thedrifter
12-02-06, 07:07 AM
Designs competing for selection as state quarter near completion
PHOENIX (AP) - The odds still favor the Grand Canyon as the winnowing process continues toward final selection of a design for Arizona's state quarter. But don't count out the saguaro cactus or the Navajo Codetalkers.
A commission appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano this week screened 19 preliminary designs offered by the U.S. Mint and selected five for final consideration. The mint's designers produced the 19 preliminary designs to illustrate five narratives previously submitted by the commission.
One of the chosen five preliminary designs shows a multi-rayed sun peeking over a rim of the Grand Canyon, with numerous promontories visible inside the vast chasm.
A second alternative combines much of the first design's Grand Canyon image with a separate view of a Saguaro amid other desert plants. It has a ‘‘Grand Canyon State'' banner crossing much of the quarter's equator to separate the two images of scenes that in real life would be located at least 200 miles distant.
The sun also plays prominently in both of those two alternative as well as a third devoted exclusively to a desert scene dominated by saguaros.
The interior of the Grand Canyon is the focal point of a fourth alternative. It shows a boat in Colorado River rapids inside the canyon with one-armed explorer John Wesley Powell at the helm during a 19th Century exploration.
A discarded alternative for that image focused tightly on the river scene, without any depiction of the surrounding canyon in the background.
The fifth design also includes people: three Navajo Codetalkers who, while serving as U.S. Marines in the Pacific during World War II, used their native language to thwart Japanese eavesdroppers. The design shows two Codetalkers kneeling in the jungle as one talks on a radio and the second takes notes.
A discarded version had boxes of supplies around the Codetalkers but no vegetation.
The commission, which first met in December 2005, considered thousands of entries submitted by the public.
Melodee Jackson, a gubernatorial aide serving as the commission's chairwoman, said the five preliminary designs will be returned to the state by early next year after the Mint make minor changes requested by the commission.
One of the requested changes is making sure the Codetalkers' footwear is recognizable as combat boots, Jackson said. ‘‘We paid a lot of attention to authenticity.''
Once the final designs are provided by the Mint, Napolitano will pick one for use on the state quarter, scheduled to be released publicly in early 2008.
‘‘She picks the final one,'' Jackson said. ‘‘It's her choice.''
Ellie
PHOENIX (AP) - The odds still favor the Grand Canyon as the winnowing process continues toward final selection of a design for Arizona's state quarter. But don't count out the saguaro cactus or the Navajo Codetalkers.
A commission appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano this week screened 19 preliminary designs offered by the U.S. Mint and selected five for final consideration. The mint's designers produced the 19 preliminary designs to illustrate five narratives previously submitted by the commission.
One of the chosen five preliminary designs shows a multi-rayed sun peeking over a rim of the Grand Canyon, with numerous promontories visible inside the vast chasm.
A second alternative combines much of the first design's Grand Canyon image with a separate view of a Saguaro amid other desert plants. It has a ‘‘Grand Canyon State'' banner crossing much of the quarter's equator to separate the two images of scenes that in real life would be located at least 200 miles distant.
The sun also plays prominently in both of those two alternative as well as a third devoted exclusively to a desert scene dominated by saguaros.
The interior of the Grand Canyon is the focal point of a fourth alternative. It shows a boat in Colorado River rapids inside the canyon with one-armed explorer John Wesley Powell at the helm during a 19th Century exploration.
A discarded alternative for that image focused tightly on the river scene, without any depiction of the surrounding canyon in the background.
The fifth design also includes people: three Navajo Codetalkers who, while serving as U.S. Marines in the Pacific during World War II, used their native language to thwart Japanese eavesdroppers. The design shows two Codetalkers kneeling in the jungle as one talks on a radio and the second takes notes.
A discarded version had boxes of supplies around the Codetalkers but no vegetation.
The commission, which first met in December 2005, considered thousands of entries submitted by the public.
Melodee Jackson, a gubernatorial aide serving as the commission's chairwoman, said the five preliminary designs will be returned to the state by early next year after the Mint make minor changes requested by the commission.
One of the requested changes is making sure the Codetalkers' footwear is recognizable as combat boots, Jackson said. ‘‘We paid a lot of attention to authenticity.''
Once the final designs are provided by the Mint, Napolitano will pick one for use on the state quarter, scheduled to be released publicly in early 2008.
‘‘She picks the final one,'' Jackson said. ‘‘It's her choice.''
Ellie