The Kentucky Quarter
The Kentucky quarter, released in 2001 as part of the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program, features a design that celebrates the state's heritage. The reverse side depicts Federal Hill, also known as "My Old Kentucky Home," alongside a thoroughbred racehorse. This imagery pays homage to Kentucky's famous horse racing tradition, particularly the Kentucky Derby, and to Stephen Foster's famous song "My Old Kentucky Home." (our State song) The "four plank fence" is a typical fence used on many of our horse farms.
THE KENTUCKY QUARTER
By Bob Farmer
Many people are interested in my role in designing the Kentucky Quarter coin that was issued October 18th, 2001.
Sometime in 1998 I read about the future State Quarter program and noted that the US Mint asked that the Governor from each state appoint an individual to be in charge of the program. Well, I was an individual!
I was also a coin collector, somewhat of an artist and a history buff, so I wrote the Governor's office and asked for a meeting. When I didn't receive a reply, I wrote back and asked why they did not reply.
Sure enough, I got an appointment with the director of tourism and took him something a kin to a term paper on the subject. To my surprise, I received a formal letter dated January 15, 1999 and signed by the Governor appointing me liaison to the US Mint for the Kentucky Quarter project.
Once the Delaware Quarter came out in late January 1999, a committee was formed with myself, the Governor's wife Judi Patton and two other government employees. Mrs. Patton was very interested and instrumental in this project. She was also very nice to work with.
We were able to go to the US Mint in Philadelphia and meet with the engravers. I was amazed that the engravers did not have computers as all of their artwork was sculpted in clay and done by hand! Our committee announced a state-wide contest and 98% of all drawings sent to us were from school children.
Actual drawing sent to the mint.
We received lots of drawings of horses, cardinals, basketballs and guns – (It is Kentucky you know.) Mrs. Patton and the committee knew from the start that the image on the quarter should be of My Old Kentucky Home, a state park and our state song.
It was my suggestion to have a thoroughbred horse in the front yard, and a real four-plank Kentucky fence in the foreground. Mrs. Patton liked that idea and asked to see what it would look like. I had that image sketched out and it is the image on the quarter. Mrs. Patton approved of the drawing "as is" and this is what we sent to the US Mint.
The engravers at the mint sculpt the image by hand into a clay mold about the size of a dinner plate. The engraver called me and said he had an ample amount of house and horse photos, but he just didn't know how the four-plank fence was put together. I told him I had a fence like that around my house and would be glad to take several photographs of the fence for him.
When I saw the final image I was stunned that the photo of the fence around my house I sent him was perfectly reproduced.
I must say that this little 1- inch wide quarter and the project I was involved in was about the coolest thing that I have ever done!
ABOUT BOB FARMER
Bob Farmer is a popular speaker, humorist, and motivator. His name and talent make it a natural partnership with North America's most respected publication and brand, the Farmers' Almanac.
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