but she has a fear of being contacted by the Department of Homeland Security or ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms — don't ask me why they're the ones to investigate money issues.

I told her, No problem. Where's George^® can handle that. They're called Stealth Bills. We just register the bills on the website, but don't stamp them. It will be a bit tougher to get some hits, but it's worth a try.

No way, José. I think that's weird and I don't want nuthin' to do with it!

One man's hobby is another woman's ATF nightmare.

A red-letter day

Born in 1751, James Madison was the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817).

The principal author of the Constitution, Madison also made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing, with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, the Federalist Papers, which to this day remain the most influential commentaries on the Constitution.

In June 1789, Madison offered a package of twelve proposed amendments to the Constitution. By December 1791, ten of Madison's proposed amendments were ratified and became the Bill of Rights. But, contrary to his wishes, the Bill of Rights was not integrated into the main body of the Constitution, and it did not apply to the states until the ratification of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments restricted the powers of the states. Another of his proposed amendments (prohibiting increases in congressional salaries until after the next general election) was eventually ratified in 1992 as the Constitution's Twenty-seventh Amendment.

As a political theorist, one of Madison's most important contributions was his idea, presented in Federalist No. 10, that the new republic needed checks and balances to limit the powers of special interests or "factions." As a leader in the House of Representatives, Madison worked closely with President George Washington to organize the new federal government. Later, with Thomas Jefferson he organized the Republican Party (later called the Democratic-Republican Party) that was in opposition to key policies of the ruling Federalists.

James Madison—President, a Founding Father of the United States, "Father of the Constitution," and "Father of the Bill of Rights."

Went to the bank and got mine today. Also got a roll of Utah quarters.