The Arkansas Quarter was the 25th quarter released in the U.S. Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. The coin represents the 25th state in the Union, which is nicknamed the ‘Natural State’ because of all of the natural resources that are available.
Arkansas chose the design for their coin to feature a diamond, a duck flying over a lake in the forest, and stalks of rice, which are all things that you can easily find in the state. Arkansas is home to what may be the oldest diamond mine in North America, which is also a popular tourist attraction where visitors can mine diamonds and keep what they find. Arkansas is also a major producer of rice, which is why that is featured on the coin as well.
Arkansas is in the Southern United States, and is bordered by Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The state was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, but was previously organized as a territory on July 4, 1819. The area was fought over, like much of the southern lands, by the Spanish, French, and British and was eventually sold by the French as a part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The state is named for the Algonquin name for Quapaw Indians.
The state is known today for agriculture and mining, as well and outdoor recreation and natural beauty.