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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – American Samoa
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Monday, January 28, 2008)
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Lt. Gov. Ipulasi invites designs for Territorial Quarter from US Mint
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 (UTULEI) - Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia today invited the Territory’s participation in submitting designs for a Territorial Quarter (25 cent coin) that will be issued by the U.S. Mint in 2009.
On December 27, 2007, President George W. Bush signed legislation for American Samoa, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Washington DC to have their own commemorative quarter-dollars in 2009.
Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi expressed his delight for this great honor extended to American Samoa.
“I believe this is a wonderful and excellent opportunity for us to share our history, art, natural beauty, and culture with people who are not familiar with American Samoa,” said Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi. “Since this quarter will represent us, it is appropriate that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the process.”
The new 25 cent coin will continue to feature image of President George Washington on the obverse (heads side) of each quarter. The image on the reverse (tails side) will commemorate the history, geography or traditions of American Samoa. (See samples of heads side, Alaska and Hawaii coins)
“It is an honor for me to call upon our people – parents, grandparents, leaders, the youth, artists, teachers and others, to submit designs for American Samoa’s Territorial Quarter,” said Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi. “Submissions can be designs or short descriptions of anything about our culture, history, geography, or art.”
Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi said the designs cannot be designs that are protected by law. And they cannot be representations of heads and shoulders nor portraits of any person, living or dead.
“Once we receive the submissions from the public, the Office of the Governor will go through the submissions and recommend three concepts to the Governor for submission to the U.S. Mint,” said Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi.
According to Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi, the Office of the Governor will consider the selections based on the three concepts:
1. Coinability – the design must be one that can be produced on a coin.
2. Accuracy – the concept or theme does represent the Samoan culture or history accurately.
3. Appropriateness – the design must be dignified and one that will make American Samoa and the rest of the America proud.
More detailed information on the Territorial Quarter will be available on the American Samoa Government website at www.americansamoa.gov.
Further information on The 50 State Quarters® Program is available at www.usmint.gov/pressroom
The deadline for submissions to the Office of the Governor is 4pm, February 13, 2008.
“We are very excited that American Samoa will have its own commemorative coin in 2009. We encourage all of you to participate. Together we can share our values and culture with people across the U.S. and its territories,” said Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi. “We look forward to receiving submissions from the people of American Samoa.”
The 50 State Quarters coins is a ten-year program that was introduced in 1999. It will end this year with the issuance of the Hawaii commemorative quarter, marking the 50th State to be honored.
A provision was added by Congress to the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act to produce the Territorial Quarters for American Samoa, the other territories and Washington DC, which will be honored first in 2009.
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