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Release date of Oklahoma State Quarter: January
28,
2008.
The first commemorative quarter-dollar coin released in 2008 honors Oklahoma,
and is the 46th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program.
Oklahoma, nicknamed the "Sooner State," was admitted into the Union on November
16, 1907, becoming our Nation’s 46th state.
The Oklahoma quarter features an image of the State bird, the Scissortail
Flycatcher, in flight with its distinctive tail feathers spread. The bird is
soaring over the State wildflower, the Indian Blanket, backed by a field of
similar wildflowers. The coin’s design also bears the inscriptions "Oklahoma"
and "1907."
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"Scissortail Flycatcher," features an image of
the State bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher, in flight with its distinctive tail
feathers spread. The bird is soaring over the State wildflower, the Indian
Blanket, backed by a field of similar wildflowers. The coin’s design also bears
the inscriptions "Oklahoma" and "1907." United
States Mint image |
The depiction of Indian Blanket (or Gaillardia) symbolizes the State’s rich
Native American heritage and native long grass prairies that are abundant in
wildlife. Oklahoma was formed by the combination of the Oklahoma Territory and
the Indian Territory of the Five Civilized Tribes – Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek,
Seminole, and Cherokee. The State’s name is derived from the Choctaw words "okla"
and "homma," meaning "red" and "people."
The process to choose the coin’s reverse design began in February 2006. Citizens
submitted more than 1,000 concepts for consideration. This eventually led to the
creation of ten narratives based on these concepts. A vote by Oklahoma citizens
narrowed the field to five, which were sent to the United States Mint for
consideration. The final artistic renderings, developed by United States Mint
Sculptor-Engravers and artists in the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion
Program, were then proposed to Oklahoma for a statewide vote. On April 30, 2007,
Governor Brad Henry announced his recommendation of the State bird and
wildflower design, based on the overwhelming number of citizen votes for this
design.
The Department of the Treasury approved the design on May 25, 2007. Four other
designs were considered, including "Pioneer Woman and Child with Windmill and
Oil Derrick," "Pioneer Woman and Child with State Outline and Oil Derrick," and
two versions of "Pioneer Woman and Child with State Outline and Calumet."
Purchase an
Oklahoma State Quarter
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