State officials and Utah citizens gathered at an official launch ceremony Friday to hear Gov. Jon Huntsman announce November 9 as Utah quarter day and present the newly designed state quarter.

The new quarter depicts the golden spike and two trains meeting at Promontory Summit in 1869.

Setting the tone for the ceremony, Ken Verdoia of PBS KUED, the master of ceremonies, spoke about coins and the importance they have.

"A coin is more than something used for a football game or a meter," Verdoia said. "A coin is living history, it is living art."

For the design of Utah commemorative quarter, individuals submitted over 5,000 design ideas. Mary Kaye Huntsman, first lady of Utah, then chose three finals designs, which were voted on by Utah citizens. Over 150,000 people voted for the chosen design of the golden spikes and train.

"Utah's contribution to the 50 state quarters is unique in that it celebrates our nation as a nation coming together," Verdoia said. "Today, the Utah state quarter celebrates the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad that bound our nation together from sea to shining sea Thanks for the work that was done by men from the east and the west who were racing against time, racing against history and racing to complete a dream. The dream was realized in Utah and that's what we celebrate today, the joining of America."

Gov. Huntsman and his wife received two commemorative coins that symbolize the first day of production. Gov. Huntsman then placed a decal of the Utah quarter on a U.S. map where it is accompanied by decals of the other 44 states with completed commemorative coins.

More than 450 million commemorative Utah coins will be distributed in the upcoming months.

Huntsman spoke of what the back of the coin means to him, that it represents one very important word: innovation.

"Today [we are] the most innovative state in the entire United States and I don't think it's unfair to say that back in 1869 we were then the most innovative state," he said. "This railroad allowed the movement of people, allowed the movement of goods and it was a remarkable thing for this country."

Throughout the ceremony, elementary school children participated through musical performances, leading the pledge of allegiance and answering history questions.

"Kids are our living legacy; Quarters are a legacy too," Huntsman said. "That's what made us make them [the kids] a part of today. The kids need to own this opportunity and bring together the legacies."

Huntsman addressed the importance of the quarter today.

"Today the coin means that Utah is still on the crest of innovation and still places transportation on the list of one of the things most important to our state," he said. "Since 1869, Utah has continued to develop and implement innovative forms of transportation."

The ceremony closed with Gov. Huntsman signing the official declaration for the quarter and asking three children to help him with dating the declaration before he began distributing mint condition coins to all the children present.

"I liked the whole day; I loved getting a free quarter," said Thomas Petrucka, a 4th grader at Wilson Elementary School. "I learned a lot about the railroad and the quarter and what they mean. I also learned what the state represents."

Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Nov 2007