Jim & Lana Speer PFUC State Quarters
2008-S SILVER ALASKA

Owner Comments:

Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts had lived in Alaska for centuries. Europeans didn't begin to explore the land until 1741. Russia was the first nation to set up a colony in Alaska, claim the land, and trade in furs. When Russia could no longer afford to maintain the colony, it sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million (two cents per acre). Even at such a low price, many in the United States called the purchase foolish, but later discoveries of gold and oil on Alaskan soil proved it to be quite a bargain (not to mention a beautiful place to visit). Alaska became a state in 1959.