The Florida Quarter was released as the second coin of 2004 for the 50 State Quarters Program. The coin’s images all reflect Florida’s heritage and resources. On the coin, there is a space shuttle, to denote Florida’s space program, as well as a Spanish galleon sailing toward the coast with two palm trees. Under that is the phrase ‘Gateway to Discovery’. As the southernmost state in the U.S., it was the first visited by many explorers from the Southeast, earning it that nickname.
Florida is known for being a peninsula state, as well as for being inhabited by many Native Americans before European settlers arrived. The state was adopted into statehood as the 27th state on March 3, 1845.
Prior to European settlement, the area was populated largely by Seminole Indians. The Spanish began taking over the Southeastern part of the state, the French took the West and the English took the North. These territories create a lot of turmoil for the area, including three Seminole Wars fought between the Seminoles and the European settlers from 1817 to 1858.
The final war resulted in the removal of the Seminoles, who were sent west. Hundreds remained in the Everglades and the Gulf Coast area, refusing to leave their native lands.