Oklahoma's image is in Mint condition
Oklahoma's image is in mint condition

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By Robert Boczkiewicz
Published: January 10, 2008

DENVER — Oklahoma pride shone Wednesday as bright as a new coin. As bright as an Oklahoma quarter, to be precise.

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Gov. Brad Henry led an Oklahoma delegation at the U.S. Mint in Denver for a ceremony where they "struck” the quarter by pushing a button on a coin-making machine.

"I think there's tremendous Oklahoma pride here today,” Henry said after the ceremony. "Coming on the heels of the state centennial, I think it's appropriate that the Oklahoma quarter is the first one in 2008, and it gives Oklahoma a chance to shine throughout the land.”

The coin is to be placed in circulation Jan. 28. A mint official said between 300 million and 500 million will be made, depending upon demand.

The coin is one of a series in the U.S. Treasury's 50-state quarters program that began in 1999.

The governor called the event "another important step in the evolution of what I think is the greatest state.”

In brief remarks to the delegation and to mint officials, Henry recalled that the process of selecting a design began in 2006 by asking state residents to recommend what would appear on the quarter.

Of almost 1,000 suggestions, five were sent to the mint, and the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts selected the design.

The reverse side of the Oklahoma quarter depicts the state bird, the scissortail flycatcher, in flight with its tail feathers spread. The bird is soaring above the state wildflower, the Indian blanket.

The coin is inscribed "Oklahoma” and "1907,” the year Oklahoma became a state.

The depiction of the state wildflower symbolizes the state's American Indian heritage and native long-grass prairies.

A successful program
The Oklahoma quarter was designed by master designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by mint sculptor Phebe Hemphill.

U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy has said the 50-state quarters program has been the most popular coin program in the nation's history. He said an estimated 147 million people collect the state coins.

Moy said the program has generated billions of dollars that have been used to pay down the national debt.

Before the group walked into the mint's production area, Henry said, "I've been waiting a long time to say, ‘I'm ready to make some real money.'”

Others attending Wednesday's ceremony were Oklahoma Treasurer Scott Meacham; Blake Wade, executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission; Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society; Jay Hannah, an executive vice president of BancFirst; state Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City; John Highfill of Broken Arrow, a numismatic expert; Judge Robert Henry of Oklahoma City, chief judge of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; first lady Kim Henry and daughter Baylee Henry; Tom Tipping of Edmond, who drew sketches of suggested designs;Mark Thomas of the Oklahoma Press Association; and half a dozen members of the governor's staff.

While Gov. Henry was in Denver, his cousin, Judge Henry, gave him a tour of the appeals courthouse that serves Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Banz and Thomas were among several who were on an ad hoc committee involved in the selection of the design.


 

Related Topics: U.S. State Government, U.S. Government, Culture and Lifestyle, Hobbies and Pastimes, Flowers, Gardening

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Should have had a Watermellon with the words "State Vegetable" on it...LOL
Larry, Oklahoma City - Jan 11, 2008 at 1:22 am
It is a good thing that neither of the two finalists that had 46 stars on them (representing Oklahoma as the 46th state) because both designs that were posted on the Governors website actually had 48 stars. I wrote the governors office so they could correct the mistake and was told not to worry, as the mint would actually design the quarter based on the written description (no drawings were allowed). Yet, when the mint unveiled the Oklahoma quarter, it sure looked like the EXACT design that was on the Governor's website (down to the number of petals on the flowers and the number of feathers on the wings of the bird). Imagine how much those quarters would be worth with the extra 2 stars on them. And I agree that most of the designs were rather weak or far too cluttered. The Osage shield (as appears on our flag) would have been an excellent choice.
Larry, Oklahoma City - Jan 11, 2008 at 1:20 am
Sorry! Didn't mean to triple post there, and I noticed I made several spelling errors.
Danny, Tulsa - Jan 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm
It may have beent he best choice but I hated all of thgem.. they all had a prairie woman or that bird...

why not put something we're known for?? like oil, cowboys, indians.. MOST STATES put something on them taht was significant to their or our nations history.. Or something everyone knew. Nobody knows or cares anything about our state bird and some friggin flowers.... im disappointed
Danny, Tulsa - Jan 10, 2008 at 8:16 pm
It may have beent he best choice but I hated all of thgem.. they all had a prairie woman or that bird...

why not put something we're known for?? like oil, cowboys, indians.. MOST STATES put something on them taht was significant to their or our nations history.. Or something everyone knew. Nobody knows or cares anything about our state bird and some friggin flowers.... im disappointed
Danny, Tulsa - Jan 10, 2008 at 8:16 pm
It may have beent he best choice but I hated all of thgem.. they all had a prairie woman or that bird...

why not put something we're known for?? like oil, cowboys, indians.. MOST STATES put something on them taht was significant to their or our nations history.. Or something everyone knew. Nobody knows or cares anything about our state bird and some friggin flowers.... im disappointed
Danny, Tulsa - Jan 10, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Nope..I still don't have enough new stuff for my Comedy Central show so I need to stay here awhile longer...
paul, yukon - Jan 10, 2008 at 7:12 pm
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This is the best design offered. A prairie woman would have been a bad choice. It said a commission selected the design. I thought we voted for it. Hmmm, another lie told to the masses. Ben, you're so funny! Paul, are you leaving?
J M, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 7:03 pm
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Pathetic....but typical of this state....
paul, yukon - Jan 10, 2008 at 4:33 pm
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I think the flycatcher's a lovely bird. I'm just wondering, is our quarter worth the same as the others? I heard that Arkansas was only worth 17 cents.
JoJo, Cobb, OK - Jan 10, 2008 at 4:04 pm
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jill, they finally found a way for the quarter to look worse. They've got a picture of gov henry holding it!!
OK, Lahoma - Jan 10, 2008 at 2:44 pm
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I think the design was the best of the options offered. I've lived in Oklahoma all my life and think the scissortail flycather is a good idea. It is our state bird and a unique and beautiful bird. I would have liked to emphasize the petroleum industry with a pumping unit or derrick but you can't have the design get too busy. Personally, I think this is one of the best in the series.
Patrick, Edmond - Jan 10, 2008 at 2:24 pm
If I remember right, the public was only offered about a dozen design to choose from and most of them all the same design with small details changed. So I have to say that the public really didn't get to vote on a design.
Lex, Luther - Jan 10, 2008 at 1:28 pm
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I voted for this design and I love it!! I think it portrays how beautiful oklahoma really is!! For everyone else who doesn't like it, get over it!! It's just a quarter...
jill, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 1:16 pm
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I wonder what the mint will do after we coined the last state quarter this year? National Parks would be my choice with contests from citizens submitting their own designs.
Lynn, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 11:40 am
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The ugliest quarter in the series!! I voted but it wasn't for that one. We are the ONLY state in the union that had a land run, ya think that would make it onto the quarter?
OK, Lahoma - Jan 10, 2008 at 11:15 am
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I wonder how many "Oklahoma taxpayer quarters" were spent on this little junket.
John, Yukon - Jan 10, 2008 at 11:04 am
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The design is fine. I have collected all of the state quarters and Oklahoma is much better than some, including Texas. Many of them tried to cram too much on there. People had a chance to vote, and surely there is something more pressing to talk about.
Diane, Edmond - Jan 10, 2008 at 11:02 am
I will not think of Oklahoma when I come across the coin in the change I put in a jar each night.
AngelGirl, Ninnekah - Jan 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
"Oklahoma's image is in mint condition", "Oklahoma pride...". Sounds like the collective self image of oklahomans is stuck in the dust bowl. "Look at us, we're doin' good." Move on people. Do what you're going to do -- THEN LET OTHERS TALK ABOUT IT. If you feel like you have to point to your own accomplishments to make yourself feel good, then YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
jonathon, panhandle - Jan 10, 2008 at 10:32 am
Well, the design was voted on by people who cared to vote and the present design was far and away the choice. I think that the Pioneer Woman design might have won if the cultural conservatives hadn't gotten their unmentionables in a twist over the lack of a Bible.
Lynn, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 10:19 am
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Who ever picked the design either isn't from Oklahoma, or really just did not care about showing something about our heritage...
Ollie, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 9:55 am
Shoulda just stamped "OU" on the back.
Chris, Jones - Jan 10, 2008 at 9:53 am
We are lucky. The original Texas design was rejected. It was designed by the engineering department at Texas A&M from plans drawn up by the Univ. of Texas art school. It was rejected by the U.S. Mint when a prototype model kept getting stuck in vending machines during a test run. The original Texas design was two dimes and a nickle held together by duct tape.
Lynn, Oklahoma City - Jan 10, 2008 at 9:40 am
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This is a pitiful representation of Oklahoma. An Indian blanket? People know about Indians in Oklahoma, but who will recognize the flower as an Indian blanket? Maybe a teepee for Indians, but a flower? And the scissortail flycatcher? Who even knows a connection. I grew up in Oklahoma and knew it was the state bird, but don't recall ever knowing I saw one. What about an oil derrick? There is something that helps recognize all the other states, but Oklahoma got an unknown flower and an unknown bird. The selection was rigged to avoid one showing the Pioneer Woman holding a bible. Worst selection of the series.
Earl, The Woodlands - Jan 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
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