The Best and Worst of the 50 State Quarters, Part 4

This is my fourth post rating the designs of each of the 50 state quarters. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using to for grading. This time I'm looking at the 5 quarters from Year 7 (2005) and Year 8 (2006). 

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2005 - Year 7 of the 50 State Quarters Program

California’s quarter features John Muir, Half Dome, and a California condor. It's impossible to sum up a state like California in a single quarter, but I think this was a good attempt. It's an attractive, well-balanced design. Aesthetics 4.5, representation 3.5, education 1, for a total of 9. 

 

The Minnesota quarter leans into their nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes. The design includes fishermen, a loon (their state bird), and an outline of the state. Again, it's an attractive design that is well-balanced and represents the state well. Aesthetics 4.5, representation 4, education 1, for a total of 9.5.

Oregon's quarter features Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. It's the only national park in Oregon, so it's a good choice for the quarter. But the beauty of Crater Lake is in its colors, which are obviously not on a minted coin. Aesthetics 3.5, representation 3, education 1, for a total of 7.5.

The Kansas quarter features the state animal (bison) and state flower (sunflower). I would have added taller sunflowers to better fill the space. (Fun fact: Sunflowers can grow up to 15 feet tall!) Aesthetics 3.5, representation 3.5, education 1, for a total of 8. 

The West Virginia quarter depicts New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Just like with Oregon, I feel like it's a good choice to feature one of the state's most beautiful locations, but that a lot of the beauty is lost without color and at such a small scale. Aesthetics 3, representation 3, education 1, for a total of 7. 

After the somewhat disappointing designs of 2004, it's nice to see much better choices for 2005. My top quarter was Minnesota, followed by California, Kansas, Oregon, and West Virginia. 

2006 - Year 8 of the 50 State Quarters Program

The Nevada quarter includes wild mustangs, snow-capped mountains, sagebrush (the state flower), and the state nickname. I love this quarter. The design is interesting and attractive. It includes numerous features of Nevada. I wouldn't change a thing. Aesthetics 5, representation 4, education 1, total 10. 

Nebraska's quarter features Chimney Rock, with an ox-drawn covered wagon carrying pioneers. The quarter is well-designed and interesting. While numerous states fall along the Oregon Trail and could have used the covered wagon design, it is uniquely Nebraskan by including Chimney Rock. Aesthetics 4.5, representation 3.5, education 1, total 9. 

The Colorado quarter features the Rocky Mountains and the inscription “Colorful Colorado.” It's a nice enough design, but it's a questionable choice use a piece of artwork that is entirely silver to highlight how colorful your state is. I would have gone with the other nickname, the Centennial State. Aesthetics 4, representation 3, education 0.5, for a total of 7.5. 

North Dakota is the second state to feature bison. They are pictured in front of a sunset over the Badlands. This is another nice quarter. The design is interesting and well-balanced and represents the state well. Aesthetics 4.5, representation 4, education 0.5, for a total of 9. 

The South Dakota quarter has the state bird, a Chinese ring-necked pheasant, flying over Mount Rushmore, with heads of wheat acting as borders. Personally, when I think of South Dakota, I think of pronghorns and prairie dogs and ton bales first, but these are fine symbols of the state now. Aesthetics 4, representation 4, education 0.5, for an 8.5. 

My winner for this year's batch of quarters is Nevada, followed by Nebraska and North Dakota, then South Dakota and Colorado. These quarters have the highest average score so far. Tomorrow we'll see if either Year 9 or Year 10 does even better.