Today, the U.S. Mint will start stamping the New Hampshire state quarter -- the ninth in the 50 state series -- which will be released for public use later this summer.
The new design will feature George Washington on one side and "The Old Man in the Mountain" on the reverse.
Dartmouth Outing Club President Eli Diament '02 said he was excited to hear about the new design. He described the coin's inspiration as "a rock formation which when viewed from the side appears to be an old man with a distinct chin and eyebrow."
The New Hampshire quarter stems from the 1997 Fifty States Commemorative Coin Program Act, which was designed in part to encourage young people to collect the coins and learn about each state's unique history.
Anne Cloudman '02 is putting the Commemorative Coin Program Act to use. She told The Dartmouth that she purchased an official state quarter holder, and acknowledged that she is in the process of filling up the spaces.
Because of the coins' educational purposes, choosing the icon for each state quarter had to be a well-thought-out process.
In New Hampshire, the decision was a collaborative one. Anyone interested could write into the Governor's Commemorative Coin Committee with ideas for the state's quarter. Over the course of the contest, 300 people submitted ideas for the design.
For various reasons, including the strict design criteria provided by the U.S. Mint, five designs were ultimately sent into the Mint for consideration.
The five designs chosen had to have a widespread appeal, and be a long-existing state representation, as the coins will be in circulation for at least 30 years.
One design was all Robert Frost imagery, a forest with white birch trees -- the state tree of New Hampshire -- and a forked road symbolizing his poem "The Road Less Traveled."
Another option was a town meeting house, celebrating New Hampshire's political involvement and its First in the Nation primary status.
A third choice was a covered bridge with a forest and mountain in the background to commemorate New Hampshire's natural beauty.
The final two choices were both of "The Old Man in the Mountain" rock formation in Franconia Notch State Park, about an hour north of Hanover.
The Mint then sent back the five designs as they would appear on the quarter for the committee's final decision. The committee chose "The Old Man in the Mountain" design with nine stars representing New Hampshire as the ninth state to ratify the constitution.
The Old Man in the Mountain is also on all New Hampshire license plates, so it is a well known symbol for the Granite State.
