Colorado's quarter

Colorado's quarter
An appropriate occasion to honor Mesa Verde

August 2, 2001

A scene from Mesa Verde is a splendid idea for the back of a Colorado quarter. That it would also serve to commemorate the park’s 100th anniversary makes it all the more fitting.

Every 10 weeks the U. S. Mint releases a new quarter honoring one of the 50 states. The series began in 1999, and is proceeding in the order in which the states were admitted into the union. The way the math works out, Colorado’s quarter will be minted in 2006 — an even century after Mesa Verde was named a national park.

The idea for celebrating the park on a quarter originated with Mesa Verde Park Superintendent Larry Wiese, who mentioned it to state Rep. Mark Larson. In turn, Larson wrote to U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in the hope that the senator’s experience in promoting the American Buffalo silver dollar could also be of help with the Colorado quarter.

Larson is optimistic that by getting the Mesa Verde idea out early it will have the inside track when the final decision is made. And, given the time involved that may well work.

Using a procedure to be chosen by the governor, Colorado will submit between three and five possible designs to the U.S. Mint. They will then be reviewed by a series of committees and commissions, and the secretary of the treasury. That process usually starts about 1 1/2 years before the coin is minted, or in about three years.

The image that Wiese had in mind would be a likeness of Square Tower House, a four-story tall structure on Chapin Mesa. It is not usually accessible to visitors and as such would offer a view of the park different than those most frequently portrayed. A park spokesman described it as a "unique structure, very beautiful, very picturesque," which sounds as if it would make for both an attractive coin and a healthy representation of Colorado.

It has other advantages as well. As spectacular as Colorado’s scenery is, few sites are both easily portrayed on something the size of a quarter and instantly recognizable. Mesa Verde fits that bill.

Marking Mesa Verde’s 100th anniversary with the coin would call well-deserved attention to one of America’s first and most spectacular national parks, honor an ancient civilization, and remind Americans of the importance of preserving our architectural heritage. Any one of those would be reason enough to applaud the idea.