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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.
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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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