Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils new California quarter

Sac Bee ^ | 3/29/04 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled the design of California's new quarter Monday, which shows conservationist John Muir, a California condor and Yosemite National Park's Half Dome mountain on the coin's tails side.

The quarter commemorates California's Sept. 9, 1850, entry into the United States, and is the 31st 25-cent coin to be unveiled as part of a 10-year, 50-state quarters program conducted by the U.S. Mint. States reveal their quarters in honor of the order in which they ratified the U.S. Constitution and joined the union.

[NormsRevenge]

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger displays the final choice for the California quarter Monday, March 29. The winning entry, designed by Los Angeles artist Garrett Burke, shows Yosemite National Park's Half Dome mountain, conservationist John Muir, and a California condor in flight. The quarter is scheduled to be minted beginning in January.

[NormsRevenge]

I guess the one with the cross-dressing miner on the front and IOU stamped on the back didn't make it.

[freedom44]

What the hell is that on his finger?

[So Cal Rocket]

I preferred this design:

[NormsRevenge]

.

[theDentist]

I note that Muir has a cane or walking stick. I guess that's how California continues to see people, as crippled and in need of support.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Leave it to "Ka-li-for-ne-uns" to pick an "eco-wacko" and a "Butt Ugly" bird.

[normy]

Isn't the Condor a vulture? How fitting.

[BlazingArizona]

My design would have been a mudslide putting out a brushfire.

[Hugin]

PC crap. It should have a prospector, the Golden gate Bridge and the Hollywood sign. That's what represents CA to most of the world.

[Hodar]

Leave it to "Ka-li-for-ne-uns" to pick an "eco-wacko" and a "Butt Ugly" bird.

Umm, John Muir (eco-wacko) is responsible for the preservation of the Giant Redwoods (Sequia Redwoods) which were being knocked down and used for shingles. The Redwood tree lumber is very brittle, and the trees 'shattered' when they hit the earth.

His words and deeds helped inspire President Theodore Roosevelt's innovative conservation programs, including establishing the first National Monuments by Presidential Proclamation, and Yosemite National Park by congressional action.

Link

The trees are also noted as some of the oldest, and tallest trees on the planet.

The "Butt-Ugly" bird, the California Condor is has the largest wingspan of any bird on earth. The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest flying bird in North America, with a wingspan between 9 and 10 feet.

Link

I'd say that they were worthy figures to place on a coin.

[The Dude Abides]

The question is... where can I get one.

[blowfish]

Uhh, calling John Muir an 'eco-wacko' is like calling Albert Schweitzer a 'bleeding heart do-gooder'. John Muir contributed more to this country than most people in our history.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

OK, so it has a large wing-span.
It's still a butt ugly bird!
And John Muir was still an ECO-Wacko, no matter how much you try to sugar coat it!

[BunnySlippers]

A fingernail.

[blowfish]

Sugar coat it? I ain't sugar coating anything. If John Muir was a wacko, we could use a few more wackos like him.
Have you ever read any of his books? Have you ever visited Yosemite or Yellowstone? Thank the wacko that they weren't trashed a long time ago.

[dmz]

I'm sorry, but have ever been out in the woods on a good hike? Lots of hikers use walking sticks.

It's not a sign of infirmity (except, it seems, to you).

[dmz]

and Rush Limbaugh is nothing but a washed out drug addict.

Just thought I'd say something as ridiculous as you did about John Muir.

[theDentist]

(Yawn)

Yes, I've hiked. And I've used a walking stick. And California is trying to lead the nation in being the Nanny state, supplying cradle-to-grave tax-supported programs that are breaking the economic back.

[Carry_Okie]

Thank the wacko that they weren't trashed a long time ago.

This is less true than it used to be. Yosemite Valley is a silvicultural disaster. Much of the rest of the park's forests aren't in much better shape.