June 16, 2008 — It's official: The V.I. Beauty design won the Commemorative Quarter contest by a wide margin.
V.I. Beauty received 6,882 votes, while the other two entries, First in Freedom and Three Queens, received 4,553 and 1,887 votes, respectively. (See "Quarter to Three: Field Narrows for Commemorative Coin Design.")
The design includes the three major islands; the territory's official bird, the yellow breast or banana quit; and the official flower of the Virgin Islands, the yellow cedar or yellow elder. A beach is also depicted with a tyre palm, a species native to the territory. Additionally, the inscription "United in Pride and Hope" is included. It's the official motto of the territory, also found on the V.I. territorial seal. The design represents the overall natural beauty of the territory's islands.
"I am proud to forward a recommendation to the U.S. Mint for the V.I. commemorative quarter design," "said Gov. John deJongh Jr., according to a Government House news release. "After a three-week-long voting period, Virgin Islanders have collectively selected an overall favorite design, and I thank the community for its participation in this truly historic process."
Residents voted electronically and by paper ballot.
The designs were submitted by members of the V.I. Commemorative Quarter Selection Committee after passage of a bill that added the Virgin Islands, other territories and Washington, D.C., to the commemorative quarter program. Delegate Donna M. Christensen sponsored the bill. (See "V.I. to Get Its Own Two Bits in 2009.")
Government House will forward the final design to the Mint this week. The determining decision then lies with U.S. Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson.
Later this fall, Paulson will send deJongh the design selected at the national level. A production and circulation schedule will then follow. The production of the V.I. quarter will begin in 2009.
Commemorative quarters will also be issued in 2009 featuring Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.
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