Photo illustration by Mike Crupi/THE POST

Resembling video game tokens or Canadian currency, the new U.S. quarter--dollars are debuting to mixed review in Athens.

"It looks kinda hokey, kinda like a carnival or a skee ball token," junior Aaron Bitters said. "I think they could have come up with something a little more artistic."

Replacing the familiar American bald eagle is a depiction of Caesar Rodney on horseback.

"Rodney is honored for his historic ride to break the tie among Delaware's delegates in favor of the Declaration of Independence," according to the U.S. Mint's homepage, http://www.usmint.gov.

The revamped design is a result of the 50 State Quarters Program Act, signed by President Clinton Dec. 1, 1997, to celebrate each of the 50 states of the Union, according to the Web site.

New versions of the coin will be released five times a year for the next decade in the order that each state became a part of the United State of America. Ohio, the 17th state to enter the Union, will be represented in 2002.

With the need to switch certain elements from the reverse side to the front because of space restraints, the 'heads' side of the coin looks different as well.

Although junior Josh Bernstein said the new design gives the coin a little more character, the novelty is the same now as the $20 bill once was.

"At first you were excited, but later it was just $20," he said.

While Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut's designs already have been decided, the U.S. Mint still is taking suggestions via its Web site for the remaining 45 states.

Also included on the Web site are several designs for the new dollar coin featuring Sacajawea, a Native American, scheduled to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar in 2000.

- Christina Xenos contributed to this story.