Utah submits designs for commemoration

Worker bees, steam engines or skiers could represent Utah in pockets and coin purses.

The state has submitted three conceptual designs to the U.S. Mint for its commemorative quarter, which will be released in 2007. Using the concepts, U.S. Mint artists will refine the design the possible quarters, and return the potential designs to the state in January for a final selection.

• Golden Spike/Locomotive: Meant to commemorate the connection of the east and west legs of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory in 1869.

• Beehive: The official state emblem since 1959, it represents the industrious nature of the state's residents.

• Winter Sports: Reflecting the state's long-time reputation as a winter sports capital and its hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Selection of the final design will ultimately lie with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., although it will probably be made with public input, said Claudia Nakano, spokeswoman for the Department of Community and Culture. One thing that will not happen is a design that incorporates all of the themes.

"They will not be combined," Nakano said. "It would be practically impossible, because they are so different."

For the design ideas, the state solicited comment from Utah residents, especially school children. Marelee Oleson, a member of the Quarter Commission, said that the final selection will hopefully be something that all of the state's residents will like.

"It has been a great challenge to narrow so many possibilities down to one simple concept," she said in a news release. "When the quarter is released, we hope Utahns will be proud of its message and feel that it represents our state in a positive and progressive way."