Connecticut State Quarter Design

The colonists living in the settlements wanted each settlement to have equal rights. So they voted for a representative from each settlement. The representatives wrote the Fundamentals Orders in 1639. They were a set of laws that allowed the Connecticut colony to govern itself. The Fundamental orders were made up of a legislative and a judicial branch. The legislative branch passed the laws, and the judicial branch decided if the laws were carried out fairly. In 1662, the King of England gave them a charter: The Royal Charter. A charter is a legal document giving certain rights to a person or group of people. In this case, the King of England gave the Connecticut colony the right to govern itself.

Twenty-five years later, in 1687, a British representative was sent to the Connecticut colony to take away the charter and control of the colony. During a disagreement between the British representative and the colony, the candle lit room where they were meeting darkened. When the candles were relit the charter that was on the table had disappeared. It is written that the patriot, Captain John Wadsworth, hid the charter in a huge white oak tree to keep it safe. Hiding the charter saved it from the British and allowed the colony to continue governing itself for a while longer. The famous tree became known as "The Charter Oak." The tree fell during a horrible storm on August 21, 1856. At that time, acorns, twigs, leaves, and branches from the tree were collected by people who wanted to save a small piece of it for themselves. Connecticut continued to use the charter after it became a state on January 9, 1788. The tree symbolizes the struggles that the colonists faced to gain their independence. Today the spot where the tree once stood is marked by a granite plaque.

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The Connecticut quarter was the fifth and last state quarter to be released in 1999. It was introduced on October 12, 1999. Governor John G. Rowland held a design competition for the citizens of Connecticut. Over 100 citizens submitted designs, and 19 drawings were of the historic "Charter Oak Tree." The governor and a review committee made the final selection. Twenty-three citizens received honorable mentions (acknowledgments for their work) from the governor. Governor Rowland submitted the final design to the Secretary of the Treasury. The "Charter Oak Tree" pictured on the quarter has a lot of history. In 1639, the colony of Connecticut was formed. The colony was made up of Hartford, Wetherfeld, and Windsor settlements.
The colonists living in the settlements wanted each settlement to have equal rights. So they voted for a representative from each settlement. The representatives wrote the Fundamentals Orders in 1639. They were a set of laws that allowed the Connecticut colony to govern itself. The Fundamental orders were made up of a legislative and a judicial branch. The legislative branch passed the laws, and the judicial branch decided if the laws were carried out fairly. In 1662, the King of England gave them a charter: The Royal Charter. A charter is a legal document giving certain rights to a person or group of people. In this case, the King of England gave the Connecticut colony the right to govern itself. Twenty-five years later, in 1687, a British representative was sent to the Connecticut colony to take away the charter and control of the colony. During a disagreement between the British representative and the colony, the candle lit room where they were meeting darkened. When the candles were relit the charter that was on the table had disappeared. It is written that the patriot, Captain John Wadsworth, hid the charter in a huge white oak tree to keep it safe. Hiding the charter saved it from the British and allowed the colony to continue governing itself for a while longer. The famous tree became known as "The Charter Oak." The tree fell during a horrible storm on August 21, 1856. At that time, acorns, twigs, leaves, and branches from the tree were collected by people who wanted to save a small piece of it for themselves. Connecticut continued to use the charter after it became a state on January 9, 1788. The tree symbolizes the struggles that the colonists faced to gain their independence. Today the spot where the tree once stood is marked by a granite plaque.