Washington — The United States Mint today officially released the designs selected for the five new 2007 commemorative quarter–dollar coins in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. The new quarters will honor Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. The coins will be issued at approximate ten–week intervals beginning early in 2007. 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 quarters in the order in which each state was admitted into the Union. The first commemorative quarter released in 2007 honors Montana. The Montana quarter is the 41st coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Montana, nicknamed “Big Sky Country,” was admitted into the Union on November 8, 1889, becoming our Nation’s 41st state. The reverse of Montana’s quarter features a bison skull depicted above the diverse Montana landscape with the inscription “Big Sky Country.” The coin also bears the inscriptions “Montana” and “1889.”
The Montana “Big Sky Country” quarter reverse was designed by former United States Mint sculptor–engraver Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Don Everhart.
The second commemorative quarter released in 2007 honors the state of Washington. It is the 42nd coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Washington, nicknamed the “Evergreen State,” was admitted into the Union on November 11, 1889, becoming our Nation’s 42nd state. The reverse of Washington’s quarter features a king salmon breaching the water in front of majestic Mount Rainier. The coin bears the inscriptions “The Evergreen State,” “Washington” and “1889.”
Washington’s “The Evergreen State” quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Susan Gamble, of Arlington, Virginia, and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Charles Vickers.
The third commemorative quarter released in 2007 honors Idaho. The quarter is the 43rd coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Idaho was admitted into the Union on July 3, 1890, becoming our Nation’s 43rd state. The reverse of Idaho’s quarter features the Peregrine Falcon imposing its presence above an outline of the state of Idaho. The coin bears the inscriptions “Esto Perpetua” (the state motto which means, “May it be Forever”), “Idaho” and “1890.”
The Idaho “Peregrine Falcon”quarter reverse was designed by former United States Mint sculptor–engraver Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Don Everhart.
The fourth commemorative quarter released in 2007 honors Wyoming. The quarter is the 44th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Wyoming, nicknamed the “Equality State,” was admitted into the Union on July 10, 1890, becoming our Nation’s 44th state. The reverse of Wyoming’s quarter features a bucking horse and rider with the inscriptions “The Equality State,” “Wyoming” and “1890.”
Wyoming’s “The Equality State” quarter reverse was designed by former United States Mint sculptor–engraver Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Norman E. Nemeth.
The fifth and final commemorative quarter released in 2007 honors Utah. The quarter is the 45th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Utah was admitted into the Union on January 4, 1896, becoming our Nation’s 45th state. The reverse of Utah’s quarter features two locomotives moving toward the golden spike that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. These railroads linked East to West and transformed both the Utah Territory and the Nation. Utah’s quarter features the inscription “Crossroads of the West.” The coin also bears the inscriptions “Utah” and “1896.”
To view images of the new 2007 quarter designs, please click here.
The Utah quarter reverse was designed and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor–engraver Joseph Menna.
Customers will be able to purchase the 2007 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.