Starting Sunday, spare change could be worth more than $400.
In conjunction with National Coin Week, the Reno Coin Club will be releasing 20 quarters into local businesses marked with special stickers. The first person to find and notify the club will receive a Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set.
Everyone who finds a coin will be entered in the national drawing for a First Spouse $10 gold coin valued at more than $400.
The theme for the 2007 National Coin Week is "The Presidents are Coming," to honor the release of the $1 gold coin featuring the likeness of George Washington and the Statue of Liberty on the reverse.
The U.S. Mint will issue four of the coins a year featuring the presidents in the order that they served. The releases for 2007 are Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
The series will end with Gerald Ford because U.S. coinage can't feature people who are still alive.
As a companion, the mint will also issue a $10 gold coin featuring the first spouse on the same schedule as the presidential releases.
The Nevada State Museum is hosting a dollar exchange 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday during which visitors can exchange paper $1 bills for the new $1 coins. Volunteers Ken and Karen Hopple will be operating the Historic Coin Press No. 1, minting several types of medallions.
"Since we are a former mint and we respect our history as a mint, we wanted to do something to bring awareness to the week," said Bob Nylen, museum curator of history. "We are trying to encourage all people, especially kids that this is an interesting way to learn history."
The American Numismatic Association is sponsoring the 84th annual National Coin Week April 15-21. The goal is to educate the public about the coin collecting hobby and showcase the newest coins and collectibles available to the public.
Anyone who recovers a marked quarter should call Reno Coin Club board member David Elliott at 815-8625 as soon as possible, or visit the ANA's Web site at www.money.org. The contest ends April 21 and no entries will be accepted after that date.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
If you go
What: Dollar exchange for National Coin Week
When: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St.
info: Visitors can exchange paper dollars for the newly released $1 gold coins featuring George Washington
The Reno Coin Club will be releasing 20 quarters featuring National Coin Week stickers at Reno and Carson retail stores. Anyone who finds one is asked to call David Elliott at (775) 815-8625. The first person to notify Elliott will receive a $1 Coin Proof Set and anyone who finds one will be entered in a national contest to win a $10 gold coin valued at more than $400.