Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - N.D. quarters are coming

N.D. quarters are coming

Jul 26, 2006 - 02:10:47 CDT

By DALE WETZEL
Associated Press Writer

North Dakota's new state quarter, which features a pair of grazing bison against the backdrop of the setting sun and the western Badlands, will begin production next week, a U.S. Mint spokesman said.

The Denver mint, where most of the coins will be manufactured, is holding a ceremony Aug. 2 to mark the striking of the first North Dakota 25-cent piece. The Mint is issuing special quarters for each of the 50 states, and North Dakota's will be the 39th to be manufactured.

The buffalo design will replace the eagle on the quarter's reverse side, which is opposite the image of George Washington.

The coins will be manufactured for about 10 weeks. How many are made will be dictated by quarter demand, but there are likely to be at least 450 million of the North Dakota coins put into circulation.

Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who was the chairman of a committee that selected the buffalo design, is scheduled to attend the Denver ceremony. So are two other committee members, Secretary of State Al Jaeger and Sara Otte Coleman, the state tourism director.

"North Dakota has only one quarter, and to actually stand there and see the first one ever made is something that, I think, will stand up through history," Dalrymple said Tuesday.

The quarter's official North Dakota unveiling will be held Aug. 30 at the state Capitol, Coleman said. Don Larson, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven, said the U.S. Mint has an elaborate display for state quarter ceremonies, and North Dakotans will be able to buy rolls of the new coin during the rollout.

Dalrymple said he believes the coin's North Dakota image will not become dated.

"It is the sort of legendary image that our tourism people have been working on," Dalrymple said. "There's a mystery to the Badlands, and to the image of the bison. It speaks to the outdoors."

It speaks to the clean life, perhaps the simpler life, but also something that would be interesting to see and visit."

News > State

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Comments

Double Nickels wrote on Jul 27, 2006 8:44 AM:

" We should change the animal to a mosquito placed over the back drop of young people leaving the state for better paying jobs. Don't tell me jobs starting out between 8.50 an hour and 12 are good paying jobs either....to those kids that have their 4 year degrees that's a slap in the face. "

Al Gee wrote on Jul 27, 2006 8:14 AM:

" When's the last time someone's seen a buffalo? I think it would be more indicitive of ND today to picture some telephone poles along a boring stretch of highway. "

ryanm424 wrote on Jul 26, 2006 5:29 PM:

" a can of keystone light would be equally appropriate "

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