The U.S. Mint's commemorative quarter for Alaska features a grizzly bear with the state fish (salmon), the north star (see Alaska state flag and motto) and caption; "The Great Land" Alaska became the 49th state in 1959. Public domain image on Wikipedia.
What does "Alaska" mean?
The name Alaska originates from an Aleut word "Alyeska," meaning "great land." The Aleuts are people inhabiting the Aleutian Islands and western Alaska. Many state names trace their origin to native American languages. All State Name Origins
