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Keith McCord ReportingIf you're into coins, you know that the U.S. Mint is making new quarters. There will ultimately be 50 different designs, showcasing each of the states. The Utah coin won't come out until next year, but the three final designs were unveiled today.
The fun part about this project is that all of us can have a say in which one is ultimately chosen. Actually, it was input from Utahns that resulted in these three finalists.
"We had over 5,000 entries from school children, as well as adults all over the state, as well as outside the state of Utah."
In 2004, Utahns were asked to send in their ideas for our new quarter. Today Utah's First Lady unveiled the final three. One design features the Golden Spike with two locomotives, and the words: "Crossroads of the West". Another features the state's official emblem, with the words "The Beehive State". The third design recognizes our Olympic past, featuring a snowboarder, with the phrase "The World is Welcome."
Margaret Hunt, Chair, Utah Quarter Design Commission: "We knew we would have a couple of ways to go. One would be a historical perspective, or another might be a forward, progressive thinking perspective about the image we want to convey in the future."
The concepts that were originally submitted were narrowed down and then forwarded to the U.S. Mint, and artists there came up with these three designs. The designs had to meet federal guidelines as stipulated by the mint: they must be historically accurate, cannot endorse any commercial entity, and they have to be dignified.
Margaret Hunt, Chair, Utah Quarter Design Commission: "They wouldn't allow any frivolous or humorous designs, which meant we couldn't include some of the designs like green Jell-o or the space aliens and some of the other funny concepts that we got."
The other challenge was to keep the design simple and uncluttered to make sure it looks good. After all, a lot of folks will see it.
Margaret Hunt: "The impact of this program will be far reaching. 450-million Utah quarters will be minted and I would imagine that every American will hold one of our quarters."
These three final designs still have to be approved by the Treasury Secretary, then they'll come back here, and then all of us will have a chance to comment on them.
We'd like to know what you think right now, so vote on which design you like the best, and we'll show you the results tomorrow at 6:00.
