Silver and brass medallions bearing the designs of the Nevada State Seal, The Pony Express and the Carson City Mint will be minted from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at the Nevada State Museum.
The minting by the 19th century coin press is open to the public and the medallions will be available for purchase at the Museum Store.
Coin Press No. 1 was manufactured by Morgan and Orr in Philadelphia and arrived at the Carson City U.S. Branch Mint in 1869. On Feb. 11, 1870, this press struck the first coin bearing the soon-to-be famous CC mintmark, a Seated Liberty dollar. When the Carson City Mint closed in the 1890s the press was moved to Philadelphia Mint. In the 1940s it was transferred to the San Francisco Mint.
The Nevada State Museum acquired the old press before it was scrapped in 1958. The press was on display for a few years then, in 1964, the U.S. Mint borrowed the press to help deal with a severe coin shortage in 1964. The old press was trucked to the Denver Mint and put into operation, striking more than 188 million coins during the next three years.
The press was returned to Nevada in 1967 and, in 1976, was used to strike the state's Bicentennial medals in gold, silver, copper and bronze. The Nevada State Museum started its own medallion series in 1977. Today, museum volunteers Ken and Karen Hopple operate the press on the last Friday of each month and on special occasions.
The Nevada State Museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
IF YOU GO
What: Historic Coin Press No. 1 in Operation
When: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday
Where: Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson Street, Carson City
Information: 687-4810
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