Last month, the 50th and final State Quarter in the 50 Statehood Quarter Program was released. An estimated 147 million collectors have been collecting the U.S. State Quarters and after ten years, these collectors finally have the opportunity to assemble a complete set representing all 50 States. U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy stated "This groundbreaking initiative has been the most successful coin program in the Nation's history."

To date, the U.S. Mint has issued more than 34 billion quarters, earning a seignorage (profit) of approximately 6.1 billion dollars. Approximately 51 percent of the state quarters were produced at Philadelphia and the remaining 49 percent were produced at the Denver Mint.

Now that the 50 State Quarters Program has been completed, the new 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territory Quarter designs have been introduced.

The first design is for the District of Columbia. The reverse design will depict musician Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington seated by a piano which has the inscription DUKE ELLINGTON.

The second design honors the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The reverse design depicts a sentry box in Old San Juan with a view of the sea in the background and a hibiscus flower to the right in honor of the territory's official flower.

The third design honors the territory of Guam. The reverse design displays an outline of the island of Guam, a latte stone and a native boat in the background.

The fourth design honors the American Samoa territory. The reverse features an ava bowl, whisk and staff which are used in special Samoan ceremonies.

The fifth design honors the United States Virgin Islands. The reverse design features a yellow breast (banana quit) bird, a yellow cedar flower, a tyre palm and the three major islands which comprise the Virgin Islands.

The sixth and final design honors the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The reverse design features a latte stone on an island and a Carolinian canoe in the lagoon.

Each 2009 quarter will retain the same George Washington obverse design. The 2009 quarters will be issued in the order listed and approximately in two month intervals. The new 2009 quarters are expected to enter circulation toward the end of January.