With the theme, “Celebrating Civic Service,” Nevada State Museum in Carson City and the Reno Coin Club will join coin collectors from across the United States the for the 91st Annual National Coin Week, April 20 to 26. Nevada’s observance is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26 at the museum, the site of the original U.S. Mint in Carson City.
Placed in service Feb. 11, 1870, Historic Coin Press No. 1 still operates for special occasions on site and will mint medallions from 10 to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on both days. Two Nevada Sesquicentennial medallion designs were minted on the coin press since October 2013 and two more are planned in the run up to the Nevada Day celebration of the state’s 150th birthday on Oct. 31.
The coin press is now operated and maintained by museum volunteer Ken Hopple of Reno for the State Museum. Under his supervision, the press mints the last Friday of each month. The same press struck the first coin in 1870, bearing the soon-to-be-famous CC mintmark, a Seated Liberty dollar. For nearly a quarter of a century it was used to strike most of the larger denomination pieces produced from 1870 to 1885 and again from 1889 to 1893.
The national event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy half-dollar, according to David Elliott, president of the Reno Coin Club. New U.S. coins will be available at face value or cost and the group will hold the popular coin exchange. The coin club has a series of programs to be offered both days. The museum will mint in .999 fine silver a special Reno Coin Club 30th Anniversary commemorative medallion Friday.
“The historic coin press will operate both days from 10 a.m. to noon and then again from 1 to 3 p.m.,” said Robert Nylen, curator of history for the museum. The coin club medallions can be purchased at the press for $65, he said.
Raffle tickets for the August 2014 Carson City Mint Coin Show and Fair will also be sold for the grand prize drawing at 3 pm, Saturday, Aug. 23. Winners need not be present to win. Raffle tickets are now available at the museum admissions desk at $1 each or 6 for $5. For raffle ticket mail orders, contact Deborah: dstevenson@nevadaculture.org or 775-687-4810, ext. 237.
National Coin Week is sponsored by the American Numismatic Association. More activities are available on www.money.org. The museum will offer free foreign coins for children who attend the educational show. Admission is $8, members and children 17 and younger are free. The museum is at 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City. For more information, contact 687-4810 extension 239, rnylen@nevadaculture.org or visit Nevadaculture.org.