Denver, Colorado –The newest quarter in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program was launched today at the Colorado State Capitol following a procession by horse-drawn stagecoach that began five blocks away and brought quarters from the United States Mint at Denver. The stagecoach was greeted at the state capitol by Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Sandra Pack, United States Mint Deputy Director David A. Lebryk, Colorado Governor Bill Owens, First Lady Frances Owens and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

The new quarter depicts a sweeping view of the rugged Rocky Mountains and bears a banner with the inscription “Colorful Colorado.”

“This quarter evokes Colorado’s rainbow of beauty and color,” said Deputy Director Lebryk, “what the anthem “America the Beautiful” calls ‘purple mountains majesty.’ Today, we celebrate the launch of a beautiful addition to the 50 State Quarters program, and the centennial anniversary of the United States Mint at Denver, one of two proud facilities that together will make up to 650 million “Colorful Colorado” quarters.”

The Colorado quarter also bears the inscriptions “Colorado” and “1876,” the year Colorado became a state. Colorado, nicknamed the “Centennial State,” was admitted into the Union on August 1, 1876, becoming our Nation’s 38th state. The Colorado quarter is the 38th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program and the third commemorative quarter-dollar released in 2006.

Following the launch ceremony, Assistant Secretary Pack, Deputy Director Lebryk, Governor and First Lady Owens and Mayor Hickenlooper handed out shiny, new Colorado quarters to the children in the crowd. Adults lined up to exchange their bills for $10 rolls of Colorado quarters.

Free United States Mint lesson plans about the Colorado quarter-dollar may be downloaded at www.usmint.gov/kids.

The United States Mint also hosted a Coin Collectors Forum at the Auraria Campus on the eve of the launch in which the public was asked to share their ideas on coin programs and coin design.

The Colorado 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.

For a DIGITAL IMAGE of the Colorado quarter, click on the link below:

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/CoinLibrary/

For a SATELLITE FEED of Colorado Quarter Launch (News media only):

Wednesday, June 14, 3:30-4:00 PM ET, IA 5/13 DL 3960V