Minnesota 50 State Quarter
50 State Quarter of Minnesota
Designed by Charles L. Vickers
Released April 4, 2005
Minnesota is a midwestern US state bordering Canada and Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. The name comes from the Dakota word for "clear blue water." It’s famously home to more than 10,000 lakes, including Lake Itasca, headwaters of the Mississippi River. On May 11, 1858 Minnesota became the 32 state being created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory
Mintage: 488,000,000
The second quarter to be released in 2005 commemorates the State of Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes." The 50 State Quarter of Minnesota was released on April 4, 2005, featuring a tree-lined lake with two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured outline of the state. The official state bird, loons are found on lakes throughout central and northeastern Minnesota. The coin celebrates the state's heritage of natural beauty and outdoor recreation. Minnesota is home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a one-million acre wilderness area with more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes. Inscription: Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Minnesota 50 State Quarter
The second quarter to be released in 2005 commemorates the State of Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes." On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state admitted into the Union, and as such, it is the 32nd coin to be issued in the United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters® Program. The design features a tree-lined lake with two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured outline of the State surrounding its nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" actually contains more than 15,000 such bodies of water whose total shoreline exceeds 90,000 miles - more than California, Hawaii and Florida combined. Equally renowned as the home of the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, the name Minnesota is derived from the Dakota Sioux word for "cloudy water."
The natural beauty of Minnesota is vividly depicted on the reverse of this new quarter-dollar. Lined with Norway Pine, many of the lakes throughout the State offer much in the way of outdoor recreation, as well as providing a home for the graceful loon, Minnesota's state bird. Minnesota is also home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This one- million acre wilderness area was established by Congress in 1978, and contains more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes and nearly 2,200 designated campsites.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the winning design at the 2004 Governor's Fishing Opener. By selecting the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" design, Governor Pawlenty chose the design recommended to him by the Minnesota State Quarter Commission. Other designs considered were "State with Symbols" including the State outline, snowflake, loon and plow, and "Mississippi River Headwaters" and "Fisherman/Lake Recreation." The Department of Treasury approved the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" design on June 15, 2004.
Source: United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program
