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Release date of Utah State Quarter: November
05, 2007.
The fifth and final commemorative quarter-dollar
coin released in 2007 honors Utah, and is the 45th coin in the United
States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program. Utah was admitted into the
Union on January 4, 1896, becoming our Nation's 45th state.
The reverse of Utah's quarter features two locomotives moving toward
the golden spike that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific
railroads, linking East to West and transforming both the Utah
Territory and the Nation with the inscription "Crossroads of the West."
The coin also bears the inscriptions "Utah" and "1896."
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| The Utah State Quarter
recalls the historic completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad in
1869. United States Mint image.
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On May 10, 1869, two steam locomotives met at Promontory, Utah, for the
"Joining of the Rails Ceremony," at which the Union Pacific and Central
Pacific railroads completed the transcontinental route. The event was
crucial to the development of the American West because it made
cross-country travel more convenient and economical. The construction
of the railroad, and the subsequent mining boom, brought diverse ethnic
and religious populations to Utah. The railroad also symbolized the
changing technology, and moved Utah from an agrarian economy to a more
industrialized one.
Even before the time of steam locomotives, Utah experienced a steady
flow of explorers and pioneers. The Spaniards first came to explore
Utah in the 18th century and were followed by mountain men, Mormons and
prospectors in search of precious metals found in the 1860s. Because of
its central location, Utah became known as the "Crossroads of the West.
The Utah Commemorative Quarter Commission invited narrative submissions
from the citizens of Utah. The Commission received approximately 5,000
submissions and recommended three concepts to the United States Mint
for rendering by the United States Mint sculptor-engravers and artists
in the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program. More than
150,000 citizens voted in a 25-day statewide vote in April 2006.
"Crossroads of the West" prevailed as the favorite design among voters.
Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., announced the State¿s recommendation at
the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory on May 10, 2006,
the 137th anniversary of the Joining of the Rails.
The Department of the Treasury approved the design on June 22, 2006.
The two other design concepts considered were the "Beehive," featuring
a beehive, part of the official seal and State emblem of Utah,
symbolizing industry and working together for common purposes, and
"Winter Sports," featuring a female snow boarder and celebrating Utah
as a world-class winter sport destination and the site of the 2002
Winter Olympics.
Purchase a Utah
State Quarter
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