Goldilocks and the 3 coins

And so Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. invited Goldilocks over to consult on which design to choose for Utah's new commemorative quarter — at her standard fee, of course.

He held out the three coins — one showing a snowboarder, one with a beehive and one sporting two locomotives.

Goldie looked down. "Where's the Rainbow Arch?" she asked.

"No arch," the governor said.

So Goldie took the snowboarder coin. "Lovely," she said. "It's hip, interesting, very Utah and very collectible. It makes us look like the grooviest state in the union."

"But?" said the governor.

"But do we really want to turn our quarter into a business billboard?" she said. "And in 20 years, this snowboarder outfit is going to look like grandpa's leisure suits. And that slogan — 'The world is welcome.' Why not include the unspoken part: 'despite what you've heard.' Much too cloying."

The governor handed her the beehive coin with a hopeful look.

"Nice," said Goldie. "Traditional, tasteful and it says Utah. But some folks will howl. Do we really need more conflict around here? And those sego lilies. Everyone knows the sego lily is the state flower because Mormon pioneers ate them to survive. You might as well add a seagull and a Prairie Schooner."

The governor sheepishly handed her the locomotives coin.

Goldie looked long and hard. A little smile flitted across her lips.

"Just right," she said. "Everybody can get on board with trains. And the Golden Spike says unity. It says, we bring people together. And that slogan — Crossroads of the West. Regional, yet universal; old, but modern, with just a hint of the Spoken Word in it. That's your coin, governor."

She handed the coin back, then handed him her bill.

The governor stared with disbelief — at her bill.

"Two thousand dollars," he said. "For two minutes' work?"

"Yes," she said, "two minutes' work, but a lifetime of preparation. You know we don't charge by the hour."

"I can't believe it," the governor said.

"Believe it," she said. Then, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder, she turned to leave. At the door she looked back at him, still staring at her bill.

"I assumed you'd be more savvy about the private sector," she said.