SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Missouri's Ozarks National Scenic Riverways will be represented on the flipside of a new U.S. coin by either a turtle or a historic mill.
The new U.S. quarter is expected to debut in 2017 as part of the U.S. Mint's "America the Beautiful" program that highlights state scenic sites or historic moments.
Turtle fans say that reptile captures the spirit of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, at the heart of the national park. But others say the historic Alley Mill best represents the park.
Two groups, which considered nine designs to represent the park, have come to different conclusions about which one should be on the coin.
The seven-member Council of Fine Arts, appointed by President Barack Obama, on Friday recommended a drawing of historic Alley Mill, which was established in 1868 near the Jacks Fork River to grind local farmers' grain.
But the 11-member Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee recommended the turtle design, which the group's chairwoman called possibly the best coin design the group had ever seen.
"Our group felt the turtle design was really clean and would strike (print on a coin) well," said Mary Lannin, committee chairwoman. "From an artistic viewpoint, the dividing line between the turtle under water looking at the person enjoying the water on top was just very appealing."
Thomas Luebke, spokesman for the Council of Fine Arts disagreed and chose the mill.
"There was discussion of the turtle design, but there was concern that it was kind of generic, like that scene could have been from anywhere," he said.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary will make the final call and doesn't have to choose from the two that were recommended.