RISCH AND CRANE UNVEIL IDAHO
STATE QUARTER DESIGN

BOISE - Governor Jim Risch and State Treasurer Ron Crane hosted an unveiling of the new Idaho State quarter design today, which is to enter circulation in 2007.

Choosing the design for the quarter was a process that began last summer when the Idaho Commission on the Arts accepted designs and recommendations from citizens across the state. Those submissions were narrowed down to 10 finalists that were presented to then-governor Dirk Kempthorne.

The U.S. Mint developed three candidate designs that were developed from the five original narrative concepts provided by the Governor in late September 2005. Former Governor Kempthorne then selected the final design that was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury in late June 2006.

“Idaho will now have its turn in the state quarter program,” said Risch. “With Idaho’s great beauty and diversity Governor Kempthorne did not have an easy decision in choosing a single symbol that represents this state.”

State Treasurer Ron Crane added, “I am excited about our new quarter and I predict that it will spend better than any of the other state quarters.” Crane noted that Idaho’s quarter would be in circulation sometime next summer.

Along with the image of the Perrigrine Falcon, the other two final designs were a farmland tapestry, and an image depicting Idaho's state song with the first two lines written out within the design. The decision to move forward with the Peregrine Falcon was made by Governor Kempthorne shortly before he left office to take the position of US Secretary of the Interior in May.

The Idaho quarter was designed by retired United States Mint sculptor-engraver Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint sculptor-engraver Don Everhart.

The state quarters are part of a program by the US Treasury Department to release 5 new state quarters over ten years. The first quarters were released in 1999, and the last will be released in 2008. Idaho's design features a Peregrine Falcon along with the State of Idaho. It was developed using depictions from several designs that the US Mint provided.

###

Return to July Press Releases