Hundreds of schoolchildren from across the state flooded the Capitol Monday to celebrate Michigan's 167th birthday.

The students, along with coin collectors, watched as Gov. Jennifer Granholm introduced the new Michigan quarter as part of the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program.

Granholm bought the first roll of Michigan quarters.

"This is the best-looking quarter I have ever seen," she said to the children who sat on the glass floor of the Capitol's rotunda.

Henrietta Holsman Fore, director of the U.S. Mint, spoke to the crowd, encouraging them to continue collecting the state quarters.

"Soon these quarters will travel the world and become your small ambassadors," she said. "When Americans pull this quarter out of their pockets, it will provide them with a special topography, geography and history lesson."

Stephanie Edwards, 10, of Haslett, said that when her family heard about the ceremony, they took the day off from their home-schooling and headed to the Capitol. She said she has been collecting the state quarters for a few years.

"It represents and brings out what's special about the state," she said. "I've collected all the quarters so far."

Michigan is the 26th state to have a quarter introduced. The flipside of Michigan's coin bears a design of the state and the five Great Lakes. The event was open to anyone who wanted to celebrate the coin, and quarters were available to everyone.

Outside the Capitol building, people lined up to buy rolls of Michigan quarters. Children were each given a free coin as a collector's item. The U.S. Mint pays for the free quarters for each state.

Jerry Kovach of Monroe was one of the first Michiganians to get his hands on a roll of brand new Michigan quarters.

"I've followed the quarters from the beginning and I couldn't wait for ours to come out," he said. "I checked the weather this morning and I took the day off work