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The
second commemorative quarter-dollar
coin released in 2006 honors
Nebraska, and is the 37th coin in the
United States Mint's 50 State
Quarters® Program. Nebraska,
nicknamed the "Cornhusker State," was
admitted into the Union on March 1,
1867, becoming our Nation's 37th
state.
Nebraska's quarter depicts an ox-drawn
covered wagon carrying pioneers in the
foreground and Chimney Rock, the natural
wonder that rises from the valley of North
Platte River, measuring 445 feet from base
to tip. The sun is in full view behind the
wagon. The coin also bears the inscriptions
"Nebraska," "Chimney Rock" and "1867."
Chimney Rock was designated a National
Historic Site on August 9, 1956, and is
maintained and operated by the Nebraska
State Historical Society.
Practically
anywhere travelers go in Nebraska
they will encounter reminders of
America's westward expansion. The
state is crisscrossed by the Oregon
and Mormon Trails, the Pony Express,
the Lewis and Clark Trail, the
Texas-Ogallala Trail and the
Sidney-Deadwood Trail.
The Nebraska State Quarter Design Committee
accepted nearly 6,500 quarter design ideas
from citizens. Four of these were forwarded
to the United States Mint and were used as
the basis for narrative designs that were
created by United States Mint
sculptor-engravers and artists in the
United States Mint's Artistic Infusion
Program. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman
announced his recommendation of "Chimney
Rock" on June 1, 2005. The Department of
the Treasury approved the design on July
20, 2005.
The three other design concepts considered
during the final selection process were
"The Capitol," featuring a rendition of the
architecturally striking State Capitol in
Lincoln; "The Sower," depicting the figure
that stands atop the Nebraska Capitol,
representing Nebraska's standing as an
agricultural leader; and "Chief Standing
Bear," paying tribute to the Ponca Indian
Chief.
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| "Chimney Rock," depicts an
ox-drawn covered wagon carrying pioneers
in the foreground and Chimney Rock in the
background. United States Mint
image |
To
learn even more about the
State Quarters Program, please
visit,
The United States
Mint
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