The Louisiana quarter, the third quarter of 2002 and eighteenth in
the series, displays the image of Louisiana's state bird -- the pelican,
a horn with musical notes, and the outline of the Louisiana Purchase
territory, along with the inscription "Louisiana Purchase."
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon
Bonaparte in 1803 for $15 million. Dubbed the "greatest real estate
deal in history" the Louisiana Purchase added thirteen new states
to the Union, nearly doubling its size and making it one of the largest
countries in the world.
The horn on the coin is a tribute to the state's heritage of jazz
music, a genre heard and played by millions of enthusiasts around the
globe. Jazz was born in New Orleans over a hundred years ago, a
combination of elements from blues, ragtime, and marching band music. A
multitude of musicians propelled jazz from New Orleans' French Quarter
onto the world stage, making the style a dominant force in 20th Century
music.
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