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.
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Nevada
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.
United States
Mint image. |
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Nebraska
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.
United
States Mint image
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Colorado
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.
United
States Mint image |
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North Dakota
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.
United
States Mint image |
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South Dakota
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.
United
States Mint image |
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