Mississippi
'The Magnolia State,' engraved with two magnolia blossoms that symbolize the state.
Mississippi is a state located in the southern United States, and its nickname is “The Magnolia State.” The name is taken from the magnolia flower beloved in this region. Issued in 2002, this quarter is the 20th coin in the 50 States series.
The design on the reverse of the coin is very simple yet elegant. Two blossoms of the state flower, the magnolia, bloom side by side, and below is the inscription “The Magnolia State.”
The magnolia is a tree that produces large, fragrant flowers and grows especially well in the warm climate of the South. That Mississippi chose two flowers instead of other symbols for its reverse means that this state takes great pride in its nature and its mood.
Mississippi joined the Union as the 20th state of the United States on December 10, 1817. Instead of a spectacular event or figure, making the flower that always blooms on this land its identity is what makes this coin all the more special.
When you gaze at the two magnolias that quietly bloom on the small coin in your hand, the beauty that Mississippi cherishes comes to you naturally. This quarter shows that “even within simplicity, the heart of a state can be contained.”