Utah State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on November 5, 2007 as the forty-fifth coin in the State Quarter series. This also marked the final release for the year 2007. Utah’s original Statehood date was January 4, 1896.
The Utah Quarter reverse design features two locomotives moving towards a golden spike. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Crossroards of the West.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by Joseph Menna.
The quarter’s reverse design represents the famous joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. On May 10, 1869, a ceremonial golden spike joined the two railroads and completed the transcontinental route. This made cross country travel easier and cheaper to accomplish. It also symbolized the change from an agrarian society to an industrialized one.
The Utah Commemorative Quarter Commission collected narrative submissions from the state’s citizens. Three final concepts were selected and sent to the United States Mint from over 5,000 submissions. A statewide vote was held to select the final design, with more than 150,000 votes cast. The US Treasury Department later gave final approval of the design. Other design concepts considered for the Utah State Quarter included a beehive, part of the official seal and emblem of Utah, and a winter sports theme.
The Philadelphia mint produced 255,000,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 253,200,000 coins. The Utah Quarter had the lowest combined total mintage of all of the 2007 State Quarters. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
Utah Quarter Mintage
- 2007-P Utah Quarter: 255,000,000
- 2007-D Utah Quarter: 253,200,000
- 2007-S Proof Utah Quarter: 2,374,778
- 2007-S Silver Proof Utah Quarter: 1,313,481
Utah Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Joesph Menna (reverse)
- Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel (clad), 90% silver, 10% copper (silver proof)
- Diameter: 24.26 mm
- Weight: 5.67 grams
- Thickness: 1.75 mm
- Edge: Reeded
