New Coin: The Seven Plagues of California
The Golden State’s new quarter design sparks controversy, as celebrity politicians are cited as one of seven official “plagues.”
by George Wolfe
SACRAMENTO – California has a newly minted coin which commemorates the many disasters – natural and manmade – which state residents have suffered through.
Among the “plagues” depicted on the coin are: earthquakes, fires, floods, drought, disease, crime and celebrity politicians.
"We don’t exactly get locusts or grasshoppers flying around like crazy, but we do get our share of political pestilence passing through periodically."
— Lon Seagull, winning coin designer
The winning selection was done by Lon Seagull, a graphic designer who lives in Santa Barbara. The state-sponsored design competition will pay first place winner Seagull a lifetime supply of tofu, from To Fu Or Not To Fu, Inc.
“I was struck by the notion of the classic seven biblical plagues,” said Seagull in his acceptance speech. “I mean, we don’t exactly get locusts or grasshoppers flying around like crazy, but we do get our share of political pestilence -- Reagans and Schwarzeneggars -- passing through. And of course there are the lesser plagues like mudslides, fire, West Nile virus and the like.”
The second place award went to Boyd Remmington from Santa Monica for his depiction entitled “Land of Propositions,” showing a special interest lobbyist panning for political gold.
The third place award went to Dawn Forest from Santa Clausita for her design, “Palm Springs Eternal,” featuring an elderly pair of golfers teeing off beneath a disco ball.
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