2005 West Virginia State Quarters

Description

2005 West Virginia State Quarters
Obverse Side
The obverse will continue to bear the familiar restored 1932 John Flannagan image of George Washington.
Reverse Side
The Reverse side captures the scenic beauty of the State with its depiction of the New River and the New River Gorge Bridge. The coin bears the inscription New River Gorge. Prior to gaining statehood, the area that is now West Virginia formed the western part of Virginia. Settlers in the western part of the Old Dominion began their efforts to join the federal Union when Virginia announced its secession in 1861. In the western part of the State, the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling drafted a state constitution in 1862. The new state called West Virginia applied to Congress for admission into the Union. Congress approved the request with one condition, that the new state abolish slavery. President Lincoln signed the West Virginia statehood bill and on June 20, 1863, West Virginia officially became the 35th state to be admitted into the Union.