Collector Coins

Recently I started collecting coins (quarters). From 1998-2008, the United States mint will be issuing new state quarters that will celebrate the 50 states with a design honoring its unique history, traditions and symbols. These coins are minted in two places - Philadephila & Denver. So they have a 'P' or a 'D' sign on it depending on where it came from. So there are 100 coins from each of the 50 states minted from one of the mints to be collected.

From what I understand from the U.S mint website, out of this 50, so far only 35 states have made it to the coin stage. In this 35, so far I have collected the following states in alphabetical order:

1. Alabama - D
2. Arkansas - D
3. California - D
4. Connecticut - D, P
5. Delaware - D
6. Florida - D
7. Georgia - D, P
8. Iowa - D
9. Kentucky - D
10. Illinois - D
11. Louisiana - D, P
12. Maine - D
13. Maryland - D, P
14. Massachusetts - D
15. Michigan - D
16. Mississippi - D
17. Missouri - D
18. New Hampshire - D
19. New Jersey - P
20. New York - D
21. North Carolina - D, P
22. Ohio - D, P
23. Oregon - D
24. Pennsylvania - D, P
25. Rhode Island - D
26. South Carolina - D
27. Tennessee - D
28. Texas - D
29. Vermont - D
30. Virginia - D
31. Wisconsin - D

That leaves with more 'D's and very less 'P's. That leaves me with Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and West Virginia to be collected besides coins with 'P' for many states. Coins have been released mainly on the east coast states so far. In the west coast, the coins have been started releasing only from Jan 2005. So west coast states are yet to come.

Besides I have some more special coins (not sure whether they are actually special).

• A quarter with just a 'LIBERTY' and '1776-1976' on the side with the head on one side, the other side with a Drummer's picture with 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' written next to it.
• A five cent with a Keelboat picture on one side with letters 'LEWIS & CLARK' written next to it, released in 2004.
• A five cent with a American Bison picture on one side and the other side with a face next to the letters 'LIBERTY' released in 2005.

More information on coin collection can be found at United States Mint