George Washington Gets New Partner On Flip Side

Heads, it’s still George Washington. Tails, it’s Caesar Rodney.

The image of the little-known Revolutionary War figure from Delaware on Monday became the first to be minted onto the “tails” side of a new batch of quarters.

The likeness of Rodney mounted on a galloping horse will be the first to go into circulation under a new federal law that allows each state to redesign the tails side of the 25-cent piece, temporarily replacing the eagle. The portrait of Washington will remain on the “heads” side, as it has since 1932.

The quarters will debut over the next 10 years in the order that states ratified the Constitution or joined the Union. The debut of the Delaware quarter comes on the 211th anniversary of the state becoming the first to approve the Constitution.

Rodney’s image won a poll conducted by Delaware Gov. Thomas Carper. In a ride nearly as famous in its day as Paul Revere’s, Rodney raced 80 miles from Dover to Philadelphia in 1776 to cast his vote approving the Declaration of Independence.

The words, “The First State,” also appear on the Delaware quarter. It will begin circulating nationwide early next year.

New quarters will be printed for each state in 10-week intervals. The quarter commemorating Pennsylvania, the second state to ratify the Constitution, shows the allegorical figure Commonwealth, dressed in flowing clothing, striding forward, ribboned mace in hand.