PORTLAND, OR – Gloria Eskridge, the United States Mint Associate Director for Sales and Marketing, joined Governor Ted Kulongoski today to officially launch the Oregon commemorative quarter-dollar coin in front of the Oregon State Historical Society in downtown Portland. The reverse design of the new quarter features an image of Oregon’s Crater Lake, which is 1,949 feet deep – the deepest lake in the United States. The third quarter to be released in 2005, it is the 33rd coin to be issued in the United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters® Program.

“Crater Lake is a great choice for the Oregon quarter,” said Associate Director Eskridge. “Crystal clear and deep, deep blue, Crater Lake’s singular beauty is sacred to the region’s Native Americans and beloved by Oregonians and the thousands who visit Crater Lake National Park every year. Because of this quarter, many more will discover Oregon’s natural wonders.”

Following the launch ceremony, which featured three of Oregon’s Native American tribes, an ice cream party was held, and coin collectors of all ages exchanged their dollar bills for rolls of Oregon quarters. On the eve of the Oregon quarter launch ceremony, the United States Mint hosted a Coin Collectors Forum at the Oregon Historical Society to discuss what the American people would like to see in their coinage. Lesson plans about the Oregon Quarter, the 50 State Quarters Program, and the Westward Journey Nickel Series™, may be downloaded free from the United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change website at http://www.usmint.gov/kids. Teachers, parents and students can also explore the many other teaching aids, and the games, puzzles and stories for kids that show how coins are “history in your pocket.”

The Oregon 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.

p>For a digital image of the Oregon quarter,

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VIDEO AVAILABLE

Satellite Feed of B-Roll of Oregon State Quarter Launch

Satellite feed date:

June 15, 2005, Feed time: 7:00-7:30 PM ET (4 PM PT), C Band, IA 6, Transponder 13, DL 3960 Vertical

June 16, 2005, Feed Time: 1:30-1:45 PM ET (10:30 AM PT), C Band, IA 6, Transponder 15, DL 4000 Vertical

This b-roll produced by the United States Mint will contain: 1. Minting of Oregon quarter. 2. Scenes from launch event at the Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR. 3. Sound bites of officials from the event, launching the new Oregon quarter.