Washington — The United States Mint today officially released the designs selected for the five new 2006 commemorative quarter–dollar coins in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. The new quarters will honor Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota. The coins will be issued at approximate ten–week intervals beginning early in 2006. The public may exchange their bills for each new quarter in person at the site of the official quarter launches or buy the coins online when they are issued. The new quarters will also be available in circulation.
The United States Mint introduces quarter–dollars in the order in which each state was admitted into the Union. The first quarter released in early 2006 honors Nevada and will be the 36th quarter in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Nevada was admitted into the Union on October 31, 1864, becoming our Nation’s 36th state.
Nevada’s quarter depicts a trio of wild stallions, the snow–capped mountains and the sun, bordered by sagebrush and a banner that reads “The Silver State.” The coin also bears the inscriptions “Nevada” and “1864.” The Nevada quarter reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Don Everhart.
The second quarter released in 2006 honors Nebraska and will be the 37th quarter in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Nebraska was admitted into the Union on March 1, 1867, becoming our Nation’s 37th state.
In the foreground, Nebraska’s quarter depicts an ox–drawn covered wagon carrying pioneers and in the background, Chimney Rock, the natural wonder that rises from the valley of the North Platte River, measuring 445 feet from base to tip. The sun is in full view behind the wagon, and the coin bears the inscriptions “Nebraska,” “Chimney Rock” and “1867.” The Nebraska quarter reverse was designed by the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Richard Masters of Appleton, Wisconsin, and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Charles Vickers.
The third quarter released in 2006 honors Colorado and will be the 38th quarter in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. The Colorado quarter depicts a sweeping view of the State’s rugged Rocky Mountains with evergreen trees and a banner carrying the inscription “Colorful Colorado.” The coin also bears the inscriptions “Colorado” and “1876.”
Colorado, which gained statehood less than one month after the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, became our Nation’s 38th state on August 1, 1876, and is nicknamed the “Centennial State.” The Colorado quarter reverse was designed by AIP artist Leonard Buckley of Damascus, Maryland, and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Norman Nemeth.
The fourth quarter released in 2006 honors North Dakota. As the 39th state admitted into the Union on November 2, 1889, North Dakota will be the 39th coin released in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program.
The North Dakota quarter depicts a pair of grazing American bison in the foreground while, in the background, a sunset view of the rugged buttes and canyons that symbolize the State’s Badlands region. The coin’s design bears the inscriptions “North Dakota” and “1889.” The North Dakota quarter reverse was designed by AIP artist Stephen Clark of Post Falls, Idaho, and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Donna Weaver.
The fifth and final commemorative quarter to be issued in 2006 honors South Dakota, the “Mount Rushmore State.” South Dakota was the 40th state admitted into the Union on November 2, 1889, and the South Dakota quarter will be the 40th coin released in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. The release of this coin will signal the completion of the eighth year of the ten–year 50 State Quarters Program.
The South Dakota quarter features an image of the state bird, a Chinese ring–necked pheasant, in flight above a depiction of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a sculpture that features the faces of four American Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The design is bordered by heads of wheat. The coin’s design also bears the inscriptions “South Dakota” and “1889.” The South Dakota quarter reverse was designed by AIP artist Michael Leidel of Marietta, Georgia, and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver John Mercanti.
For downloadable images of the new 2006 quarters, Click here
Customers will be able to purchase the 2006 50 State Quarters in two–roll sets and bags during the approximate ten–week period each is minted by using the United States Mint’s secure website, www.usmint.gov, or by calling 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468).
As an added convenience, customers can participate in a subscription–ordering program in which specific products, such as two–roll sets and bags of each new quarter, are charged and shipped to the customer automatically as each new quarter is released. For more information about this ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov. Hearing– and speech–impaired customers may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 per order will be added to all domestic orders. Quarter bags of 1,000 coins will have an additional charge of $7.95 per bag because of their weight and size.