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Gov. John Rowland selected a design featuring the state tree, the Charter Oak, framed by the inscription THE CHARTER OAK and a stone wall. The Charter Oak is renowned as the hiding place of the Connecticut colony's royal charter in 1687 when a representative of King James II was sent to revoke the charter. According to tradition, representatives of the colony discussing the attempt extinguished candles in the discussion room, removed the charter and hid it in a large oak tree. The tree later came to be known as the Charter Oak.

This coin follows in the tradition of the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar, which also depicts the Charter Oak.