50 State Quarters Rated: 2002

Tennessee
I love the imagery that depicts the musical traditions of the three parts of the state. The fiddle is for the bluegrass music of Appalachia, the guitar is for the country music of the Grand Olde Opry in Nashville, and the trumpet is for Memphis' jazz. The three stars come straight from the state flag. But did the Mint really need to hammer us over the head with the banner "Musical Heritage," since we couldn't possibly figure that out on our own?
Rating: 15¢

Ohio
When I think of Ohio's possible claims to fame, birthplace of aviation pioneers is not particularly high on my list. The coin gets demerits for reusing the Wright Flyer after North Carolina employed it before. Also, if either Neil Armstrong or John Glenn (Ohio's two most famous astronauts) are in that spacesuit, it's a violation of the rule that prevents living people from appearing on coinage.
Rating: 5¢

Louisiana
I like the pelican (Louisiana is the Pelican State, after all) and I like the jazz trumpet that symbolizes New Orleans. However, the point of the quarter is to showcase the state of Louisiana, not the entire Louisiana Purchase. We have nickels that celebrate the westward expansion. With its Cajun heritage and Mardi Gras celebrations (and drunk coeds flashing for beads on Bourbon Street), Louisiana has plenty of its own things to showcase and need not share the spotlight with the rest of the Central U.S.
Rating: 5¢

Indiana
Yeah, it works. I like the state outline and the race car is probably Indiana's biggest claim to fame. Normally I disapprove of random stars, but like Tennessee's stars, Indiana's are lifted straight off the state flag. If they would throw in the torch from the state flag, it would look even better. Crossroads of America is the official state motto and meshes perfectly with the racecar theme.
Rating: 15¢

Mississippi
The magnolia is the official state flower of Mississippi, and together with the state nickname written in script, it's supposed to represent Southern gentility. But that's all the quarter has. Would it kill you guys to slap a riverboat on there or something?
Rating: 10¢