I voted for #11 and I don’t live in California. I’m ballot stuffing because your coins will eventually end up in my hands, and I’d like to think of what I like most about your state: the sun and the ocean.
Native Californian voting here. So, OK, I don’t currently reside, but I figured I was entitled to vote anyway, dammit!
I voted for #3, since it had Half Dome and the bear. I didn’t notice that #1 had John Muir and Yosemite Valley, I probably woud’ve chosen that instead, but on second thought, #3 is very good—and it has the bear.
I am from S. California, and I don’t see Yosemite as being in either Southern or Northern California. It’s just California. It takes about 5 - 6 hours to drive to from L.A., and about that from a lot of parts of N. Calif. And 4 hours from S.F. We all love visiting Yosemite, no matter if we’re Northern or Southern Californian.
And the Gold Rush thing? Interesting and all that, but I prefer the images of trees, beaches, bears, poppies, Yosemite (of course) or the missions. They are around today.
I didn’t care for 2, 6, or 11 in particular. The rest are just tolerable.
2, represents both northern and southern california…I voted for this.
But I also loved 11 and its representation of the*** “sun setting in the west”***, which is beautiful when you’ve ever seen the sun set of the shore…the whole horizon is golden!!! I have a feeling this is the one thats gonna win.
I also liked unwashed brain interpretation of number 11, the "SUN and the WAVES".
Does anyone not like #4? (i.e., not that you like other designs better, but that you actually dislike it.)
“#11 is just…too cartoonish, and it really doesn’t have anything to do with the state. That coin could be appointed to any state along the beach.”
Yes, but there are only two things on it, sun & surf. Very easy to recognize, but more important is that I think that people who don’t see very well would be able to identify it.
Most of them try to cram in too much stuff. It’s a coin, people, not a projects mural. The Sequoia is a good idea, and the growth rings might look neat, but the “largest living thing” blurb is confusing - is it the tree, or the state?
So I think I’ll go with coin three. Attack of the Giant Bear!
Another voter for 11. It reminds me of Singaporean coins which IMHO are some of the most beautiful coins on the planet. I do think there is a lot of room for improvement with the design but something in that general direction.
And since it’s California I don’t think they really have to worry about giving a big ol’ history lesson on their coin.
For Hawaii I’m hoping for something like a really nice hibiscus with one of those little native birds sipping.
I do not NOT like #4. 
But it’s not my first choice. I also don’t know what the woman symbolizes.
I would bet that the woman on #4 is the Muse Flora.
No smashie on this poll either, I see. It’s a conspiracy, I tells ya…
12 is very… um… interesting.
perhaps they will have someone at the design ceremony look just like her.
Johnny LA, I’m with you on #4. The rest were either "ICK! "or “eh.”
#6 is by far the most ridiculous looking, IMHO.
#11 is one of the leading contenders!! I agree that it looks like a token for a beach resort.
I voted for #14, as it hits both northern and southern CA, and seems like it’s not too busy to be actually made. It’s not too cluttered.
I suppose they’ll just throw out the bottom half or something and pick from the rest. You can’t be sure who’s voting, or that the ballot box isn’t stuffed, so some committee has to just make the decision in the end, I guess.
I’m a native Californian – more than that, I’m a native Californian who has lived in both Southern (born and raised in San Diego) and Northern (graduated from High School in Ukiah in Mendocino county) California. So, even though I currently live in Virginia, I’m voting for #3. Most of the others were just too busy. Understandably so – It’s a large state and so diverse it makes it difficult to choose one image. So they end up with the GGB AND a movie projector AND a prospector AND a mission all jammed on helter-skelter. Using the bear (the state symbol) is a way around the jumble… I do wish there were some poppies on there, though. I love golden poppies.
Jess
Are nekkid women actually allowed on American coins? If not I think we’re going to need a ruling on the USC fan on #12.
I don’t know that I like any of them, and not being a Californian I guess it doesn’t matter… but if I had to bet on a winner, I’d go with #14, because it looks just like every other state quarter.
I think that while UCLA are the Bruins, having she state symbol (the bear) will not make up for the blatant salute to USC.
I didn’t see a link where you could see the results without voting, but this is the URL you get after voting: http://134.186.46.107/thankyou.asp
I voted for #4. I considered #1 also, but in the end wanted to go with the Golden Gate. I couldn’t vote for #3 because I didn’t really want to be reminded of the embarrassment that we extirpated our state symbol eighty years ago and they don’t even live here anymore.
#2 was the only other one I would have considered. The others all either seem too blah or have too much going on to be effective on a little coin.
I liked #1. It’s kinda New Hampshirey…