"Trekkies" (Star Trek addicts) may disagree, but for most earth-bound beings the oceans are the "final frontier." Only a tiny percentage of those have ever been mapped. A close second would be Alaska.

Perhaps, then, it's fitting that Alaska is the second to last quarter coin to be issued in the 50 State Quarter series (Hawaii will finish it out). Begun 10 years ago, the quarters have become one of the most collected items in U.S. Mint history. Government estimates report over 130 million people collect the coins. Amazingly, many now collecting the quarters weren't even born when it all started.

Alaska's status as a final frontier is appropriate considering how much of the territory is entirely uninhabited (by humans) and essentially unexplored. The state is one-fifth the size of the entire lower 48 states. If you include the Aleutian Islands the entire state area would extend fully from our continental west coast to the east coast. Insofar as natural resources, Alaska boasts more than half the world's active glaciers and contains (I'm not kidding) three million lakes. For the record, Minnesota with the moniker "Land of Lakes" pales with only 15,000 lakes.

Initially considered a waste of money — Alaska was purchased from Russia for two cents an acre — the land soon proved to be a literal goldmine. In fact, a gold nugget could have been pictured on the coin because, in 1880, huge deposits of gold were discovered, and the rush was on. So, too, with "black gold." Alaska supplies 25 percent of the nation's petroleum. The Alaska pipeline delivers 88,000 barrels of oil per hour, so an oil derrick might have been featured.

Seafood also qualifies. Most of America's salmon, crab and halibut come from Alaska. I'd say snow could nicely represent the state, but it can actually get balmy there. In 1915, a record high temperature of 100 degrees was recorded at Fort Yukon. I don't know what that says about the contemporary argument concerning global warming.

Unquestionably, an image of a moose would be a natural on the coin. A few Alaskan laws support that. For instance, in the state it's illegal to view moose from an airplane or to push one out of a moving plane. Huh? In Fairbanks, it's also against the law for moose to have sex on the city streets or to consume alcoholic beverages. What's the penalty — a ticket? Finally — and don't attempt to figure this one out — it's illegal to whisper in someone's ear while they are moose hunting.

Eclipsing even the moose is the most majestic Alaskan animal — the Grizzly Bear. That's just what the state decided to showcase on their quarter. The coin features an impressive and beautifully engraved image of a grizzly catching a wild salmon from a stream with native wilderness in the background.

It's fortunate the bear made it onto the coin considering that it is legal to hunt them in the state. I suppose they've tried to temper that with another law. While you can kill bears, it's illegal to wake one for the purpose of taking its picture. Good to know.

The new quarters have just been released by the U.S. Mint and are on their way to banks and retail outlets in all 50 states. For collectors, they can also be purchased in rolls or bags directly from the Mint. For more information log onto www.usmint.gov or phone toll-free: 1-800-872-6468.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new Alaska state quarter has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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