Senate OKs $1 coin, state quarters

excerpt from an article by Michele Orzano, Coin World Staff

It went down to the wire late into the night but eventually the Senate approved legislation for the 50 state commemorative circulating quarter dollar, a new dollar coin and commemorative coins to mark the centennial of the first powered flight.

The House was expected to consider the Senate version when members returned to Washington, D.C., following the Nov. 11 Veterans Day federal holiday.

Late Nov. 9, the full Senate approved by unanimous consent S. 1228, along with wording from S. 1300, the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997 and S. 732, the First Flight commemorative coins to mark the Wright brothers achievements.

Aside from a technical amendment approved by the Senate, the legislation remains essentially unchanged from the House legislation. ...

The Senate approved:

• A 10-year circulating commemorative quarter dollar program beginning in 1999. Coins for five states will be introduced each year from 1999 to 2008 in the order they were admitted to the Union. The obverse design will retain an image of George Washington while the reverse will bear a specific design for each of the 50 states. Silver Proof versions of each coin are also authorized. Designs are to be chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the state governors, or other designated state officials, the Commission of Fine Arts, the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. ...