In 1999 the US Mint started issuing state quarters and the $1 Sacagawea gold coin honoring the Native Americans. When it did, it partnered with companies like Hallmark and General Mills to advertise the coins and increase their popularity. Hallmark for its part created its American Spirit collection of cloth dolls to pair with the coins. Each doll has a velcro closed bag or pocket to hold the state quarter or golden dollar.
For lovers of historic vintage cloth dolls, I offer the complete 11 doll set with their companion, uncirculated mint condition coins.
The 10 state quarters are paired with an American hero connected with the state. Hallmark's companion 7 1/2" dolls are created from brightly colored printed fabrics, stuffed with cotton, and ornamented with ribbons and lace:
1. George Washington is remembered for crossing the Delaware River on Christmas 1776 and wresting Trenton, New Jersey back from Britain's 24,000 Hession troops. Clad in his military finery, he holds a rolled-up, ribbon-tied scroll. The back of his jacket has a secret compartment for the 2000 New Jersey $.25 coin.
2. Francis Scott Key is remembered for composing the "Star Spangled Banner" after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland. Clad in period attire, complete with lace collar and cuffs, he holds a fabric music sheet of his famous song. The back of this music has a secret compartment for the 2000 Maryland $.25 coin.
3. Thomas Jefferson from Virginia, is remembered as America's 3rd President and author of the Constitution. Dressed as an 18th century man of wealth, in lace collar and cuff, he holds a fabric copy of the Constitution. On the back is a secret compartment for the 2000 Virginia $.25 coin.
4. Benjamin Franklin, founding father, inventor, politician, author, and economist was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His doll wears the traditional dress of a colonial gentlemen complete with lace collar and cuffs. He holds a cloth kite decorated with a key, symbols of his iconic experiments with lightning. On the back is a secret compartment for the 2000 Massachusetts $.25 coin.
5. Caesar Rodney, soldier, judge, governor made an agonizing 80 mile ride from Delaware to Philadelphia on July 2, 1776. He rode by horse through thunderstorms into American history when he cast Delaware's tie-breaking vote to affirm the Declaration of Independence. Wearing the traditional colonial garb of a commoner with a brown ribbon collar, he carries a simple pouch with a secret compartment for the 2000 Delaware $.25 coin.
6. Francis Marion, the legendary Swamp Fox, waged guerrilla warfare against the British after South Carolina fell during the Revolutionary War. Among his other achievements - plantation owner, French and Indian War hero, and South Carolina state senator. The doll is dressed in a brown buckskin suit complete with printed powder horn and canteen. Over his shoulder he carries the South Carolina $.25 coin bag.
7. Daniel Webster, a great statesman and orator, served New Hampshire in the courts and the US Senate. Dressed as a 19th century statesman complete with lace collar and cuffs, he carries a cloth law book with a hidden compartment for the New Hampshire $.25 coin.
8. Harriet Beecher Stowe is the author of the classic "Uncle Tom's Cabin", depicting the suffering and degradation of slavery - a book that sold over 300,000 in its first year alone. It helped turn public sentiment against slavery and in favor of the Civil War. Her doll wears a period dress trimmed in ribbon and lace. She carries a cloth copy of her iconic book with a hidden compartment for her birth place's Connecticut $.25 coin
9. Eli Whitney was one of America's great inventors best known for the cotton gin. He has been called the father of mass production coming up with a process of making interchangeable musket parts. Wearing period dress, trimmed in ribbon and lace, he carries a cloth bag of Cotton with a compartment for his Georgia $.25 coin. Why Georia? While born in Massachusetts, Georgia was the site of his great inventions.
10. Betsy Ross of Pennsylvania is legendary for designing and sewing the first American flag - 13 stars on a field of blue, 6 white stripes and 7 red. She did this as a favor to George Washington who knew her from church. Wearing a period dress, trimmed in ribbon and lace, she carries her iconic flag. On the back of the flag is a compartment for Pennsylvania's $.25 coin.
The 11th doll is Sacagawea,a Lemhi Shoshone who became famous for helping the Lewis and Clark Expedition explore the Louisiana Territories. Her doll was selected to honor her individually and as a symbol of the Native American people. Her 12" cloth doll dwarfs the other smaller dolls in the set. She is dressed in a long brown fringed dress and fringed moccasins. On her back is a separate papoose doll swaddled in an Indian blanket and attached to a cloth cradleboard. She carries a pouch to hold not a state quarter, but her GOLD $1 coin.
If you are someone who has a few of these dolls already, I would be happy to sell a partial set, reducing the asking price 9% for any doll you would like eliminated.
These 20 year-old dolls are in excellent condition- no rips, no signs of wear. Although aged, some look like new, while others show minor signs of fading. ALL HAVE BEEN STEAM CLEANED.
They were made in Taiwan from printed fabrics sown together and stuffed with cotton. Some are decorated with ribbon and lace.
Please enjoy the pictures, and thank you for considering them.