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The second quarter to be released in 2005 commemorates the State of
Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes." On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd
state admitted into the Union, and as such, it is the 32nd coin to be issued in
the United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters® Program. The design features
a tree-lined lake with two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured
outline of the State surrounding its nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" actually contains more than 15,000 such bodies of
water whose total shoreline exceeds 90,000 miles - more than California, Hawaii
and Florida combined. Equally renowned as the home of the headwaters of the
mighty Mississippi River, the name Minnesota is derived from the Dakota Sioux
word for "cloudy water."
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Minnesota's quarter shows a tree-lined lake with
two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured outline of the state
surrounding its nickname, “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
United States Mint image |
The natural beauty of Minnesota is vividly depicted on the reverse of this
new quarter-dollar. Lined with Norway Pine, many of the lakes throughout the
State offer much in the way of outdoor recreation, as well as providing a home
for the graceful loon, Minnesota's state bird. Minnesota is also home to the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This one- million acre wilderness area
was established by Congress in 1978, and contains more than 1,500 miles of canoe
routes and nearly 2,200 designated campsites.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the winning design at the 2004
Governor's Fishing Opener. By selecting the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" design,
Governor Pawlenty chose the design recommended to him by the Minnesota State
Quarter Commission. Other designs considered were "State with Symbols" including
the State outline, snowflake, loon and plow, and "Mississippi River Headwaters"
and "Fisherman/Lake Recreation." The Department of Treasury approved the "Land
of 10,000 Lakes" design on June 15, 2004.
Purchase a
Minnesota State Quarter
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