Public asked for its two bits on state quarter

Beth Slovic

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 5:45 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

September 4 - 7, 2004

Nevada's state quarter -- the one the U.S. Mint will strike as part of its program to commemorate each of the 50 United States -- cannot depict dice, a slot machine or a roulette table.

It can't depict logos. So that means no "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" sign and no outline of the Stratosphere. All persons, living or dead, are prohibited. The state flag and state seal are also off limit.

"Because it is important that the nation's coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the citizens of the United States can be proud, the secretary shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for any quarter dollar," federal lawmakers wrote in the so-called 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act of 1997.

Landscapes are acceptable. But even some of those are too controversial for consideration. It's not likely officials will select a rendering of Yucca Mountain, for example.

Since the program kicked off about five years ago, nearly half of the nation's states have selected themes for their quarters.

The order in which the coins are minted is determined by the date of the state's entry into the union. Because Nevada was the 36th state to enter the union, it is the 36th state to be honored with a quarter depicting its unique history.

But part of its history isn't suitable for the coin, according to the U.S. Mint. So tourists slipping commemorative quarters into the few Nevada slot machines that still accept them won't be doing so with coins depicting their actions.

"They (the quarters) tend to go toward the wholesome," said Kathy Besser, the Nevada treasurer's chief of staff.

But the sky is the limit on what form that wholesome image could take, she said.

Nevada's state treasurer, Brian Krolicki, is accepting theme ideas for Nevada's quarter until Sept. 17. A complete list of the parameters is available at nevadatreasurer.gov or at (702) 486-3261.

After the deadline, an advisory panel made up of 17 residents representing organizations such as the Las Vegas Numismatic Society, a coin collecting group, the Nevada Mining Association and many others will review the submissions.

The panel will then forward a few of the ideas to the U.S. Mint for consideration.

In January or February the mint will return three to five possible renderings to the state treasurer's office. By April the state will make a final decision.

The coins are scheduled to begin circulating in January 2006. The U.S. Mint recommends the design not be too busy and the elements of the engraving not be raised too high above the lip of the coin. Otherwise, it will wear too quickly.

So far, about 100 entries have been submitted. But about 20 of those are repeats, which is one reason the state's treasure's office did not call the submission process a contest; it would be impossible to determine a winner. Plus, there's no prize.

On top of that, the final design likely will incorporate several people's ideas.

Many of those ideas touch on Nevada's geography, demographics and major industry, including mining and tourism.

Native species and plants -- such as big horn sheep, desert tortoises and sagebrush -- are popular themes. Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Capitol in Carson City, ranchers, prospectors and Pony Express riders are frequently submitted as possible symbols.

"People are doing a fantastic job," Besser said. "It's going to be tough to choose."

Still, the advisory panel would like even more people to participate. They extended the deadline from Wednesday to Sept. 17 to give children returning to school an opportunity to submit ideas.