The Ohio Quarter is more about the people who come from the state than many other state quarters. It was the 17th coin to be released, and was issued in 2002. Ohio chose a picture of an astronaut and a biplane to adorn the outline of the state on the coin. Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and one of the inventors of the airplane were all born in Ohio. The coin features the phrase ‘Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers’ under the biplane on the left of the coin.
The Ohio quarter design was chosen from six that were placed on the state website. People voted for the one that they like best and the top four were sent to the Mint. The governor chose the design once the Mint created final designs for the state to pick from.
Ohio is located in the Midwestern United States, and borders Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The Ohio Valley is believed to have been inhabited as early as 13,000 BC by nomadic tribes, based on archaeological finds. The Adena people came to the area in 1000 BC to 800 BC, creating many different legacies that they left behind, including Great Serpent Mound, located in Adams County. The Hopewell came to the area around 100 BC, followed by a disappearance around 600 AD.
Europeans came later, during the 1700s, to trade fur, and Ohio became part of the Northwest Territory until it was made a state on February 19, 1803.