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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.