U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy (TKE alumni from Lambda, Univ. of Wisconsin) said America’s coins are public art that people get to see every day. He said they also can be educational — such as coins with presidents’ pictures or the program to honor each of the 50 states on the backs of quarters.

Director Moy and Gov. Bill Richardson launched New Mexico’s quarter on Monday 07 April 2008 at the state Capitol in Santa Fe. Moy will also be in Albuquerque for a coin collectors’ forum open to everyone.

The New Mexico quarter is the 47th coin of the United States Mint’s popular 50 State Quarters Program, because New Mexico was the 47th state to be accepted into the Union in 1912.  The coin bears the image of a Zia sun symbol over a topographical outline of the State with the inscription “Land of Enchantment.”  The coin also bears the inscriptions “New Mexico” and “1912.”

The New Mexico quarter design:

WHAT:

Launch of the New Mexico Commemorative Quarter-Dollar &
Quarter Exchange
Coin Collectors Forum on Eve of Launch

WHO:

United States Mint Director Ed Moy
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
Secretary Stuart Ashman, Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historian Estevan Rael-Galvez
Santa Fe All Stars

WHEN:

Launch:  April 7th, 2008, 11 a.m. (MT); Quarter Exchange to immediately follow ceremony

Coin Collectors Forum:  April 6, 2008, 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (MT)

WHERE:

Launch:  Capitol Rotunda, State Capitol Building, Santa Fe, NM
Coin Collectors Forum:  National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico, 1701 Fourth St. SW, Albuquerque, NM