Final designs for 2006 State Quarters were published by US Mint officials on Nov 23. The honor roll of states for 2006 are Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota, in that sequence. State Quarters are introduced in the order in which each state achieved statehood.
All of the 2006 State Quarters depict natural scenes, including mountains, rock formations, and wildlife.
The Nevada quarter is set to release in State Quarter collector sets on January 5th. Circulation strikes go to the Federal Reserve Banks on January 30. The remainder of the 2006 State Quarters will be made available to the public thereafter in ten week intervals. As soon as the schedule is announced, release dates will be posted on our State Quarter Schedule page. As of this writing (December 17, 2005), only line art renditions of the 2006 State Quarters were made available by Mint officials, although proof specimens are already in production at the San Francisco Mint.
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.” Nevada earned notoriety in 1859 with the discovery of the Comstock Lode, a silver bonanza that eventually led to the establishment of a US branch mint in Carson City.
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. On March 1, 1867, Nebraska was admitted into the Union, becoming our Nation’s 37th state.
Nebraska’s quarter depicts an ox-drawn covered wagon carrying pioneers. In the background is Chimney Rock, the natural wonder that rises 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 was designed by the US Mint artist Richard Masters, and sculpted by the Mint engraver Charles Vickers.
The third quarter released in 2006 honors Colorado, the 38th state. The Colorado state quarter shows 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 was designed Mint artist Leonard Buckley and sculpted by United States Mint 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 Mint artist Stephen Clark and sculpted by US Mint 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.
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. The design is bordered by heads of wheat. The coin’s design also bears the inscriptions “South Dakota” and “1889.” The South Dakota quarter was designed by Mint artist Michael Leidel sculpted by United States Mint engraver John Mercanti.
