December 14, 2005
Wednesday

Alaska will soon join the rest of the nation and have its own state coin. Design ideas, submitted in writing instead of a drawing, are being accepted beginning January 1, 2006, according to the Commemorative Coin Commission whose members are appointed by the Governor. The deadline for submitting an entry is February 28, 2006, and all Alaskans are welcome to participate. A special effort is being made to encourage Alaska's schoolchildren to participate.

Members of the Alaska State Commemorative Coin Commission will review the entries and forward three to five finalist entries to the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program which is creating coins for every state. After the Mint's artists have produced coin designs from the selected entries, the Commission and the Governor's office will coordinate the final selection process for the Alaska quarter. Coins are released every ten months in the order states were admitted to the union. Alaska was the 49th state admitted to the union in 1959. Hawaii followed shortly thereafter.

First Lady Nancy Murkowski will work with the Commission to select the narratives. "I look forward to helping review the creative submissions from Alaskans," said the First Lady. "The work we do today will creatively represent Alaska for decades to come."

Governor Frank H. Murkowski appointed the Commemorative Coin Commission members in April, 2005. All commission meetings are held the first Thursday of every month in Anchorage in the Atwood building conference room 1760.

On the Web:

Alaska Coin Commission, including information about submission criteria, and the United States Mint's 50 'State Quarter Program
http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/alaska_coin.htm

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Commerce
www.commerce.state.ak.us

SitNews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska