National Coin Week to be celebrated in Carson City at Nevada State Museum

In the world of coins, Carson City is a collector’s delight. Famous as the home of the U.S. Branch Mint that made some of the rarest of coins from 1870 to 1893, the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, hosts a special celebration of its coin-making past each year for National Coin Week. In partnership with the Reno Coin Club, the museum will offer programs, lectures and activities for children from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 22-23.

Reno Coin Club members will present talks on unique and rare coins both days from 1 to 3 p.m. The club will also present its popular quarter and dollar exchange and will give way foreign coins to young adults. Programs are: Robert Rodriguez, “Patterns of America’s First Coin: The 1792 Half Dime,” at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Rusty King, “Nevada’s 125th Anniversary Medal,” at 2 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday; David Elliott, the National Coin Week theme of “Portrait of Liberty: Icon of Freedom,” at 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

“The week-long celebration of numismatics will focus on depictions of Liberty from ancient to modern times on coins and paper money,” said Bob Nylen, the museum’s curator of history.

Though the mint’s historic Coin Press No. 1 is undergoing restoration and isn’t going to be in operation during the event, the museum’s extraordinary collection of Carson coins and silver are on display.

To find out more about National Coin Week events at the museum, contact Bob Nylen at 775-687-4810, ext. 245, or rnylen@nevadaculture.org. The Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St., is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is free with admission to the museum, which is $8 for adults and free for museum members or those 17 and younger. Visit museums.nevadaculture.org for more.