Finalists selected for state quarter design

The three designs, picked by the state's Quarter Advisory Commission, include a salmon, Mount Rainier and an apple within an outline of the state; a salmon breaching the water with Mount Rainier as a backdrop; and a Northwest Native American orca.

The designs must be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury. This spring the final designs will be offered to the public in an on-line poll to help the commission make it's final recommendation to the governor, who will have the final say.

	SURVEY
	Two bits for your thoughts Three finalists are vying to be the Washington state quarter. Which of the above designs do you like the best? The combo meal — salmon, apples and a side of Mount Rainier Hold the apples, but keep the salmon Orca rising View Results

The three finalists were winnowed from five designs released in October.

Based on suggestions by Washington citizens, the U.S. Mint drew renderings of the submissions and sent them back to the state in December.

The new quarter will be the 42nd in a series commemorating the states. It is scheduled for release in 2007.

The quarters are being released five per year, based on when each state entered the union.

While Mount Rainier was the most popular image submitted for designs, one that didn't make the cut was Bigfoot.