Utah just unveiled its final options for the artwork on the quarter commemorating Utah’s admittance as a state to the Union. The final design, out of three choices, will be seen on quarters in 2007. The options are one that commemorates the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Point, a girl on a snowboard representing Utah’s involvement in the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a beehive with a pair of Sego Lily flowers. The beehive appears on Utah’s state flag, and the Sego Lily is the state flower.
Utah’s governor will make the decision as to which design will grace the Utah quarter, and he’ll hopefully pick the Promontory Point design. If not, the snowboarder design’s a decent runner up, while the beehive is not a good option. Once the details rub off, it will look like an igloo on stilts. [:D]
Please tell your governor-they snowboard in probably 25 other states, the beehive reference is as obscure to the rest of the country as New Jersey’s “the Garden State” ( no offense-just not my idea of a lush garden spot) but the Golden Spike is the most recognized part of Utah heritage to most of us Americans.
I was hoping they would put the golden spike on it, I think the snowboarder is a bad idea, and that the beehive looks kinda blank to me. The green jello with carrot chunks thould have been interesting to see on a quarter though.
Hey Chris and dldance, you guys gonna be at the train show in sandy on saturday?
Promontory Point is actually out in the Great Salt Lake. Some say the error can been traced back the the original telegram in 1869 that stated “a point near Promontory.” So many history texts have interpreted this as Promontory Point. For the more detailed NPS background:
I would hope the Golden Spike option would be selected. I only wish Pennsylvania, with our strong rail history would have had a train on our state quarter.
Come to think of it, being the home of the HQ of UP Nebraska didn’t even have a train as the final three options. If i remember correctly the three were: Chimney Rock, Chief Standing Bear, and a wagon train. Unfortunately I forget which one won because it makes no difference to me. I hope Utah respects its railroad heritage more than Nebraska…
One of the Treasury rules is that the design cannot depict a commercial enterprise. I don’t think anyone would argue that UP is not commercial. However, there is no connection between Promentory and any railroad today. Thus, I think Utah is better positioned to honor the railroad heritage than most any other state.
two more surveys are in - one by the Salt Lake Tribune has 52% of 4,347 respondents favoring the Golden Spike scene. In another of 414 coin collectors, 71% voted for the Golden Spike.
“One of the Treasury rules is that the design cannot depict a commercial enterprise.”
If that’s true, the Indiana coin, depicting an Indy race car, is definitely in violation. The privately-owned Indianapolis Motor Speedway is definitely a “commercial enterprise.”
By the way, my next vacation dollars go to the state that DOES put a locomotive on its coin. So far no takers.
I totally agree with this statement. Nebraska has a rich railroading history and it’s a shame that none of it was depicted on their state quarter. I am a CB&Q fan and Lincoln, Nebraska would probably not exist without the Burlington Route having come into town.
Seriously though, my first mental impression when I think “Utah” is of a bunch of religious zealots self impressed with the belief that their brand of wholesomeness somehow makes them better than everybody else.
Surprised that the big Tabernacle isn’t the final choice. I guess that there are too many of “Gods chosen people” working at the treasury to allow that to happen?