A couple of weeks ago, when we asked for your two cents' worth on the design of the new Washington state quarter, the ideas came pouring forth like the jackpot from a nickel slot. More than 100 readers sent in drawings or electronic renditions of their ideas, and more than 100 of the more artistically modest sent in word descriptions.

There were many votes for our icons, including Mount Rainier and the Space Needle (plus one passionate plea: "No Space Needle! It is too much Seattle!"). Lots of votes for salmon, and one for trout.

Honesty figured prominently in some suggestions — several said the image should include rain, as young Toby Meyer does in the drawing at top right, an apple flanked by two large raindrops.

There was a good dose of whimsy, as well: See Holly Brautigam's drawing, with fairies hovering over Mount Rainier; Ed Maltos with the beloved TV clown J.P. Patches; and Rose Ridder with Sasquatch swinging from the Space Needle. And it wouldn't be the Seattle region without a dose of political suggestions, from both right and left. John Landry makes his point clear: "4¢ — The actual value of your quarter after wasted tax money is spent."

This was not a contest, so there's no single winner. The purpose is just to inspire those who will pick the final design to listen to the ideas of the state's citizens.

Here are a selection of proposed designs and a few of the descriptions readers sent in.

Natural resources and general themes

Someone holding an umbrella with his head tilted back facing the sky, catching raindrops on his tongue. Why? Because Washington has adverse weather, and the nation seems to ridicule anyone who could possibly enjoy living here. I'm tired of Mount Rainer, the Space Needle. Washington is not about just these things, but foremost the character of the people who live here. The ability to laugh, enjoy and embrace the rain and turn it into something good. So catching raindrops on your tongue is fun at any age! Try it!

— Leslie D. Gemmell, Mukilteo

I am giving my support to the Mount Rainier design on the 2007 quarter.

Memorializing Mount Rainier as the symbol of Washington state should be obvious. Those who have seen and experienced the mountain should agree, and those who have not would probably enjoy the opportunity to do so.

There is something magic about the experience of being on and around Mount Rainier. Its presence is both special, and dominates the heart of Washington state. Don't mess with magic!

— Dale Danell, Colville

I was looking at your ideas for the quarters and I decided I liked the Bigfoot one the best because it made me laugh. However, instead of Mount Rainier (because we have it on our license plates), I believe we should have one about Mount St. Helens because that caused more commotion than Mount Rainier. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Mount Rainier isn't absolutely breathtaking, but if it's our mascot for everything, people are going to get tired of it.

— Cathy Shipman, Bothell

A number of readers had the same brilliant idea, which one termed the " 'Heads You Always Win' design." Here's another:

By George!

The design for the backside of our new state quarter is a natural: the Seal of the State of Washington! George on both sides! The first and only legally tendered two-headed quarter!

The territorial voters' first choice for the name of our new state was Columbia, but the wise members of Congress thought it might get confused with the District of Columbia. In their great wisdom they chose Washington instead, and the confusion has never stopped. So let's make the best of it and create a coin that will settle bets and con suckers the world over — the two-headed George Washington quarter!

— Ron Henshaw, fourth-generation Washingtonian, Seattle

Politics and commentary

I think the hammer and sickle is perfect for the Soviet Republic of Seattle. Or we could put "Baghdad" Jim McDermott or "Osama mama" Patty Murray on there just to reflect how proud we are to have such brilliant people as our elected officials.

— Roger Miller, Tumwater

Of course the Rainier quarter is the best choice, though the beauty of the mountain may draw additional asylum seekers to our state. Having that quarter floating around willy-nilly will just be added marketing for drawing yet more settlers to our area. Do we really want that?

Maybe a quarter with a picture of underfunded schools would be better. Or how about a picture of Tim Eyman robbing the treasury? Now there's the reality lying under our beloved mountain!

— J. Jason Graff, Seattle

Washington is best represented these days by showing an SUV running a red light. To be truly representative, there should be a pedestrian or two running for their lives.

— Diane Dambacher, Seattle

My idea for the Washington quarter would be a montage of pictures of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge falling down, a picture of the I-90 Floating Bridge sinking, and two hard-hatted engineers next to an obviously cracked Alaskan Way Viaduct. (One should be holding plans upside down, while the other scratches his head quizzically.) The slogan on the coin should read, "The State of Transportation."

— Michael Capitano, Seattle

Whimsy and humor

I like best the Sasquatch-illustrated quarter. However, in order to impart a more contemporary design, could you add an iPod to one hand and place the ubiquitous white headphones on his ears?

— Kevin Long, Seattle

My suggestion for a Washington state quarter is: an image of D.B. Cooper, latte in hand, parachuting from a Boeing airliner piloted by Bigfoot and filled with rioting WTO protesters, while in the background, a ferry rams into a sinking floating bridge as the latest version of Windows XP causes a personal computer to crash.

— John C. Caldwell,

Greenwich, Conn.

I'd like to see — a salmon with an apple shoved in its mouth, eyes bulging out (for comic effect), roasting over a chopped-down pine tree.

— Sonya Rodgers, Seattle