Did you know that September 25 is National Lobster Day? If you thought that was on June 15, you aren’t the only one. June 15 was originally when National Lobster Day was celebrated.
However, with unclear origins as to why that date was chosen, back in 2015 the Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association reached out to the Lobster Marketing Collaborative to move National Lobster Day from June to September 25, the latter marking the peak of the lobster harvesting season. Thus, this is now the day that “lobstah lovahs” all across New England and throughout the United States get to crack out of their shells to raise a toast to this tasty crustacean that has long been crowned a seafood delicacy.
As many New Englanders certainly know, the Pine Tree State has a lot of pines – and a ton of lobsters crawling just off shore. Maine fishers score a collective 100 million pounds of lobster each year, and while this is an abundant amount of lobster, Maine’s lobster population is not overfished.
Maine’s shoreline is indeed home for so many species, both of the sea and of the land. Therefore the state has plenty to offer nature lovers. So, it’s no surprise that Maine’s diverse landscape takes center stage on the reverse of the 2003 Maine State Quarter, the third coin released that year as part of the 50 State Quarters series and the 23rd coin in the program overall.
The reverse design was designed and engraved by Donna Weaver and features the rugged shoreline of Maine with Pemaquid Point Light in New Harbor anchoring the canvas. In the crustacean-encrusted waters of Muscongus Bay sails a three-masted schooner. The 2003 Maine State Quarter is still readily found in circulation, though beautiful uncirculated and proof specimens suitable for high-end PCGS Registry Sets remain affordable for many.