A Pocketful of History

[2:12]" And this year is the culmination write the final quarter comes out this year."

[2:16]" That's right Jordan it would start back in 1999 which Delaware and that this will be the last year at five -- coming out every year. This week in fact. -- on this quarter was released walked an shopped with Alaska and finally Hawaii and opened the into the state quarters but there's a footnote to that."

[2:35]" And we'll find out what that is in a moment of talking with Jim Knowles. He's written a pocket full of history 400 years of America one state quarter at a time. And you say they're becoming laden in groups of five of course starting -- Delaware that makes perfect sense because -- was the first state all the trip to Hawaii which became a statement fifty so it's going chronologically the release and that's your book is laid out to his kitchen."

[2:57]" That's right the books broken up into essentially fifty chapter verse and so you've got. A chapter on Delaware talks about what's the detail work order in the story of of Caesar Rodney depicted on the -- recorder and we go to two Pennsylvania and Georgia and and so on and so on."

[3:13]" For those people who saw it John Adams on HBO this is very pivotal scene in which they have to bring this guy from Delaware to Philadelphia. To cast the deciding vote for basically independence and we don't realize how important this guy is until John Adams is sweating -- whether to get there in time that's the gentleman you're referring to."

[3:32]" That's right that these -- Rodney in -- one topic to great sort of historical questions as did Rodney actually travel. By carriage or by force -- of Philadelphia in time to to vote but the legend has it that he traveled on horseback. And that's -- to to talk about in this chapter and it was a it was a great story if it could be it was on while regardless -- it is and -- because. These are -- he was in very poor health -- that time in the terrible facial cancer he had severe asthma you know. Neurological disorder so it was not the kind of guy that would travel lightly that. Rabin who was such an ardent patriot community he had to cast that vote for independence in order to enable the Delaware. Delegation to vote for independence and so when the time come came when the time came he. Travel and just terrible rain -- all -- commit plantation down in in double where eighty miles to make it Philadelphia which in the next time."

[4:29]" certainly did in Delaware a small state but an important one. As we take a look at the quarters he would you have a picture each chapter of course and I have the quarters at home minus a few. We note that many of them have human figures many of them have animals some have statues. Com and so each state has had the opportunity obviously back ten years ago to come up with the design of all the states that Jim was there one that -- That that fought harder over design I mean most of these were. -- contests based who had the toughest time coming up with -- one you know."

[5:00]" I think is the program developed and and became more and more the success you've had more more interest and morbid sense of ownership and each of the states and amongst its population will spectacle to be older work. And I think -- Some stay committed more controversial than -- 11 controversy that comes to mind. And painful to count for. One quarter California Saturday. So the five possible design put out for popular vote Roy Moore is more an opinion polls and a binding vote. But from what I understand in the course of that opinion poll. The it -- and design that won the popular votes of speech California. Featured in 1849 or gold prospector reminder and in the end however. The decision was governor Schwarzenegger and in the end he opted for a technically compelling design it was that the design featured John -- the founder of the Sierra Club gazing out -- go for Yosemite park with the California -- over -- so. You know as an understandable decision but I think some people in California wondered why they did not -- the design --"

[6:10]" So many wonderful stories and technology in the Knowles spelled -- alias a pocket full of history were talking about the quarters. State quarters -- OS-X years have been popping up and winding up in my green folder and thousands of collectors out there both professionals and amateurs like myself and my signer. A really enjoying it now some of them are really adjusting these stories whether fifty of them but we can't go through the mall will tug of Massachusetts in the second also. New Hampshire which has a great story albeit a tragic -- Let's take a look -- Colorado for second. Colorado known for the for the rugged Iraqis in the mountains and all that but what's interesting about well to tell a story what's Anderson about the mountain they decided to place on the quarter."

[6:50]" For a long time no would admit -- now and -- idealists that it was just an abstract mountain because Colorado apparently wanted to paper one now the other but depressed looking into the issue and eventually. The artist who designed the winning design. Admitted that it was actually longs peak which was -- one of the mountain in Colorado and he got the to design the image from a photo that is an economic help that -- Colorado so that was sort of the secret of the of the -- to have -- taken out but I think about the chapter about Colorado about the mountains. And that wasn't enough that it can work so that back toward thinking. What what -- the secrets to talk about four or I was familiar with one fairly obscure story and that involved. These CIA's training of Tibetan. Freedom front fighters that group rose from Tibet. In Colorado at a place called camp hale near would -- in the the 1950s an awful lot of people realize we deadly training camp for Tibetan reels. In the -- Colorado zone in action crew used the excuse of -- order to protect welcome to this that the professional ministry."

[8:06]" Any mountain -- in Colorado could be a secret stash for a Norad base or. And area 51 knock off for something who knows it says -- speak of mountains we go over now to New Hampshire and this might be the most odd occurrence a coincidence and a sad one they put the man in the mountain on the quarter and what then happened."

[8:27]" That's certainly the most ironic of the quarter because in 2000. New Hampshire quarter here it's got their iconic mental amount to -- of the -- Well -- melted. Rock formation is just granite rock formation looks from the side looks like a maintenance effectiveness profile well that appears on the quarter in 2000. Unfortunately in 2000 integrity. This rock formation which have been under stressful while. In a crumbling falling off the metal and so now the only place which you can on the old man of the belt and would be not all the mountain on your."

[9:02]" With -- a pocket full of mister -- about the quarters that many of us hundreds of thousands of -- are collecting go to Massachusetts for second and take a look at the minutemen on the quarter it's a beautiful quarter and folks should know that the minutemen image. One it was created him by whom and of course the whole period of I guess the 1830s forties and fifties with some of the great poets at that time they brought their whole minutemen -- to life to an agent."

[9:27]" really -- and that's it right it's a great quarter -- tectonic image of the minuteman the minuteman statue there Concord. And it's a great story can rule and look at that I think it's a great story for for two recent ones the whole Lexington Concord strawberry as quick story of American resilient and resistance during. During the revolution and the fact that notable the irony here that the the minute man depicted the concourse statute not actually from. From concorde from nearby -- Davis who -- And killed -- company to it attack of the British in court the times that aspect of interest also the fact that. This statute was designed to buy and in sculpted. -- Daniel Chester French who was from Concord. And it really dispersed statute at least of this size for what we've done statue in -- And he went on to even greater things in that in fact -- that sculpting statue of Abraham Lincoln. That is in the Lincoln Memorial so -- in connection between cordoned in the global."

[10:32]" There's only one quarter and it's not quite out yet. That features a monarch and -- wouldn't think CO monarch king on an American quarter who is that the young man."

[10:43]" Well that will be. Why he's quarter come out at the end of this year and it's king coming in May have the great and he was the Hawaiian who successfully United the Hawaiian islands up until. Commitment has time to the cultural -- series of of kingdoms and command may have successfully. Do a series of military campaigns. Ended up uniting the island in the in the early eighteen hundreds."

[11:08]" Interesting now. Let's go over to the south that were jumping around here so many wonderful stories let's go to Alabama and this would surprise me and I never. I don't remember seeing the coin it -- in my collection -- the Alabama calling. Features Helen Keller and those of us who are familiar with the story and choose an amazing woman. With the presidential medal of freedom and torture the end of her life but as you say this is a woman who was painted by one biographer as a rabid socialist. Sit down there in the rather conservative. Side it's thing's been -- Emma it's a little surprising that you see here there is it not."

[11:43]" Well it and let and I and I took about that India in the in the chapter that. I would killer is just a beloved daughter of the student and I think rightly so it's not surprisingly it. That we that Alabama trains to to feature Helen Keller on the quarter hour on the quarter units -- Spirit of courage which I think speaks. Not just for true for a helluva partially aspect of Alabama but in technical also has -- well -- that probably."

[12:13]" It's actually have very I love the quarter I think -- now that I read about it too I mean the idea that. This woman did what she did I I didn't notions from Alabama and issues from the south I was -- learned a lot when I read that. Good."

[12:25]" Our resentment toward you know opera -- I did not know the Alitalia so well congratulations typical thank you through to god it worked out of order and now that's fracture from Columbia Alabama but went to school a --"

[12:38]" So she's considered as let's say appears somebody like click that John F Kennedy would be considered -- A local hero she's considered that it would just -- a great name obviously around the world but in Alabama very special."

[12:49]" Very very much on you act you can go to her. Pearl how they're entitled -- can be and and you can go to the the water -- That she used to refer to two person and are trying to told the news to eventually shall break the communication with its still there to do poplar."

[13:05]" When one -- your book and takes a look at chapter 39 and North Dakota as you say it's entitled where the buffalo still roam it's a beautiful cola quarter it has. The buffalo and it says 1889 which I imagine is the the years that North Dakota became state. Okay and buffalo still -- there which is good to know."

[14:12]" There is one story that I know you're being asked about in almost every appearance humane and this is involving a one of the western states I guess. And a particular monument to particular rock that the American Indians refer to as. Something a little bit more personal can you explain what I'm talking about here."

[14:31]" This last night and congratulations to cut -- first ready I was to. To have been the -- that the nerve to ask about that really last but it's it's -- tech's Leon. You did and I oh yes he's he's not going to get on her case. -- Nebraska is quarter. Has a radio a couple of lag in and day pioneer going after that. Classic symbol organ and California in the Mormon trials chimney rock. And once were the pioneers called the local the local Indians call that no penis joke penis helped -- get into that it would. I'm not suffice it to played Little League in Nebraska quarter it has to Iraq and not."

[15:13]" I would does not want my name by Indian name to be that but I can certainly identify -- of course. It is what lies in the he's the vehicle's well artistically before letting go Jim. I know this is an unfair question but it's and it's very subjective but artistically which quarter strike she and you examine these things from a disease which court restriction -- is a real achievement I think they're all great but is there one that sort of stands out in your mind."

[15:38]" I'll answer that question but -- I want -- to be thinking -- picnic -- sure sure we'll let us. I think I like some of the more simple design like Montero with the bison skull like taxes with -- store I think Connecticut's. With the with the charter oak is an attractive design notable wants."

[16:25]" Well the I think that the series has been a remarkable achievement in the idea for a remarkable -- I'm just glad to have the opportunity opportunity to write about it. And -- the -- publishers capital they're they're embossed and so there's more football connection port."

[16:38]" This is the perfect accompaniment to the collector's edition of the quarters in mind. Collection is set in a green folder and honest I don't know how many different -- stick -- do you have your quarters lined."

[16:51]" I've got them in one of those full over well not a -- one but it. Definitely -- make money that I -- with the real money is in the programs and and is doing these peace peaceful co produced all the quarters and that put in the."

[17:03]" Well tell anyone to pop those babies in a very tough to get out that's good and you don't expect to lose the Jim I can't take enough you're such a nice Fella and sale go to our friends in Alabama we actually reach Alabama on a goodnight believer tonight and it would. And a pocket full of history is the book it's really fun it's -- 400 years of America one state quarter at a time Jim -- aliases the author and let's collect the rest and move on chilly at the airport express did a great pleasure take care will be back with much more. And it's all free no quarters --"