Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Simplicity rules the design for Wyoming's state quarter. Instead of including maps, mountains, fences or the Old Faithful geyser, our two bits will feature the trademark bucking horse and rider silhouette, with the words, "The Equality State."

Simple is good when something is the size of a quarter. Too many states' coins are cluttered.

South Dakota, for example, threw in everything but the kitchen sink: Mount Rushmore, a Chinese ring-necked pheasant, and heads of wheat. (What else would you expect from a state that once tried to usurp Devils Tower by putting our monument on its license plate?)

On first glance, the enlarged image of Wyoming's quarter, displayed on our front page Saturday, may have seemed a tad dull. But shown at its actual size, as it is here, it's attractive and elegant.

So kudos to the 13 members of the panel that selected the finalists, and to Gov. Dave Freudenthal for a choice that should make the entire state proud. Good job.