Spuds. 'Taters. Potatoes. Whatever you call them, that's pretty much the bill of fare in Idaho. Because the state is so closely aligned with the tuber, some residents like to play that affiliation down. But, that's pretty hard to do when each Idaho license plate has "FAMOUS POTATOES" boldly emblazoned on it.
In fairness, across the top the plates also include "Scenic Idaho." That's an understatement in the other direction. You want scenic, try Idaho's Hells Canyon. At 7,900 feet, it's deeper than the Grand Canyon. And the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is also the most expansive wilderness area in the lower 48 states.
Clearly, the state legislature had lots to choose from in depicting Idaho's assets on the newest
State Quarter just released. It also had a conundrum. Sure, they're famous for potatoes, but did they really want to pigeonhole themselves?
The state could have reflected its storied past. For instance, between 1863 and 1890, the Idaho Territory had 16 governors - four of which never set foot in the state! OK, maybe not that.
But, the quarter is after all a coin, and Idaho has produced over $4 billion in precious metals and is one of the top 10 mining areas in the world. So, too, with gems. Named the "Gem State," a 20-carat diamond was discovered there. In all, Idaho boasts 72 different precious and semi-precious stones with several varieties being unique to the state.
One thing the Idaho legislature was wise to avoid were any references to some of the goofy laws all states still have on their books. For instance, in Idaho, if you ride a merry-go-round Sundays it's still technically considered a crime. It's also illegal to fish off the back of a camel. That's doubly true in the Idaho town of Pocatello, where you also can't fish off the back of a giraffe.
Ignoring those options, the U.S. Mint announced the issuance of the Idaho quarter - the third in the 50
State Quarters Series to be released in 2007 - with a more natural image. Featured on the coin is the portrait of a peregrine falcon. Reaching a top speed of 217 mph, it's considered the fastest bird in the world. Once listed as an endangered species the peregrine falcon is now found throughout Idaho and several other states.
Along with the falcon the quarter bears the state motto "Esto Perpetua," meaning "May It Be Forever," "Idaho" and "1890," the date the state was admitted to the Union. A visible downside to the design is the inclusion of an outline of the state. It appears simplistic and pedestrian, though citizens of Boise may be pleased as a small star denoting the location of the state capitol is included.
The new Idaho quarters minted in Denver and Philadelphia will soon be appearing in cash registers and pocket change. Rolls of 40 coins each or bags of 100 or 1,000 uncirculated quarters may be available from some banks, or they can be purchased directly from the Mint for a premium and an added shipping charge.
Posted 07/22/2007 11:07 am
