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The Delaware quarter's reverse celebrates Caesar Rodney's historic horseback ride in 1776.
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The Delaware quarter, depicting the historic horseback ride of Caesar Rodney, galloped
onto the scene as it kicked off the much anticipated United States Mint's 50 State Quarters®
Program.
Caesar Rodney was a delegate to the Continental Congress.
On July 1, 1776, despite suffering from asthma and cancer, Rodney set off on the 80-mile journey to
Philadelphia withstanding thundershowers and a severe summer heat wave.
The next day, he arrived at Independence Hall just in time to cast the deciding vote in favor of our
nation's independence. This native of Dover has also held more public offices than any other
Delaware citizen. In addition to being an extremely dedicated delegate, Rodney was also a soldier,
judge, and speaker of Delaware's Assembly.
Through an Executive Order issued by Delaware Governor Thomas R. Carper on February 2, 1998, state
residents were encouraged to submit quarter design concepts to the Delaware Arts Council.
The Council received over 300 submissions. With the governor's approval, the Council forwarded
several concepts to the United States Mint for review and execution of drawings.
From there, three selected designs were reviewed and approved by the Citizens Commemorative Coin
Advisory Committee, the Fine Arts Commission, and the Secretary of the Treasury.
Next, the governor's office conducted a telephone and e-mail opinion poll.
Caesar Rodney received 948 of the 1,519 total votes. The quill pen and parchment and the allegorical
'Lady Liberty' designs received 336 and 235 votes, respectively. Friday, June 12, 1998, the Caesar Rodney
selection for the Delaware quarter was made public at a press briefing in Dover, DE.
An art and drama teacher, fittingly employed at Caesar Rodney High School, submitted the
selected design concept.
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