A quarter worth more than $1,000 - Feb. 10, 2005 A quarter worth more than $1,000 Coin collectors go ga-ga over an irregular minting of the new 25-cent piece honoring Wisconsin. February 10, 2005: 8:41 AM EST By Gordon T. Anderson, CNN/Money staff writer The Wisconsin quarter NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - A mistake in the minting process for some quarters issued last year is putting coin collectors in a frenzy. Speculators are bidding up prices for the recently discovered pieces from their 25-cent face value to nearly $1,500. The coin in question is the Wisconsin quarter, part of the U.S. Mint's ongoing "50 State Quarters" commemorative series. Minted in 2004, it bears the image of a cow, a wheel of cheese, and a half-husked ear of corn. Last month, the trade publication Coin World reported, numismatists in Arizona noticed something peculiar about the cheesehead coins: they weren't all uniform.

At least two versions had been minted with noticeable -- if ever-so-slight -- variations from the official engraving. The variation involves the placement of the leaves surrounding the coin's ear of corn. A few quarters that rolled out of the U.S. Mint's Denver production facility appear to have too much husk on them. "Hobbyists have identified two 'varieties,' generally described as 'Extra Leaf Up' or "Extra Leaf Down.'" Coin World noted. "The unusual coins have raised lines along the left side of the ear of corn on the reverse that some say resemble 'leaves.'" Those are the kinds of rare distinctions that collectors often love. In January, a few coin dealers in Tucson reported the discovery of the errant coins, prompting interest within the numismatic community. Since then, publicity surrounding the pieces has drawn attention from a wider circle. By February 9, Coin World reported, Arizona coin dealers were offering as much as $1,499 to obtain a perfect specimen of the imperfect quarter. The U.S. Mint, the arm of the Treasury Department responsible for minting coins, does not yet know how the variant coins made it into circulation. An internal investigation is underway to determine whether the mistakes were inadvertent or intentional.

2004-D Wisconsin State Quarters w/So-called Extra Leaves (High Leaf & Low Leaf) Top Photo: This is the normal version of the 2004-D Wisconsin quarter. Middle Photo: This is the so-called High Leaf. It is actually die damage nonsensically "growing" from out of the circle of cheese below and ending abruptly at the tip of a leaf from the corn. Lower Photo: This is the so-called "Low Leaf" that pierces right through a normal leaf in a most unnatural fashion and then arcs down into the wheel of cheese below. I've been following the posts on Rec.collecting.coins on the new 2004-D Wisconsin die damage error or variety quarters (call them what you want, error or variety makes little difference), and I agree with Tom DeLorey's earlier comments 100% (his comments are copied at the end of this post). I received a set a couple of days ago from Bill Fivaz for examination and they confirmed my worst fears. The coins represent nothing but trivial die gouges (or possibly the closely related die dent type of die damage).

They are prominent -- more so than average -- but they are NOT "extra leaves" by any stretch of the imagination. They are die gouges (or again, possibly die dents) with an estimated value of no more than $10 each by standards usually attached to such items. This value assumes that coins would have been promoted as what they are but as we can see they have not and as such we have seen what is generally considered a relatively minor flaw promoted up to being worth hundreds of dollars by using misleading nicknames. With all due respect to the opinions of those who are convinced these are intentional die varieties, as far as I'm concerned, the images provided by both Coin World and later by J.T. Stanton, (to several specialists in an earlier private thread), and a look at the actual coins, proves beyond any reasonable doubt in my mind that these are not intentional die varieties but are instead some sort of die damage such as die dents or gouges. I did not need to see the coins to know this as the images referenced above were excellent but I decided to wait until I saw the actual coins before commenting publicly.

First, it is my opinion that the States quarters program is one that must move quickly and without much revision after a design is approved and a sculpt made so that they can begin work on the next quarter. These designs are in use today and gone (from the Mint's agenda) tomorrow. There is little reason to tinker with designs to constantly improve their character as might be the case on long-lived designs such as the Lincoln cent obverse where improved designs can effect die life, aesthetic appeal, etc, for decades. Once a sculpt is approved and an epoxy made from which a master is created, there is very little likelihood for the Mint to tinker with the designs. If you break a master you simply make another from the same epoxy as the first. Breaking a master has to be fairly rare and breaking two in a row has to be about as rare as hen's teeth. Still, a second or third master from an epoxy should be the same as the first. Further, a look at the so-called extra leaves shows that they fall short of exhibiting characteristics of an intended design. On the so-called "high leaf" we see that its base starts "sprouting" from a chunk of cheese!

It is not connected to the ear of corn at all until its apex ends abruptly at a leaf from the corn stalk (stalk unseen below and behind the cheese). Folks, mold grows on cheese but not corn leaves! Additionally good sculptors (or engravers) do no cause designs to end abruptly like this. They encourage the overlapping of designs to create depth -- it is one the basics a good sculptor/engraver works into his/her designs instinctively (or so I am told by those who have cut dies for me). In this case, if that so-called extra leaf was intended, it would have had its base start within the corn (not from a chunk of cheese) and it would have tapered to a point that overlapped slightly over the larger leaf above or ended earlier. It would not end abruptly and awkwardly at the leaf unless its tip was bent over to the side (which would have also been an option available to the engraver to give it a natural feel -- but we do not see that here either).

On the so-called low leaf what we see is a crescent shaped doubled curve with its base starting within the central area of the lower corn which then skips the high points of the larger leaf and reappears outside to continue its curve until it ends at the cheese. Corn leaves do not grow right through the center of other leaves (like an arrow shot through the leaf). If this was a deliberate design the so-called extra leaf would have been coming out from under that main leaf or would have been overlapping -- not created as a composite that shows it piercing through in such an unnatural fashion. Additionally, neither of the so-called extra leaves has any contoured flatness or texture. The high variety is simply a tall narrow gouge while the high variety is two narrow gouges (as if from a piece of jagged tooling) with too quick of a taper. This one also shows an area of incuse field running directly below the majority of the doubled area of the alleged doubled leaf suggesting metal displacement due to damage to the die from impact after the die was made.

We often see these types of depressions in the field around Mint marks from the era of when they were punched into the individual dies prior to the 1990s (which again, is metal displacement from impact). The fact is, the positions of these so-called leaves are just too random and awkward to be deliberate design modifications. They lack the contoured flatness and leafy texturing of the legitimate leaves. Simply put, they don't look like they fit into the design because they don't. They are certainly not the way a U.S. Mint engraver would design a coin much less even a second-rate engraver of silver rounds just start starting out. To take a closer look, the reason the low leaf appears to be skipping the high points is because it is a gouge or dent that did not sink far enough to obliterate the original design. This is most damaging to the "deliberate design" theory since we know how these effects occur and we know that designers do not design coins that way. The effect tells us all we need to know.

Die gouges, scratches, etc., skipping over lower areas of the die (relief areas of design on the coin) are a well-known diagnostic associated with die gouges, etc. To illustrate this point further, I pulled a silver round I had struck from a damaged die a few weeks ago with a large die gouge running through the field and over some letters. The die was damaged extensively with many scratches and a scattering of gouges from being mishandled. It had been mistakenly thrown into a bin of retired dies with closed out designs where it was allowed to bounce around and be hit by the other dies which had unprotected faces (no die caps). I sent it in anyway to be polished in an attempt to refresh it and had some sample rounds struck.. On the 25 sample rounds I had struck from this die it could be seen that most of the scratches and smaller gouges were removed but the largest gouge remained. As you can see, the gouge is large -- as large as those on the Wisconsin quarters -- and it skips over the letters. As gouges (or dents) often go, it also has a sort of leafy shape to it too!

As to these (Wisconsin quarters) showing deliberately placed gouges, (another suggestion that has been advanced), it is my opinion that a gouge is a gouge is a gouge (or a dent is a dent ...). How it got there matters little. Minor is minor no matter how it is presented. Second, there is not a shred of evidence that suggests they got there through some deliberate action. Die gouges (or dents) are common on coins and like finding angels in the clouds, you will find them where you want if you look long enough. Coincidental? Perhaps. But, in the face of there being no proof they were intentionally placed there, I have to ask -- so what? I wonder? Are we now going to catalog every "conveniently" placed gouge, die break or dent that comes along? If so, it is retroactive? At what point (and who decides) which dents or gouges are major and which are minor? If this is where we are heading, the Spadone book should become a best seller overnight! Or will we segregate the importance of gouges, dents and breaks by the era in which a coin was made?

I for one do not welcome a return to the days of marketing minor flaws under fancy names that have nothing to do with what they actually are -- especially when the fancy names mask a minor flaw and make it sound far more important than it really is. These are minor flaws with catchy nicknames -- and nothing more. We have plenty of RPM, doubled dies, cuds, legitimate design modifications, etc., still being discovered in quantities large enough to keep all the attributers and collectors busy without bringing in the minor flaws don't we? I'd suggest we do not open the floodgates to the abuses of the past but it now looks like it is too late! I want to make clear that I am under no illusion that these coins are most probably here to stay. There are too many major players that have gotten behind these coins that will continue to push them as something that they are not for a long enough period to make them stick. It appears this is one of those rare examples of a trivial error type being promoted into familiarity and acceptance by the big promoters. Very few minor errors given fancy nicknames ever stick but a few do catch on. In a nutshell, what I am against is the promotion of such items under misleading nicknames.

I wonder how well these coins would have sold if they were labeled as what they are rather than with a nickname that suggests they are much more? Ken Potter, NLG Tom DeLorey wrote: You forgot the 1944-D half, where somebody accidentally polished the designer's monogram off of the reverse die and then hand cut it back into the die. THAT is a cool variety. These Wisconsin quarters are just, in my opinion, random die damage that occurred near the corn by coincidence. Remember the 1890-CC Morgan with the die gouge at the tailfeathers? Somebody heavily promoted it back in the late '60s and early '70s as the "TAILBAR VARIETY! EXTRA TAIL FEATHER!" at big premiums. The last one I had in stock, I priced $10 over a regular coin of the same grade, and it took about a month to sell. Tom DeLorey Wyoming quarter design prompts feedback - Numismatic NewsNumismatic News Wyoming quarter design prompts feedback Posted on July 21, 2008 by NMN In matters of taste, there is no right or wrong answer. That doesn?t stop collectors from offering opinions.

Life would be dull if they didn?t. The current argument over taste seems to involve the Wyoming quarter design. I happen to like the bucking bronco. Others think it is childish or worse. Even if a majority of collectors comes down on the side of dislike, it does not matter. What matters is what the people of Wyoming thought about it in making the selection. The design is supposed to represent their state. They think it does. That is why it exists. Collectors, of course, have to decide whether to buy it, or seek it out of circulation. They can decide for themselves if they like it or not. What they cannot settle is whether it best reflects the people of the state of Wyoming. That decision has already been made and collectors who don?t like it are simply expressing a personal taste. To greater and lesser degrees this sort of debate has happened with many of the other state quarter designs. Wisconsin comes to mind with its cow head, cheese wheel and corn stalk. I didn?t like the design. A plurality of the people who voted on it did. We have a winner. The people spoke and they liked bad art. I can call it bad art because that is my personal taste.

I cannot prove it is bad art anymore than someone can prove that it is good art. What we can agree on, I hope, is that it represents the state of Wisconsin. Cows corn and cheese are pretty typical around here. They are representative of the state. The design I like involved a canoe and French explorers and missionaries. It has been a long time since we have seen a French explorer paddle through here. What conveys a better sense of Wisconsin that is recognizable to most people? Cows, corn and cheese, or French explorers in a birch bark canoes? What is recognizable to the most people in Wyoming? The bucking bronco is a popularly used symbol in the state that is immediately recognizable to virtually everyone there. But is it art? That is where we can offer opinions, debate, argue and yet still reach no definitive conclusions. What we can offer is a sense of whether collectors are more likely to buy and collect the Wyoming quarter, or less likely to buy. We can to also consider whether design preferences have greater weight ,or whether the urge for a complete set that most collectors feel will simply overrule any reluctance to acquire it due to personal taste. I enjoy the expressions of opinions about taste.

I like to see the reasoning process at work. However, when it comes to art, we can count heads and say a certain percentage likes it and a certain other percentage dislikes it. Neither side is correct, but neither side is wrong, either. I am reminded of the old joke of a patient being given a Rohrshach ink blot test. The patient finally exclaims, ?Don?t look at me that way. You?re the one with the collection of dirty pictures.? Beauty and much more is in the eye of the beholder. Express your opinion of the Wyoming quarter design and let other collectors do the same. Send them here. 6 Rare US Coins That Could Be Hiding in Your Wallet - Rocky Mountain Coin | Rocky Mountain Coin 6 Rare US Coins That Could Be Hiding in Your Wallet May 19, 2015 If you’ve spent any time collecting coins, you know that imperfections or alterations in the minting process can result in interesting coins. These coin changes often go unnoticed. Most people probably don’t inspect each penny they get back as change. But maybe you should take a closer look at the coins in your wallet.

Over the years, the United States mint has made a few mistakes and a few conscious changes to coins and coin designs. Many of these coins are worth far more than the value printed on the coin itself. So the next time you get change after a purchase, look out for these rare coins: 1. 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter with Extra Leaf Estimated Value: $250-$300 The average Wisconsin state quarter minted in 2004 is only worth 25 cents. But mistakes in the minting process make some Wisconsin quarters worth more. The design on this coin features a cheese wheel, a cow, and an ear of corn. The corn in the regular design has just two leaves. But some versions of the quarters have an extra line below the left front leaf which looks like another leaf entirely. There are two versions of the altered design-one with a high leaf and one with a low leaf. The high leaf is worth up to $300, while the low leaf is worth up to $250. 2. 2001-P Double Struck New York Quarter Estimated Value: $400 This quarter has an obvious flaw.

The coin design of George Washington’s head was struck not once, but twice. The result is a double design with two “United States of America” letterings and two partial Washington heads. The reverse side has two castings of the Statue of Liberty and outline of the state of New York. New York state quarters from 2001 in perfect condition (and with no flaw) are worth about $1.75. 3. 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime Estimated Value: $30-$50 In the years preceding 1980, the Philadelphia mint minted dimes without a mint mark. In 1980, designers started to place a small “P” right above the date. In 1982, a number of dimes were printed without the mint mark. Dimes from 1982 with no “P” are significantly more valuable than those with the mark. Be careful to look out for forgeries. Many forgers try to remove the “P” on their own, so you’ll need to have an expert authenticate your dime to be sure it’s real. 4.

1948-1963 Ben Franklin Half Dollar Estimated Value: $12-$125 In 1948, the United States Mint changed the design of the half dollar from the Walking Liberty design to a profile of Benjamin Franklin. On the reverse side was featured an eagle (which has a certain irony, considering that Franklin wished the bald eagle hadn’t earned the distinction of being the national bird). In 1963, John F. Kennedy’s assassination brought the production of Ben Franklin half dollars to an abrupt halt. The limited production of Ben Franklin coins makes them rare and therefore more valuable. The Ben Franklin silver half dollar has a silver content of 90% silver. It is currently legal to melt silver half dollars for the silver, so you can use the coins for their silver if you wish. The silver is worth about $6 according to recent silver prices. However, silver prices change, so consult a coin expert for an up-to-the-minute pricing of your silver half dollar’s value. 5.

1932-1964 Washington Silver Quarter Estimated Value: $7-$65 The first Washington quarters were minted in 1932, replacing the longstanding Standing Liberty design that was minted between 1916 and 1930. Since 1932, Washington quarters have had an uninterrupted run to present day. Small variations have abounded, with the bicentennial version in 1976 and the state quarters from 1999 to 2008. But from 1932 to 1964, the US Mint used 90% silver and 10% copper to make the quarters. After then, the Mint used a mixture of copper and nickel to make the silver coloring. Silver quarters in good condition are worth a valuable sum. Or you can melt silver quarters for their silver melt value of about $3.00. 6. 1943 Steel Penny Estimated Value: $0.45-$10 During WWII, the US Mint made pennies from steel to preserve copper for the war efforts. The mint actually used a zinc coating to create the steel look.

This change only lasted one year, making the steel pennies highly rare and valuable. A coin in poor condition is only worth about 45 cents. These coins have been out in regular use and show wear of natural use over time. A steel penny in perfect condition (certified or pristine condition) can be worth as much as $10. Start Checking Your Wallet for Valuable Coins Today You never know when the change you use every day could reveal a treasure. Keep looking through your spare change for potentially valuable coins. And be sure to check back on our blog for the latest updates about coin collecting. (303) 777-4653 flaw in Wisconsin State Quarter - Coin Collecting - The Hobby of Kings flaw in Wisconsin State Quarter An unknown number of Wisconsin quarters that went into circulation late last year as part of the 10-year, 50-state quarter program contain flaws, sparking a frenzy among coin collectors and other treasure hunters that has not been seen for many years. The quarters, which appear to have an extra leaf on the left side of an ear of corn, are being sold on eBay and in coin shops for hundreds of dollars.

In some of the coins, the leaf is tilted up; in others, it is tilted down. Old Pueblo Coin in Tucson, where the quarters were first discovered, has sold about 10 sets of three quarters — two flawed and one regular — that are graded in mint condition for $1,099 each. Lower-grade sets, which include small dings that regularly crop up in the factory and handling processes, are selling for $300 to $600 each. "It's really been a crazy market," Old Pueblo Coin manager Ben Weinstein says. Cheese Lovers, You Have to Know the History of Cheddar Cheese Follow Us Cheese Lovers, You Have to Know the History of Cheddar Cheese Rated as the most popular type of cheese in the United Kingdom, cheddar cheese is named after its place of origin - Cheddar in Somerset (England). Advertisement Did You Know? During World War II, the British Government banned all types of cheese, except a certain form of cheddar, which was later nicknamed as 'Government Cheddar'. The ban, which was imposed as a part of war rationing, was lifted nine years after the end of the war. This shows the popularity of this cheese during that period of history.

Till date, the popularity and demand for cheddar cheese is intact. Today, it is considered one of the most sought-after types of cheese; not only in the United Kingdom, but also in other parts of the world. Though cheddar cheese originated in England, it is now produced and consumed in other regions, like the United States, Iceland, Canada, and Australia. Cheddar cheese is a hard, natural cheese made from cow's milk. It has a mild to moderate flavor, but aged versions have a characteristic sharpness. The natural color of this cheese is pale yellow to off-white. Some manufacturers add 'annatto,' extracted from the achiote tree or oil made from paprika, to get a deep orange color. Even food colors are used for different hues. Cheddar cheese undergoes the process of 'cheddaring,' which is alien to other types of cheese. Where was Cheddar Cheese Invented? Cheddar cheese stored in Somerset's Wookey Hole Cave. It is believed that cheddar cheese was developed by the villagers of Cheddar in Somerset, England. With its rich pastures, Somerset was considered the center of England's dairy industry.

According to a local tale, a milkmaid kept a bucket full of milk in the Cheddar caves. She forgot to collect it, and at a later stage, found that the milk had been transformed to something else, which tasted good. This incident prompted the villagers to try out the possibility of developing this product. Though there is no evidence to prove the exact period of invention of cheddar cheese, it is said that the official account books of King Henry II (1154-1189) mention the purchase of 10,000 pounds of cheddar cheese. So the origin of cheddar cheese can be dated back to the late 12th century. At that time, there was no refrigeration, and making cheese was the best method to save surplus milk. With a constant temperature and high humidity, caves in the Cheddar region provided ideal locations for maturing cheese. Originally, cheddar cheese was made by dairy farmers, and there was no mass production. Later, a local system was developed to make cheese by collecting milk from livestock farmers. Each farmer received his share of cheese in proportion to the quantity of milk contributed by him.

It was Joseph Harding, a dairy farmer from Somerset, who introduced new techniques and equipment for cheese-making, during the nineteenth century. Method of Manufacture The Wisconsin's state quarter features a wheel of cheese, along with an ear of corn and a cow. In the United States, Wisconsin is the largest producer of cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese was manufactured manually, till Joseph Harding introduced the scientific methods of cheese production. The raw material for the traditional method was unpasteurized milk collected from the dairymen of Somerset. Raw milk is curdled using animal rennet (enzyme collected from the stomach of a milk-fed calf). After heating the curd, it is cut into slabs, kneaded with salt, filled in molds, and pressed to remove the whey (watery part of curd). The cheese wheels are covered with larded cloth and are kept at a constant temperature for maturing. Sometimes, black wax is used for coating the cheese. They are turned at regular intervals, at least once a week. This process of stacking, pressing, and turning of cheese is termed cheddaring, which is unique for cheddar cheese. Modernization As mentioned earlier, Joseph Harding pioneered modernization of cheddar cheese manufacturing process.

He introduced scientific ways of cheese-making in England, and also initiated propagation of this method in Scotland and North America. Harding's innovative equipment included the 'revolving cutter,' which was made for cutting curd. He always insisted on dairy hygiene and perfect temperature control. Considering his contributions to this field, he is often called the father of cheddar cheese. Today, cheddar cheese is made of pasteurized milk, in fully mechanized surroundings. Only West County Farmhouse has been accredited with a PDO (protected designation of origin) by the European Union. The Traditional Method of Making Cheddar Cheese ┗ Raw milk collected from one of the four English counties - Somerset, Cornwall, Devon or Dorset, is used. ┗ Animal rennet is used for curdling. ┗ Coloring agents are not used. ┗ Cheddaring is done manually.

1000+ images about USA - Wisconsin on Pinterest | Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Lake superior WISCONSIN State Quarter - "The Dairy State" - 30th state to gain Statehood in 1848 See More The best and worst of state symbols | The 'Lancer The best and worst of state symbols jkkblog 12 Comments Today I had occasion to look up Idaho’s state motto. I think it’s Latin for ‘Nothing changes.’ This got me interested in rummaging through all the state symbols , in order to decide which (in my subjective opinion) were best or worst. I listened to about forty-seven state songs to bring you this, I’ll have you know. If zombies invade my house to consume my brains, they will find that they are lunching on oatmeal. With that: State horses (where it’s specifically the state horse): Best: Idaho, the Appaloosa. Symbol of the free life. Worst: Florida, the Florida cracker horse. Cracker horse? Seriously? State land animals (includes land mammals only, no dogs or cats or reptiles): Best: Wisconsin, the American badger (Taxidea taxus). Spit, snarl, slash.

Worst: North Carolina and Kentucky, the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). That’s it? A squirrel? And in Kentuck, it’s the state game animal? I thought that was an overblown stereotype. State marine mammals (and anything else that mainly swims): Best: Connecticut, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Too bad they killed most of ’em. Worst: Florida, the dolphin or porpoise. You can’t even decide which kind you like? Delphinus indecisivus? State cat (domestic type): Best: Maine, the Maine coon cat (Felis ayuhicus). If it can really whip a raccoon, I’m down. Worst: Massachusetts, the tabby (Felis garfieldius). Give it some lasagna on the way out. State dog (domestic type): Best: Alaska, the Alaskan malamute (Canis bowdownicus). It’s my alma mater’s mascot, automatic choice. Worst: New Hampshire, the New Hampshire chinook (Canis knockofficus). If you wanted a sled dog, Alaska was there first.

State bird: Best: New Mexico, the roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus). Unique, and pure class. Worst: Iowa, New Jersey, Washington, the American goldfinch (Avis aureohumdrumius). In the first place, hardly anyone recognizes it. In the second, even fewer care. State fish: Best: Alabama, the fighting tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus). It’s bigger than some adult women. Worst: Delaware, the weakfish (Cynoscion genus). They said it themselves. State reptile/amphibian: Best: Florida, Louisiana, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). I like turtles but that’s just hard to beat. If Arizona anointed the sidewinder, it would automatically win. Worst: none. They are all cool. State shell (no, I’m serious): Best: Alabama, Johnstone’s Junonia (Scaphella junonia johnstoneae). That thing is just gorgeous. Worst: Mississippi, Virginia: oyster shell (from Crassostrea virginica). Ho hum. If they included the actual creature, that’d help.

State fossil: Best: Minnesota, giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis). Stood eight feet tall. Just imagine. In fairness, there are a lot of great candidates, like New York’s sea scorpion. Worst: Virginia, Pliocene scallop (Chesapecten jeffersonius). A scallop? Faaaaa. Ever feel inspired by a scallop, unless it was with alfredo and Cajun spices? State grass (look it up if you don’t believe me): Best: Kansas, Nebraska, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). I yield to that which nourishes the nation’s finest beef. Respect to Illinois for big bluestem. Worst: I can’t summon any because of the states that have an official grass, none of them picked anything stupid. State flower: Best: Kansas, sunflower (Helianthus annuus debriae). Now, I admit that there were many good options. I like almost all your flowers, everyone, they’re great. But the sunflower has both low/bushy/wild and tall farmed variants, so you get them by the road as you drive and in immense numbers on farms.

It can grow huge. It produces great eating; to compete one needs one of the tree flowers, which could be argued should not get to compete both as trees and as flowers. And settling the debate, for this writer at least, is that the sunflower symbolizes my wife to me, and that I’m from Kansas. Worst: Kentucky, Nebraska, goldenrod (Solidago putridiae). Even if you’re not allergic to it, the pollination process has the same appeal as socks not changed for a week. This is your flower? What’s the state fruit, durian? It was between that and the sagebrush, Nevada’s state flower, and I went back and forth. State tree: Best: California, California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). I like almost all the trees, but when your tree is up to thirty feet across and about a football field high…any questions? Worst: Arkansas, pine tree. Not because I do not like pine trees, but because you bacon hounds can’t even pick out a particular pine tree and own it. You need to hire a forester and make up your mind.

This is even worse than Washington’s western hemlock, a tree most Washingtonians have never seen and couldn’t identify. State insect (no joke): Best: about twenty states, the honeybee (Apis etcetera). I can’t really argue with this. It may not be very original, but without it, a lot of agriculture would not occur, and honeybees rarely sting aggressively. Worst: Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, the ladybug (Coccinellidae aphidlunchicae). Where’s the originality? Now, if New York had chosen the cockroach, that would be owning it with pure class. I’m told that in some parts of NYC, the gangs fight cavalry battles mounted on hardy giant fighting cockroaches. State butterfly: Best: Florida, zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia). There are not many ugly butterflies, of course, but this one is very Floridian (not enough so to wake up in its own soiled underwear at the Walpurgismart women’s bathroom, but you get what I mean), and quite appealing. Worst: California, dogface butterfly (Delicus canis).

This is for screwing up the category by picking a lackluster butterfly and making it your state bug. Do not do this again, okay? State gem: Best: Kentucky, Tennessee, Tennessee river pearl. They get pearls from freshwater mussels. Honest. Worst: New Hampshire, smoky quartz. I’m not feeling it. State mineral: Best: Alabama, hematite. I can’t tell you how it can sometimes look like gunmetal and others like blood, but it fascinates me. Worst: Vermont, talc. Anything mainly sprinkled on baby butts can’t be a state symbol. State rock/stone: Best: Colorado, Yule marble. Pale, pretty and sculptable. Worst: Massachusetts, Plymouth Rock (the state historical rock). How? Why? Because they basically neglected it for generations, even letting it break in half, and some guy hauling it to use in front of his barn, that’s why. Massachusetts is heavily into state rocks and has several categories, including the Roxbury puddingstone, which as far as I’m concerned is just digging themselves deeper. Know when to fold ’em, Mass. State soil: Best: none.

Everyone can claim ‘our dirt is special,’ and it’s all useful, but at the end of the day, it’s still a dirt. Worst: Florida, Myakka fine sand. Because that’s not dirt, that’s sand, you clowns. State fruit: Best: Idaho, huckleberry. There are so few things huckleberries cannot make better. Worst: New Hampshire, pumpkin. Pick one, take a bite out of it, and let me know. State beverage: Best: New Hampshire, apple cider. Worst: about twenty states, milk. I like milk, but this is so, so, so obviously at the behest of the same dairy lobby grouches who tried to say you couldn’t call soy milk ‘milk’ because it didn’t come from a cow. If your wife feeds your baby, that doesn’t come from a cow either; does that mean it isn’t milk? Love dairy products, want to slap the dairy lobby repeatedly with a Brie wheel. Imported from France, of course. State dessert/pie/whatever: Best: South Dakota, kuchen. A sort of cake pie rooted directly in heritage.

Honorable mention to Texas for strudel, which honors the rich German traditions of the hill country and other parts. Worst: Missouri, ice cream cone. This is why you guys lost both the pre-Civil War and the Civil War. You produce so much great agriculture, almost as good as Kansas when you make an effort and wear your shoes, and the best thing you can come up with for a state dessert is this. Missouri probably has more Germans than Berlin. Nothing? Nada? Nicht? Ach. State vegetable: Best: New Mexico, chiles and frijoles (pinto beans). As dearly as I would like to pick Washington’s Walla Walla sweet onions, that combination is insurmountable. Worst: Idaho, potatoes. Potatoes are delicious, and Idaho takes justifiable pride in this state symbol (take a look at our license plates), but Idaho sends all its best potatoes out of state and sticks the locals with the culls. This is downworthy. This calls for a ten-minute misconduct penalty. State cultural symbols (from amidst a wide variety of categories): Best three: Alaska sport, dog mushing.

It really is; they love that stuff, and the rules and mushers firmly protect the dogs, who love to mush. Oregon mother, Tabitha Moffatt Brown. A woman who survived many hardships to champion education for children totally deserves this. Arizona firearm, the Colt single-action revolver. History and symbolism. Worst three: Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, Wyoming language, English. Did you/we really need to do that? And this is coming from a die-hard opponent of bilingual public education and governmental function, someone who insists that newcomers take it upon themselves to learn English. Plus, I work with it. English is a nightmare to learn to speak and write eloquently, and most of y/our states are in the bottom tier of education in it, so this choice is disrespected by y/our actions. Alabama bible, an ancient book used to swear in Jefferson Davis. You all need to be reconstructed, and this is coming from someone who loves historical artifacts.

Florida opera, ‘opera programs.’ Well, that makes so much more sense than making your state opera ‘non-opera programs,’ now, doesn’t it? State colors: Best: New Mexico, old Spain’s red and gold. Pure culture. A close second is Delaware’s colonial blue and buff. Worst: North Carolina, red and blue. I’ll go take a nap now. State flags: Best: New Mexico. Weaves Spanish red and gold with a Zia sun symbol, a simple, distinctive and elegant synthesis of the state’s deep heritages. Worst: Mississippi. For keeping the Rebel battle flag, which basically washes the faces of a third of Mississippians in an emblem that represented their ancestors’ continued slavery. State seals: Best: Virginia, simple and true to its history by molding Classical imagery into the Revolutionary motif. Honorable mention: Texas, really crisp and symbolic without a lot of pics of people plowing, cows, and such. Worst: Washington. While it is simple, and does memorialize the state’s namesake, the problem there is that said namesake barely had any idea of future Washington, or future Oregon Territory. It symbolizes nothing about the actual qualities of the state.

Most state seals are entirely too busy, to the point where they say little, but it’s also possible to botch simplicity. State songs: Best three: Arkansas: “Arkansas.” Sounded and felt exciting, descriptive, passionate. Connecticut: “Yankee Doodle.” Someone find me an older state song so purely rooted in history and pride. You can’t, not both as old and as proud. Michigan: “Michigan, My Michigan.” A bit wistful, but moving. It struck me so much like what Michigander friends have said they feel about their homeland. I guess it is an official song, not the official song, but one has to establish a cutoff somewhere. Utah or Rhode Island should have held this spot. Worst three: New Jersey: for not having one. Doesn’t have one. I came with an open mind. Where’s your pride? The unofficial songs are lousy. Virginia: for also not having one, because they evidently can’t agree on how to replace the old deeply racist lyrics. You have “O Shenandoah” right in front of you: what more could you want?

Delaware (“Our Delaware”), Idaho (“Here We Have Idaho”) and Ohio (“Beautiful Ohio”) are such a fail in melody that the lyrics become moot. Don’t do this again. Song comments: Why Montana doesn’t adopt John Denver’s “Wild Montana Skies” is a mystery. You hear it, and it has you smiling at the idea of crossing the border into Montana. Hawaii gets credit for a native language version (although it unfortunately proves that uninspiring tunes are the universal language). A surprising number are to the tune of “Oh Christmas Tree.” Kentucky fixed theirs; the old version was about the most racist thing ever. I heard Paul Robeson sing the original; that was poignant. Some states have five or more songs, which was more than was reasonable to ask of me. Whoever made “Hang On, Sloopy” the Ohio state rock song needs to be prosecuted; what an atrocity. It is a major reason I root against Ohio State, this recidivist crime against music. I thought “Rhode Island, It’s For Me” was inspiring. “Utah, This Is The Place” had great storytelling lyrics with a taproot deep into their culture and history, but a tune that didn’t measure up to them.

“On, Wisconsin” is straightforward and laconic, symbolic of the state and its motto. I’ve always been fond of Kansas’ “Home on the Range,” except that there aren’t many antelope in Kansas, the buffalo don’t roam much, and I hear plenty of discouraging words from it. You have to be living up to your song or it’s not working out. Demonym: Best: Indiana, Hoosier. Means nothing else in the language (when was the last time you went out hoosing? outhoosing? “Come here and help me hoose!”?), well known and embraced with pride. Worst: Connecticuter or Connecticutian. The first lands on the ear with a literary clank, or sounds like an As-Seen-on-TV accessory. The second makes one think of capital punishment methods. You have a perfectly good demonym, ‘Nutmegger,’ one of the best in fact. What else do you need? Quarter: Best three: Maine 2003. The lighthouse and the fishing boat speak for themselves. Oklahoma 2008.

The scissor-tailed flycatcher and sunflowers are an elegant surprise to the viewer who might have expected some covered wagon motif. I like it a lot. Tennessee 2002. Three stars plus a fiddle, guitar and trumpet, eloquent enough for first place. The only flaw is that underneath the instruments, they feel it necessary to tell you that this refers to ‘musical heritage.’ Really? I thought trumpets and violins were part of your construction heritage! Or your moonshine heritage! Who could have guessed? Among the best symbolism; among the dumbest insults to the viewer’s intelligence. New Hampshire needs the caption, because only people familiar with their rock formation have any idea why it belongs on a coin. If your caption is redundant, you must be marked down. Worst three: Wisconsin 2004. A dairy cow, a cheese wheel and an ear of corn. Not a thing about any aspect of the state that is not commercially driven (and highly protectivist, historically speaking, doing things such as outlawing margarine). My first thought when I saw it: their state dairy/ag lobby simply bought this. Even the position is uninspiring. North Carolina 2001.

The first flight of the Wright Brothers was important, but I look at this and gather that you have accomplished nothing more, in which you take pride, than having a couple of Yankees from the Ohio Valley briefly get their plane off the ground. Your quarter should tell us about something else. Ohio 2002. Whose idea was this? The state outline is the only good part. An astronaut, a plane that first flew in some other state. We get that John Glenn and the Wrights are from that region. Got nothing else, Ohio? Seriously? State nickname: Best three: Alaska: the Last Frontier. And it is. Three words and the picture is painted. Class. Wyoming: the Equality State. With all its scenery, cowboyness and Indian war battleground history, it chooses to celebrate something greater. Cowgirl up. Virginia: the Old Dominion State. There is something richly traditional about the feel of Virginia, and this captures that. Worst three: Illinois: the Prairie State. I get that it was better than ‘the Lincoln State,’ but seriously? Washington: the Evergreen State.

Nearly half of Washington is brown nearly all the time, so this dismisses that part’s residents, which in fact is exactly the attitude of the side with trees, and they do not see what’s flawed about that. North Dakota: the Peace Garden State. What? I’m all for peace gardens and friendship with the Canadians, but is that all you truly have to say? Nickname comments: While I fundamentally like all the ones that incorporate a demonym or nickname, it would have been impossible to pick one that stood out. Rank all those fourth. This area has a lot of good choices even beyond those. No disrespect intended except where specifically noted. State mottoes: Best three: New Hampshire, “Live free or die.” Any questions? West Virginia, Montani semper liberi (“Mountaineers are always free,” Latin). You go, West Virginia (even though those are in fact hills). North Carolina, Esse quam videri (“To be, rather than to seem,” Latin). Please think about this. Actions, not words. Being, not doing. Reality, not cosmetics. Truth, not bullshit. What a superb sentiment to associate with your whole state. The Tarheels got this one right.

Worst three: Florida, “In God we trust.” You could not come up with anything better than the national motto? All religious mottos are a fail because they exclude some people, but in a sea of motto fails, Florida, you sink below. Washington, Al-ki. (“Bye and bye,” Chinook jargon). Like wow, dude. Pass the bong. This made a lot less sense before Washington legalized weed. The only thing meritorious about it is that it’s in an indigenous language rather than Latin. Nothing against Latin, but Native languages are fundamentally more American. Indiana, “The Crossroads of America.” Because that is not a motto. That’s a nickname! That says nothing about your state’s culture or philosophy, simply its geography. I was stunned to learn that this was actually the ‘motto.’ Motto comments: As mentioned, all mottos invoking religion are basic failures. That wipes out about a dozen. Many are far too long. Can’t you summarize? Several refer to martial endeavor…a martial endeavor that involved trying to keep as many as half their residents in human bondage. That is divisive, whereas mottos should unify.

I had thought Idaho’s Esto perpetua (“Let it be perpetual”) was terrible until I saw the rest. Ugh. Overall, there are as many state seals, flags and nicknames I found inspirational as there are mottos I found bleak, blathery or just blah. I have been considering this material for a long time. Feel free to throw your state’s rotten fruit at me in the comments. However, bear in mind that I am considering a sequel: true state mottoes as judged by the evidence before us, and some of them will sting. Example: Mississippi, Manete in paupertate (“Remain in poverty,” Latin). And everyone’s going to get it, most especially my home state of Kansas, because that’s just how it has to be. Rate this: Mediocracy in Action: The Statehood Quarters Mediocracy in Action: The Statehood Quarters Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay First-time Visitors: Please visit Site Map and Disclaimer . Use "Back" to return here. I got a query about this page from someone at a coin magazine.

I told him I was a casual collector, and that in my opinion, "serious" collectors had ruined numismatics ("serious" hobbyists ruin every hobby they touch - the very expression "serious" hobbyist is an oxymoron) by turning it into a status competition and investment scheme. I never heard back from him. The idea of putting out 50 distinct quarters commemorating each state was one of the most exciting ideas to come out of Washington in a long time. Now thatit's done, overall the project merited maybe a C+. In some states sectional rivalries prevented the selection of a really distinctive landmark. In other states the designs are cluttered, or leave so much blank space the designs are bland and boring. Commercial interests probably dictated Vermont's klutzy maple syrup motif instead of a covered bridge, and Wisconsin's dairy products instead of a French fur trader. But the real killer is Political Correctness. We have two designs commemorating the Revolution, none at all commemorating the Civil War. We can thank the increasingly mean-spirited tendency to equate honoring Confederate soldiers with approving slavery for that. Can you even believe Texas passed on the Alamo?

We don't as yet have a single design featuring any Indian figures, events, or artifacts, or any significant black history apart from Louisiana's jazz trumpet. My sympathy for the Indians is tempered by the opposition of some activists to Indian mascots and symbols; they brought it on themselves. The fina 20 quarters were designed by artists at the Mint based on ideas selected by the states. That might hav improved quality, but bear in mind these are the same people who started with the elegant, classically inspired Barber-Morgan coins in 1900 and had given us the most hideously bland coins in history by 1960, then capped it off with the Susan B. Ugly dollar. Still, the 2005 and 2006 designs were significantly better than the earlier designs. But the 2007 designs feature three of the worst designs of all, including Wyoming's probable all time worst of the lot. Delaware B Delaware isn't exactly teeming with images for most people, so I wondered what their quarter would look like. Like most people, I wondered what in the world the picture of Caesar Rodney on horseback was all about.

Then I saw 1776, probably the most intelligent musical around. Rodney was elderly and ill with cancer when he rode on horseback to Philadelphia to cast his state's deciding vote for the Declaration of Independence. Suddenly I had a whole lot more respect for Delaware's quarter. Visually it's not exciting, but it may well be the most meaningful. Pennsylvania C The first state outline, with a keystone and the Commonwealth statue. Why not Gettysburg or Valley Forge? Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are out because they've been used on the half dollar (remember those?) but why not a facsimile of the beginning of the Declaration of Independence? New Jersey B Washington crossing the Delaware. This and Massachusetts are apparently the only designs to commemorate any military events in our history. Georgia C A map of the Great Lakes. Ho hum. Florida D More is less. They tried to work in the Space Shuttle, a Spanish galleon, and palm trees, making them all so tiny they lack visual impact, so less is less, too. Texas F What complete wuss decided not to use the Alamo? A state outline with a Lone Star. Insipid beyond belief. It could have been worse.

One of the finalist designs was a nine-banded armadillo. Suggested motto for that alternate reality: "Road kill." Iowa C A country schoolhouse. One of the Bridges of Madison County would have been more interesting as well as more recognizable to outsiders. One favored design finalist was Grant Wood's American Gothic, which didn't make it because of copyright concerns (bet Iowa could have fixed that if they'd put their minds to it. Better yet, in return for protecting your intellectual property rights, we have a right to put your work on coins and stamps?). Only a complete imbecile could look at American Gothic and think it portrays Iowa in a favorable light. The quarter isn't as dull as the pre-release sketches suggested, but a quarter is just not big enough to portray a panoramic scene. Wisconsin C In an act of daring courage, the governor vetoed the recommendation of the voters to go with a French trapper greeting an Indian. It was badly done, but historical, and would have been the first - believe it or not - statehood quarter to include an Indian. He decided instead in favor of a cow, ear of corn, and cheese wheel. Really.

In defense of this design, it's the first to commemorate the importance of agriculture in America. Also, it looks better in reality than the preliminary drawings. But the state motto, "Forward," puzzles even Wisconsin residents. Given the state's hostility to technology, the motto should be "No Change, No Way," or maybe "NIMBY." But it looks better than the pre-release pictures. California A John Muir, a California condor, and Half Dome. Either the condor or Half Dome alone would have worked better, but overall not bad. There's a unifying theme of conservation. Like Alabama, perhaps, the design tries to show how California would like to be pictured. Maybe a more truthful design would be Muir looking at Yosemite on a busy weekend and weeping. California is teeming with so many great symbols (the Golden Gate Bridge, redwoods, Monterey, Santa Barbara Mission, Mount Whitney, even Dragnet's L.A. City Hall) that I was worried that conflicting interests would end up giving us a bland state outline map or generic state symbols. Half Dome is an ideal landmark since it's in the center of the state. Minnesota B A northwoods lake with loon and boat, and small state outline.

Certain to get ribbing by comparison with Canada's "loonie," but what's silly about showing a loon to represent the far north? It's not the loon Canadians despise, it's the coin. Unlike Europeans, who long ago gave up on the trivialization of their money, North Americans have the feeling that dollars need to be bills, not coins. The loonie could have had Pamela Anderson's Playboy centerfold and still been despised. The Susan B. Anthony dollar was rightly scorned for its repulsiveness, but the elegant Sacagawea dollar fared little better. Since we're way off topic already, a Canadian gave me a great nickname for their two dollar coin. It has a picture of a polar bear, and I'd heard it called a "twonie" by analogy with "loonie." But he said it's also called a "moonie" because it has a picture of the Queen "with a bear behind." Oregon A When you think Oregon, you think Crater Lake, right? So there was every reason to fear the generic interests in the state would probably end up giving us a stack of logs on an outline map of the state, or maybe yet another Lewis and Clark design.

Well guess what? It was Crater Lake after all. A beacon in the darkness. The final design is slightly marred by poor cropping at the bottom. Kansas B Bison and sunflowers. Probably much to the chagrin of other Plains states, who wanted buffalo, too. The bison is nearly head-on, making the coin easily distinguishable from buffalo nickels, and the sunflowers are part of the landscape rather than disconnected symbols. West Virginia B The New River Gorge Bridge. The bridge is dramatic, and it sure beats a strip mine. The actual coin looks very nice. I'm leaning toward an A-minus. From here on (August 2004), designs hadn't been formalized, so I ventured predictions. Comments after August, 2006 are in red. Nevada A B Anything connected with gambling would probably be unacceptable, and we won't even talk about Nevada's unique local option on prostitution. Still, how about a "double or nothing" quarter? Flip it at the cash register. If it comes up tails you get to keep it and still count it toward your purchase. Heads, you lose it plus you have to pay another quarter.

Realistically, something from Nevada's mining heritage would be nice. The Pony Express would also be a possibility. Hoover Dam? Something about Area 51 would be a hoot, but it won't happen. The five design finalists are all excellent: wild horses, a miner, bighorn sheep, Indian artifacts and a collage of state symbols. Nevada is not a state you generally think of when you think of bighorn sheep, but these are desert bighorns. The wild horses won. The actual coin rates a B. The design is okay but just not that effective when shrunk to the size of a quarter. Nebraska A Scott's Bluff on the Oregon Trail is such a natural it's a cinch we won't see it. It's too far west and out of the Corn Belt. If Nevada passes on the Pony Express, it would work here, too. There were two good finalist designs: a covered wagon and Chimney Rock, or Chief Standing Bear. I liked the first better. Unfortunately there were two lame-o finalists as well: a picture of the State Capitol and an Art Deco statue of a sower.

The State Capitol design featured the legend "Home of the Unicameral," rivaled for meaninglessness only by Maryland's "Old Line State." (So you have the only state legislature with one chamber. Whoopee.) And the winner is Chimney Rock. Colorado C B Lots of mountains but none of them scream "Colorado." The Denver skyline with mountains behind might be nice. Mesa Verde would be wonderful but it's too far down in the southwest corner to appeal to most of the state and it doesn't tout present industry or tourism. Bet on a skier. And yup, a skier was one of the finalists, but not recreational. Instead, one finalist commemorates the 10th Mountain Division. Another design supposedly commemorates Mesa Verde although the design is cluttered and all but unintelligible. There are two nondescript mountain designs. The best design shows the Maroon Bells and the legend "Centennial State." Colorado, the state that has a big C on its flag, is certain to get no better than a C unless they go back to the drawing board. The winner is one of the nondescript mountain designs. But the Mint artists somehow did a likeness of Long's Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, instead.

Not great, not as bad as the proposed designs. North Dakota B A My first impulse is to suggest a totally blank coin (and unlike a lot of folks who rib North Dakota, I have actually been to North Dakota). Failing that, a telephone pole and beer can with the captions "State Tree" and "State Flower." The state is nearly a rectangle, so even the outline map gambit would be bland. This is a state so desperate for symbols it touts the Peace Garden on its license plates. Teddy Roosevelt is a possibility. To get really daring, how about a missile silo commemorating the Cold War? How about the slogan "Are we 39th or 40th?" - when the statehood bills were signed for the Dakotas, President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the papers to be fair, so technically, nobody knows. North Dakota is listed first by custom because it's first alphabetically. The two finalists are not bad. One pictures flying geese, the other a herd of buffalo. Kansas has buffalo, too, but since both coins are worth the same amount, no foul. The bison won. It's now out (October 2006) and really looks nice.

It fills the space effectively and the texture of the background landscape is well executed. One of the best. North Dakota, ya done good. South Dakota C Mount Rushmore is a natural, or the Badlands. Do the Crazy Horse sculpture if you want to respect Indian sentiments. How about Wounded Knee if you want to show you really have a conscience? Maybe a dinosaur skeleton? Maybe the T-Rex Sue, with a scathing comment about the Federal Government. And the winner is Mount Rushmore with a pheasant flying overhead. I give it a C for cluttering the design with a pheasant, a bird you are guaranteed not to see flying anywhere around Mount Rushmore. Montana F Glacier National Park, especially the postcard view looking up St. Mary Lake, would be perfect. You can bet it won't be the Little Big Horn. Montana doesn't have enough of Yellowstone to use. AAAAGH! MY EYES! IT HURTS! MAKE THE PAIN GO AWAY! A bison skull and some generic looking hills. Finally something as ugly as Maryland's coin. You have got to be kidding here. I sat staring in stunned disbelief for about five minutes when I looked up the winning design.

The three rejected finalists, an elk, a state outline with a scenic sunrise, and a scenic vista, were all far better. Washington A Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, or coastal sea stacks would all work. Mount Saint Helens erupting would really be original. The Wenatchee satanic cult witch-hunt and the Kennewick Man fossil debacle are probably too much downers. The winner is a leaping salmon with Mount Rainier in the background. If I gave pluses and minuses I'd be in the A- or B+ range, but not bad at all. The real coins tend to look better than the flat designs. The losing candidates were an overly busy state outline and montage of symbols, and an Indian whale design. The whale design, though not as attractive as the winner, has a certain coolness and whimsy about it that are appealing. Idaho F A group of survivalists holed up in a remote cabin? Probably not. Bet on mountains or mining. Idaho has a sliver of Yellowstone but nothing distinctive. Craters of the Moon or Hell's Canyon are possibilities. The winner is a bust of a peregrine falcon with a small outline of the state.

Some Idahoans are petitioning to have the design changed. I'm not getting into whether the falcon is a representative symbol of Idaho, but the design itself is ug-leee. None of the three other finalists had much going for them. Best by far was a farmland-mountain vista. Another mountain vista was amateurishly chopped off at the bottom. Third was a state outline with some kind of flowering branch and a song lyric rivaled only by Nebraska's proposed "home of the unicameral" and Maryland's "Old Line State" for silliness. Wyoming F Old Faithful, Yellowstone Falls, Devil's Tower or the Tetons would make great designs, but we'll probably get a cowboy. What's going on here? After a couple of years of designs way above average, we're getting a string of losers. This one is the worst of all, even uglier than Maryland and Montana. Three of the four other finalists showed a cowboy and bronco. Only one showed a natural feature - Old Faithful. The "winner" is even more banal than the losers. The cowboy is in silhouette with no background or texture.

The only other feature is the state nickname, "The Equality State." How about "The Total Lack of Original Ideas State?" It's out now, and even uglier than I thought. Hands down the ugliest Statehood quarter. Utah B I'd love to see the joining of the rails at Promontory Point but we may well get a state outline and a beehive. Rainbow Bridge, Zion Canyon or Bryce Canyon would also be good. One early unofficial proposal (December 2005) shows Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. This will be very hard to top. And Hooray! It is the Golden Spike! The published design is sort of blah but may improve in the final execution. The other two finalists were a beehive and a snowboarder. The design would have been improved by zooming in closer to show just the fronts of the engines and leaving the spike out, but not bad. Oklahoma C B By September 2007, all the designs are in. Oklahoma - yawn - has the state bird and flower. Pretty but so ho-hum. Now that it's out, I give it a B.

That's an average of A for esthetics and D for originality and ignoring the many cultural icons Oklahoma could have chosen. New Mexico D C Taos Pueblo, or better yet Acoma, would be wonderful. Carlsbad Caverns might work. Do we dare commemorate the Manhattan Project? Instead we'll probably get that sun sign from the license plates. Please God, not Kokopelli. As of December 2005, there are two proposed designs. One is the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival, which I hadn't thought of but which might work really well. And the other is - yes - a mushroom cloud. I'm not betting on that one. As of January 2007, other ideas include Shiprock and a classic car driving down Route 66 into the sunset. That one won't fly, but it's a nice idea. "New Mexico's quarter design is simple, artistic and intriguing," said Governor Bill Richardson when he unveiled the design, a zia (the sun symbol on New Mexico's license plates) superimposed on a state outline - for the most nearly square state in the Union. Simple, yes. Artistic and intriguing? No way. It actually looks a bit better in real life.

The square state contrasts with the circular outline of the coin. But considering the myriad symbols that could have represented New Mexico better, it's blah. Arizona B Has to be the Grand Canyon. Meteor Crater would be spectacularly original, so forget it. A saguaro cactus wouldn't be a bad symbol. And the winner includes both the Grand Canyon and a saguaro. Also the legend "Grand Canyon State" for the benefit of people who couldn't figure out what that hole in the ground is. And a sunset. Looks awfully busy but it might be better in reality. Alaska C The state flag with the Big Dipper and Polaris was unique and should be part of it. Denali would be perfect, or a glacier. Work in the aurora borealis somehow. It would be interesting to know how many people suggested penguins. The mediocrats passed over a design with a dog sled and Denali in favor of a grizzly bear catching a fish. Hawaii B The postcard view of Diamond Head would work nicely. The final design shows a map of the islands and a figure of King Kamehameha.

Esthetically it's a low B but I'd almost give it an A for being the only state design to commemorate any native history (two if you count New Mexico's zia). Summary A great idea sank to mediocrity through political correctness and just plain bland thinking. Only two coins (Massachusetts and New Jersey) commemorate any military history at all. Not a single coin commemorates the Civil War. Only two coins celebrate any native heritage at all and only one (Hawaii) makes a real statement. A number (Vermont and Wisconsin especially) came out with mediocre designs to placate commercial interests. I went out and bought a case of maple syrup and a truckload of cheese because of these designs. If you produce maple syrup or cheese and you think the statehood quarters will influence your design in the slightest, you're too stupid to be in business.

Question: What U.S. state quarter features a cow, a cheese wheel and an ear of corn?
Answer: Wisconsin