National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday of April and shines a light on the importance of planting trees. The annual holiday has roots to its first observance in 1872 and inspired the creation of the Arbor Day Foundation, which was established in the United States in 1972. The nonprofit organization has facilitated the planting of more than 500 million trees and shines the light on the many extraordinary life- and community-changing benefits of planting trees. Among the benefits of planting trees are combating climate change, purifying the air, cooling urban cores, lowering home energy costs, increasing property values, improving public health, and enhancing water-management efforts.
Trees abound in the world of numismatics, where a multitude of coins feature all manner of these green, life-supporting wonders. However, one particular coin released among the 50 State Quarters features an archetypal example of a classic tree. During the first year of the state quarter program in 1999, the state of Connecticut was honored. And the landmark that was chosen to represent “The Constitution State” is the Charter Oak.
The large white oak tree grew on Wyllys Hill in Hartford from around the 12th or 13th century until its natural demise during a storm in 1856, when the grand tree fell to the ground. The tree held many claims to fame, and it was originally regarded as a bellwether of seasonal change by local indigenous peoples. It was also the spot where Connecticut’s Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden when it was at risk of confiscation by the English governor-general. Even decades after its death, the Charter Oak serves as a symbol of American independence.
The 1999 Connecticut Quarter isn’t the only coin whose canvas has been graced by a visage of the Charter Oak. The Charter Oak also features prominently on the obverse of a 1935 commemorative half dollar. However, the 1999 Connecticut Quarter is by far the more approachable and affordable of the two coins and can still be readily found in circulation.