Public Also Invited to New Mexico Coin Forum on Eve of Launch in Albuquerque

The Land of Enchantment's new commemorative quarter-dollar will soon enchant the entire nation, when the New Mexico quarter is ceremonially launched into circulation on Monday, April 7th in the Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe.  United States Mint Director Ed Moy will join Governor Bill Richardson in handing out shiny New Mexico quarters to children under 18 who attend the launch.  This event is free to the public.

The New Mexico quarter goes into circulation nationwide the same day.  After the ceremony, the public may exchange their bills for $10 rolls of New Mexico quarters at the event.  The State Capitol Building is the first place in the nation where citizens can be sure of obtaining the new quarters on the first day of circulation.

On the eve of the launch, the public and news media also are invited to a free Coin Collectors Forum from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (MT) at the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque, hosted by United States Mint Director Ed Moy. The forum on April 6, 2008, will provide an opportunity for the public to let United States Mint officials know what they'd like to see on U.S. coinage in the future.

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."

To download an image of the New Mexico quarter, go to:
http://usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=Photo#50state

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

A satellite feed  for TV stations & networks only  that includes the New Mexico Quarter Launch, sound bites of participants and production b-roll will be available on Monday, April 7th at 3:30-4:00 PM ET, C Band, GA 26C, Tr. 9, DL 3880V; and Tuesday, April 8th at 2:00-2:15 PM ET,C Band, GA 26C, Tr. 9, DL 3880V.