The United States Mint has revised the 50 State Quarters® Program Design
Evaluation Process. These revisions will enhance the program's educational
value and promote the historical accuracy and artistic beauty of the designs.
The changes were approved by U.S. Treasury Secretary Snow on March 11, 2003,
and will be implemented in the 2005 quarter design evaluation process.
Stage 1
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The United States Mint will initiate the formal state design process by
contacting the state governor approximately 24 months prior to the beginning
of the year in which the state will be honored. The governor, or such other
state officials or group as the state may designate, will appoint an individual
to serve as the state's liaison to the United States Mint for this program.
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Stage 2
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The state will conduct a concept selection process as determined by the state.
The state will provide to the United States Mint at least three, but no more
than five, different concepts or themes emblematic of the state; each concept
or theme will be in narrative format. The narrative must explain why the
concept is emblematic of the state and what the concept represents to the
state's citizens. A narrative that merely describes a particular design
is not acceptable.
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Stage 3
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Based on the narratives, the United States Mint will produce original artwork of the
concepts, focusing on aesthetic beauty, historical accuracy, appropriateness and
coinability. If the state has not provided at least three concepts, the United
States Mint may produce additional concepts for the state.
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Stage 4
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The United States Mint will contact the state to collaborate on the artwork.
The state will appoint an historian, or other responsible officials or experts,
to participate in this collaboration to ensure historical accuracy and proper
state representation of the artwork. The United States Mint will refine the
artwork before forwarding it to the advisory bodies.
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Stage 5
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The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
will review the candidate designs and make recommendations, and the United States Mint
may make changes to address such recommendations.
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Stage 6
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The United States Mint will present the candidate designs to the Secretary of
the Treasury for review and approval.
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Stage 7
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The United States Mint will return to the state all candidate designs approved
by the Secretary of the Treasury.
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Stage 8
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From among the designs approved by the Secretary, the state will recommend the final
design through a process determined by the state, within a time frame specified by
the United States Mint.
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Stage 9
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The United States Mint will present the state's recommended design to the Secretary
for final approval.
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