The Illinois Quarter was released in 2003 as the 21st state quarter to be released in the 50 State Quarters Program. The coin features the state’s outline with Abraham Lincoln pictured inside, setting down a farm tool and picking up a law book. The farm is to his back and Chicago is to his front. The Illinois quarter is printed with ‘Land of Lincoln’ and ‘21st State’, and has 21 stars around the perimeter of the coin.
The Land of Lincoln might have been known as the Prairie State, but it had high hopes for its future, which is what the image on the coin depicts. Being the birthplace of a famous and well-respected leader like Lincoln leaves big shoes to fill, and the state demonstrates their intent to do that on the coin.
Illinois is located in the Midwest United States. It is one of the most diverse states in the country, both in terms of population and environment. The state borders Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin, as well as Lake Michigan in the greater Chicago area. Illinois was settled as early as 1300 AD, but it was not approached by European settlers until 1810, shortly after which it became a state.
The Chicago area was founded in the 1830s on one of the few natural banks on the south end of Lake Michigan. The state was popular in agriculture, industry, and even mining in some areas, making it a diverse state for many immigrants to choose. Chicago also offered jazz and blues cultures due to the migration of African Americans to the city from the rural south.