The 2006 Texas Quail Silver Dime is one of four designs issued in the Texas Silver Dime Collection, a companion series to the Texas Dollar program produced by the Texas Mint in Whitney, Texas. The series highlights wildlife and natural symbols associated with Texas and uses a standardized reverse design shared across all issues.
Although denominated “10¢,” the pieces were struck at approximately the diameter of a U.S. nickel, significantly larger than a traditional U.S. dime. This larger format was intentionally chosen so the coins could be easily worn as pendant jewelry, particularly for women’s necklaces.
The Quail design depicts the Northern Bobwhite quail, one of the most recognizable game birds of Texas and a long-standing symbol of the state’s ranchlands and prairie ecosystems.
Series Context
The Texas Silver Dime Collection consists of four designs:
- Dragonfly Dime
- Horned Toad Dime
- Quail Dime
- Hummingbird Dime
While denominated as dimes, the pieces function primarily as collectible silver rounds and jewelry pieces, complementing the larger Texas Dollar / Texas Silver Dollar series (2000–2009) created by Texas Mint founder Rick Pinner.
Details
| Year | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Type | Round |
| Set/Collection | Texas Silver Dime Collection |
| Mint Mark | None |
| Manufacturer / Mint | Texas Mint and Mercantile (Whitney, TX) |
| Issuer | Texas Mint and Mercantile (Whitney, TX) |
| Designer / Sculptor / Engraver | Rick Pinner |
| Obverse Image |  |
| Design: Obverse | The obverse features a standing Northern Bobwhite quail shown in profile. The bird’s rounded body, feather texture, and upright posture are rendered in raised relief. Particular attention is given to the distinctive head and throat pattern characteristic of the species. The field surrounding the bird is intentionally uncluttered, allowing the wildlife subject to dominate the design. A ring of small denticles forms a border near the rim, framing the central motif. No legends or inscriptions appear on the obverse. |
| Reverse Image | |
| Design: Reverse | The reverse employs the standardized Texas Silver Dime reverse used across the entire series. A large five-pointed Texas star occupies the center of the design. Within a circular medallion at the center of the star appears the denomination: 10¢ The surrounding legend reads: THE LONE STAR STATE TEXAS arranged around the perimeter. Below the star appears a small heart motif, a subtle artistic element incorporated into many Texas Mint designs as a unifying feature across the Texas Dollar and Texas Silver Dime programs. |
| Edge Type | Plain |
| Edge Inscription | None |
| Metal | Silver |
| Fineness | .999 |
| Weight (grams) | 6.25 |
| Weight (troy oz) | .2 |
| Diameter (mm) | 21.7 |
| Thickness (mm) | 1.9 |