The ongoing poll that began Jan. 20 shows that 52 percent of its participants chose the transcontinental railroad and golden spike, 20 percent liked the state's emblem of the beehive and 15 percent voted for a female snowboarder commemorating winter sports and the 2002 Olympics.

Another 11 percent of the respondents would not choose any of them.

"The snowboarder had absolutely no interest to me," Robinson said. "I thought it was a stupid thing."

The West Valley City resident, who used to work at a bank and is an avid collector of the states' quarters, said the snowboarder was not specific enough to Utah and could have been chosen by Colorado or any other state where winter sports are predominant.

She also did not vote for the beehive because "I'm not of the predominant faith. I [also] don't like honey and I don't like to be stung by bees."

Robinson did not take part in the poll but sent an e-mail to The Tribune declaring the transcontinental railroad and golden spike design as her favorite.

"I think it fell that way because people really like the theme of trains and the historical significance that it brings," said coin shop owner and Utah Quarter Design Commission member Bob Campbell.

The 4,347 people who had voted in The Salt Lake Tribune online poll by Thursday were self-selected and consequently, the results are not scientific and reflect only the views of those who responded.

However, a similar but smaller poll taken last weekend at the Wasatch Winter Coin Show at the Larry H. Miller Conference Center echoed The Salt Lake Tribune poll, Campbell said.

Of the 414 coin collectors who voted, 71 percent voted for the railroad and golden spike, 19 percent liked the beehive and only 8 percent liked the snowboarder.

That poll was conducted independently of the Utah Quarter Design Commission. The show was hosted by the Wasatch Winter Coin Club, of which Campbell is a member.

Though the beehive came in second in both polls, its was a surprisingly distant second.

"It's only surprising because of our initial findings," Campbell said. "The beehive was so involved in the initial design."

Utah schoolchildren and adults submitted about 5,000 commemorative quarter designs to the commission, many incorporating the beehive, Campbell said.

Without knowing more about the demographics of The Salt Lake Tribune poll participants, commission chairwoman Margaret Hunt said she did not know why one coin was more preferred than the others.

"I can't say I'm really surprised at the results because I didn't have any expectations," she said.

The U.S. Mint advisory committees are reviewing the potential designs and are expected to make suggestions or improvements to the designs by March. Utah residents will then be able to comment on the revisions before Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. makes the final decision.

The Utah quarter will be issued in October of 2007.

jbergreen@sltrib.com