Peregrine Falcon on Idaho quarter
The former governor of Idaho, Dirk Kempthorne, chose Peregrine Falcon as the design for the reverse (or tails) side of the Gem State's coin, part of the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters program. Begun in 1999, the program releases five coins a year in the order in which each state joined the Union. Idaho's coin will appear in 2007, after Montana and Washington but before Wyoming and Utah.
Kempthorne, now the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, chose the falcon "to honor the role played by an Idaho raptor recovery center in helping save the birds from extinction." (Click on the image to see a larger version.)
The facility, World Center for Birds of Prey, stems from The Peregrine Fund. The center's staff captive-bred more than 4,000 falcons and released many into the wild. The species no longer appears on the federal endangered species list.
Idaho's state-quarter design isn't the only one to feature a wild bird. Naturally, the governor of South Carolina chose a design with a Carolina Wren for the quarter's release in 2000.
Later, the governor of Louisiana chose artwork with a generic pelican (or is a Brown?) for the Pelican State's quarter, which appeared in 2002.
The following year, the coin from Arkansas -- the Natural State -- featured a Mallard.
The Golden State's quarter appeared in 2005 and featured a California Condor soaring above Yosemite.
The 2008 releases include Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii. What are the chances that we'll see birds on more state quarters?
You can purchase state quarters directly from the U.S. Mint.
Peregrine Falcon courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Kempthorne, now the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, chose the falcon "to honor the role played by an Idaho raptor recovery center in helping save the birds from extinction." (Click on the image to see a larger version.)
The facility, World Center for Birds of Prey, stems from The Peregrine Fund. The center's staff captive-bred more than 4,000 falcons and released many into the wild. The species no longer appears on the federal endangered species list.
Idaho's state-quarter design isn't the only one to feature a wild bird. Naturally, the governor of South Carolina chose a design with a Carolina Wren for the quarter's release in 2000.
Later, the governor of Louisiana chose artwork with a generic pelican (or is a Brown?) for the Pelican State's quarter, which appeared in 2002.
The following year, the coin from Arkansas -- the Natural State -- featured a Mallard.
The Golden State's quarter appeared in 2005 and featured a California Condor soaring above Yosemite.
The 2008 releases include Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii. What are the chances that we'll see birds on more state quarters?
You can purchase state quarters directly from the U.S. Mint.
Peregrine Falcon courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
posted by Amy at 10:30 AM
4 Comments:
Dude, don't forget that Minnesota has a loon on its quarter.
Dudette, you passed the test! I wanted to see who would catch that omission ;)
Thanks for the heads-up, Marc. I wasn't aware of the kerfuffle.
Okay, here is the problem with the Idaho quarter. Idahoans are not against birds, but does anyone here know what the Idaho State bird is? It is not the Falcon, it's the Mountain Bluebird. Idahoans saw this as a chance to share our state with the rest of the country. Idaho failed. How many people here realize that Idaho has more mountains, rivers, streams, and lakes than any other in the continental U.S. Idaho is breathtaking. I personally think it would have been cool for someone across the country from here to get an Idaho quarter look at the back and see something uniquely Idaho. Possibly this might perk their interest to want to know more about this state, at the very least they would know something about Idaho that they never knew before. Instead they see a bird that you can find anywhere. Not to mention the fact that Boise is not a good representation of this state, this is a huge state with a lot more to offer than Boise. Over 80% of the people in this state dislike the quarter and now you know why.
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