Carson City, Nevada — Wild horses on the run, sagebrush and the sun rising behind snow–capped mountains grace the Nevada commemorative quarter–dollar coin, the newest coin in the United States Mint’s popular 50 State Quarters Program. United States Mint Acting Director David A. Lebryk, Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn and State Treasurer Brian K. Krolicki launched the Nevada quarter–dollar today on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Carson City.
“The trio of wild horses galloping across the Nevada quarter captures the freedom of the American spirit and the bold and rugged beauty of Nevada,” said Acting Director Lebryk.
Nevada is home to most of the Nation’s wild horses, and they are mentioned in the journals of settlers dating back nearly 200 years. Below the horses on the coin is a banner reading “The Silver State,” Nevada’s nickname.
On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th state to be admitted into the Union, and the Nevada quarter is the 36th coin in the 50 State Quarters Program.
Following the launch ceremony featuring McAvoy Layne as Mark Twain and the delivery of Nevada quarters by the Carson City Pony Express, Acting Director Lebryk, Governor Guinn and Treasurer Krolicki handed out shiny, new Nevada quarters to the children in the crowd. Adults lined up to exchange their bills for $10 rolls of Nevada quarters.
The Governor declared January 31, 2006, through March 2006, as a time to celebrate the Nevada quarter in the classroom. Free United States Mint lesson plans about the Nevada quarter–dollar may be downloaded at www.usmint.gov/kids.
The United States Mint also hosted a Coin Collectors Forum in Reno on the eve of the launch at which the public was asked to share ideas on coin programs and design.
Carson City is one of the few United States cities with the distinction of once having an operating branch of the United States Mint. The Carson City Mint at 603 North Carson Street operated from 1870 to 1893 at the peak of Nevada’s silver mining boom.
The Carson City Mint, with a mint mark of “CC,” issued Double Eagles, Half Eagles, Trade Dollars and other interesting coins when in operation. From 1895 to 1933, the building served as the United States Assay Office for gold and silver. The building was sold to the State of Nevada in 1939.
The Nevada quarter is available in two–roll sets (40 coins per roll), including one roll each from the United States Mint at Philadelphia and Denver, and in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins, at the United States Mint website at www.usmint.gov. The two–roll sets are $32.00, bags of 100 coins are $35.50, and bags of 1,000 coins are $300.00.
For DIGITAL IMAGE of the Nevada quarter, click here
For SATELLITE FEED (News media only): Tuesday, January 31; 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET; C Band, IA 5, Tr. 23 DL 4160V