# State quarter speculation **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546 "2003-07-15T02:19:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/1 "2003-07-15T02:19:03Z")
What’s your speculation on the future state quarters? I seem to recall the rules were nothing sports-related (makes it hard to figure out Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Alabama) and probably nothing corporate-related (Boeing/Microsoft in Washington, Disney for Florida) I’ve noticed they like to stick to single landmarks. So I’ll assume they don’t want to be like South Carolina and put too many elements on there. They also like to pick images that are familiar to everyone than try to give a represenation of an entire state (NY state’s NYC-centric Statue of Liberty). Ones I’d be surprised if they didn’t show: South Dakota: Mt Rushmore Texas: Alamo Michigan: Model T California: Golden Gate Bridge Utah: Railroad Train at the spike Florida: Space Shuttle Hawaii: King Kamehameha (something to denote Hawaii’s former sovereignty) Ones I’d hazard a guess about: Nevada: pair of dice (maybe not, since it’s gambling-related) Oregon: Mt Hood Washington: Space Needle Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Wyoming: Old Faithful West Virginia: mining cart Some landscape image (mountains, deserts, etc) Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana Some agricultural image (corn, cows, barns & silos, etc) Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin Ones I have no good ideas for: North Dakota, Oklahoma ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/2 "2003-07-15T03:14:47Z")
I think the **North Dakota** quarter will depict an auto, hooked up to an engine warmer. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/3 "2003-07-15T05:30:34Z")
New Mexico - it’ll probably feature the zia, which is the round state symbol. There’s already grumblings from the south-of-I-40 crowd, who don’t want to see references to the Albuquerque Baloon Festival or anything else that’s Santa Fe/Albuquerque-centric. Oklahoma will probably include something that references its Native American heritage. Texas, more so than any other state, is infatuated with its shape. Expect a big Texas-shaped silhouette on their quarter. Maybe some oil wells, too. Colorado - probably the Rockies or a reference to prospecting, although a big Ford Excursion parked in front of a tiny $400,000 bungalow in Denver would probably be more appropriate. 😃 Wyoming has an in-your-face “we’re cowboys” collective attitude. I expect the state’s cowboy-on-a-bucking-bronco symbol to be on the back of its quarter. Arizona - probably some petroglyph symbols, and/or a saguro. I’d love to see a cow on the Wisconsin quarter. > [@](#): > > They also like to pick images that are familiar to everyone than try to give a represenation of an entire state (NY state’s NYC-centric Statue of Liberty That really pissed off the folks Upstate. Before the design was revealed, there was a lot of grumbling in Upstate newspapers. “It better not be a Statue of Liberty or a New York skyline.” Hopefully, Illinois learned a lesson from New York and will avoid a Chicago-centric quarter. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/4 "2003-07-15T05:45:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HubZilla \* > **Hawaii: King Kamehameha (something to denote Hawaii’s former sovereignty)** I don’t think that would happen. Think surfing. That is our most famous invention afterall. Maybe with Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach in the background. Remember that scene from **Goldrush** where they trail of goldminers heading up the mountain. Maybe that. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/5 "2003-07-15T07:17:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Hopefully, Illinois learned a lesson from New York and will avoid a Chicago-centric quarter The Illinois quarter’s been out for some time. You can take a gander at it [here](http://www.statequarters.com/images/CoinDesigns/IL_big.jpg). I was a bit suprised to see the John Handcock tower in the Chicago Skyline rather than the Sears Tower. The guy who’s supposed to be Lincoln wouldn’t be recognized as such unless someone already told you who he was. Looks like a standard guy carrying a book to me. Supposively, he’s there to represent (aside from the Land of Lincoln bit) our state’s “strong commitment to education.” Reading those words in a statement from ex-governer George Ryan actually made me laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/6 "2003-07-15T07:33:11Z")
Nebraska will probably have some grumblings from anyone that isn’t in the southeastern corner of the state if the quarter featured anything that they don’t think represents them. I would guess that the quarter will feature Lincoln’s state capitol building and/or Chimney Rock. I really hope it isn’t anything agriculutral related. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/7 "2003-07-15T07:57:03Z")
Idaho will have a damn potato. I just know it. We tried to get it off the license plates a few years back. Fat chance. I would like to see the Cataldo Mission, Craters of the Moon, or maybe a Television. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/8 "2003-07-15T11:57:57Z")
Horror of horrors if the Hawaii state quarter features a large pineapple. Heck, even the old Dole Pineapple tower would be better than that. As it is, I’m leaning towards a Diamond Head design, too, perhaps with a little of the Waikiki skyline. Or maybe a hula dancer. I’m thinking the Washington one will show Mt. Rainier. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/9 "2003-07-15T16:41:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tinkertoy \* > \*\*Idaho will have a damn potato. I just know it. We tried to get it off the license plates a few years back. Fat chance. I would like to see the Cataldo Mission, Craters of the Moon, or maybe a Television. \*\* I have a feeling the same thing will happen (sigh). Some alternatives to the spud that I would accept: The Sawtooth Mountains Mountain bluebird (our state bird) Western white pine (our state tree) Appaloosa (our state horse) A gemstone (we are “The Gem State”, after all) I forget the name of it, but there’s a sandstone arch in **Utah** that would look good on its quarter. Perhaps an impression of the Mormon temple would look good, though I’m sure the people who decide on and approve the quarter’s design wouldn’t want any religious themes portrayed. **Washington’s** quarter would look good with Mt. Rainier. The Space Needle would look good, too, though some folks in Washington state may think this is too cliche for their state. **Oregon’s** quarter would look good with a douglas fir tree. A lighthouse would also look good. **Wyoming** could use a depiction of Old Faithful or even a grizzly bear as an alternative to the cowboy. I can’t think of any suggestions for **Montana** that would be appropriately unique to that state, so maybe an outline of the state with some trees or mountains would have to do. **Nevada** is known as the “Silver State.” Perhaps a small collage of mining tools or some silver bars would look good if they didn’t want to further promote gambling with their quarter. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/10 "2003-07-15T17:01:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HubZilla \* > …and probably nothing corporate-related (Boeing/Microsoft in Washington, Disney for Florida) > > Washington: Space Needle Boeing moved their headquarters to Chicago, and I think the people in Washington still feel a bit betrayed, so no 747s, and I don’t know what they’d use for Microsoft. And the Space Needle is too Seattle-centric. I’ll go with AudreyK and dwc1970, it’ll be Mt. Rainier (possibly an evergreen tree, and probably both.) ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/11 "2003-07-15T17:27:30Z")
I, too, am from Idaho and will be disappointed but not surprised to see our quarter with a potato on it. The Cataldo Mission would be a fine choice, as it is Idaho’s oldest standing structure. I would have no objection to have “Famous Potatoes” (state slogan) in the manner of New Hampshire’s “Live Free Or Die”. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/12 "2003-07-15T18:37:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dignan \* > \*\*Nebraska will probably have some grumblings from anyone that isn’t in the southeastern corner of the state if the quarter featured anything that they don’t think represents them. I would guess that the quarter will feature Lincoln’s state capitol building and/or Chimney Rock. I really hope it isn’t anything agriculutral related. \*\* My parents live in Lincoln, and I bet people there were disappointed when they learned nothing football-related could be on the quarter. 😉 I think Kamehameha would be a good choice for Hawaii, since other than Texas, being a seperate nation would be unique among the states. Diamond Head might be seen as a little too Oahu-centric. But I was almost sure Virginia would feature something Civil War-ish and Ohio wouldn’t copy North Carolina’s design. About the NY design, I wonder what other quarters caused grumbling? Maryland with their flat-bottomed dome? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/13 "2003-07-15T19:20:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder what other quarters caused grumbling? Our Mississippi quarter is (in many folk’s eyes) a dismal flop. Imagine - we could have had Elvis ! or B.B. King ! Or the Stennis Space Center (where they test Shuttle engines) or the medical center where the _first open-heart surgery in the country_ was performed … I would have even settled for the Mississippi Queen, or the Siege of Vicksburg. BUT Nooooooooooooo… We get a couple of lame magnolia blossoms. Fer cryin’ out loud! What a rip-off. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/14 "2003-07-15T19:25:21Z")
Here’s some trivia: which state’s design has a diamond on it already? ---
**Author:** ![Big-Ole-Steve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Big-Ole-Steve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big-Ole-Steve)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/15 "2003-07-15T21:05:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > \*\*Here’s some trivia: which state’s design has a diamond on it already? \*\* Arkansas (Yeah, I cheated) Anyone who’s curious, the “rules” are here: [http://www.usmint.gov/mint\_programs/50sq\_program/index.cfm?action=criteria](http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/index.cfm?action=criteria) Steve ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/16 "2003-07-15T23:33:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fern Forest \* > \*\*Remember that scene from **Goldrush** where they trail of goldminers heading up the mountain. Maybe that. \*\* Of course I’m referring to Alaska. Kamehameha might make the finals but I think he would be a little to divisive and way too political in the current climate. Although I imagine it would be the preferred choice for Hawaiian activists like the Trasks and such. I imagine others in the final batch would be like Audrey said, a hula dancer, hibiscus motif. Precisely I expect this. Duke Kahanomoku (our first gold medalist at the Olympics and the most legendary surfer of all time) on a longboard, on a wave in front of Diamond Head and Waikiki beach. It’s recognizable. It’s Hawaii. There’s no politics. It’ll make everyone happy. Kansas can show Mt. Sunflower. That quarter would be about as exciting as living there. Actually I think they should go with Dodge City. Somehow. Although I expect an outline with accoutrements. I’d have known the diamond was on Arkansas. I was diamond mining there when I was 11. Found a whole lot of dirt, dirt, dirt. But it was fun. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/17 "2003-07-15T23:52:16Z")
The [California Quarter](http://www.caquarter.ca.gov/) submissions are as follws: 1. Golden Gate Bridge/Hollywood Sign/Palm tree/Pine tree/Poppy combo 2. Gold miner with bear, mountain, and bird 3. John Muir in Yosemite Valley 4. Ocean Waves and Sun [BLECH!!] 5. Giant Sequoia [Boring] ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-quarter-speculation/188546/18 "2003-07-16T01:37:52Z")
Kansas - world’s largest ball of twine! Alaska - cute pile of moose nuggets Wisconsin - cheeseheads forever! Florida - false teeth and prune juice Oklahoma - tornado magnets on wheels Texas - Yeehaw! on a stick Arizona - home of the jackelope California - botox and implants New Jersey - whatya lookin’ at? Nebraska - north of Oz Washington - the space hypodermic