The State Capitol Senate Lawn in Phoenix will be the site of the Arizona Quarter Launch on Monday, June 2, 2008, at 10 a.m. (Arizona Time).  United States Mint Director Ed Moy will join Governor Janet Napolitano in hosting the festivities. The public and news media are invited to this free event which celebrates the 48th commemorative quarter-dollar in the popular 50 State Quarters® Program. 

The Arizona quarter goes into circulation nationwide the same day.  After the ceremony, the public may exchange their bills for $10 rolls of shiny, new Arizona quarters at the event.  Each child under 18 attending the launch will receive a free Arizona quarter.

On the eve of the launch, the public and news media are invited to a free Coin Collectors Forum in the Carnegie Center from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Arizona Time) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 hosted by United States Mint Director Ed Moy. The forum will provide an opportunity for the public to let United States Mint officials know what citizens would like to see on U.S. coinage in the future.

Arizona was the 48th state to be admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912.  The 50 State Quarters® Program honors the states in the ordered they joined the Union.

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

WHAT:  Launch of the Arizona Commemorative Quarter-Dollar     Quarter Exchange  
Coin Collectors Forum on Eve of Launch
 
WHO:  United States Mint Director Ed Moy
           Governor Janet Napolitano
           Beth and Bill, 99.9 FM KEZ Radio
           Roberta Crowe, Arizona Quarter Commission Chair
           Mariachi Aguila de Marcelino Cervantes
           Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers
  
WHEN: Launch:  June 2, 2008, 10 a.m. (Arizona Time); Quarter Exchange to follow 
Coin Collectors Forum:  June 1, 2008, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Arizona Time)
   
WHERE: Launch:  State Capitol Senate Lawn, 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix
Coin Collectors Forum:  Carnegie Center, 1101 West Washington Street, Phoenix
       
SATELLITE FEED FOR TV OUTLETS:  A satellite feed that includes the Arizona Quarter Launch, sound bites of participants and production B-roll will be available on June 2, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.-4 p.m. (ET), Galaxy 25C, Transponder 23, Downlink 4160V; and on June 3, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. (ET), Galaxy  25C, Transponder 23, Downlink  4160V.