No rest for historic coin press on Labor Day

It was a noisy endeavor Monday as the Nevada State Museum warmed up Press No. 1 and began minting commemorative coins for a seemingly endless stream of visitors.

"That's a good one, nothing under $10 for these," joked press operator Ken Hopple of Reno to his wife, Karen, as he laid down some newly minted brass coins depicting the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

With a gloved hand, Karen Hopple lovingly placed each coin in a cardboard sleeve then a plastic box for sale at $4.

"We've made about 150 this morning," said Bob Nylen, curator of history for the museum. "This afternoon, we'll switch to fine silver coins."

The press was in operation as a precursor to the Carson City Mint Annual Coin Show Saturday and Sunday at the museum.

Forty dealers from across the Western half of the United States will attend the show, offering Carson City-minted silver dollars, rare domestic and foreign coins, paper notes and currency, historical documents, tokens, gaming chips, stamps, books, jewelry, collecting supplies and free appraisals.

At least once a month, the press, which struck the first coin bearing the "CC" mint mark in 1870, is fired up for coin and history enthusiasts, Nylen said.

Despite its frequent runnings, one Carson City collector saw it in action for the first time Monday.

"This is fascinating," said John, a 23-year resident of Carson City. He asked that his last name not be used because of his coin collection's value. "I just happened to catch the press today."

He had decided to take home two of the silver coins and a brass one to add to his collection, which he began about three years ago.

John admits his collecting is a passion, especially when it comes to passing it on to children.

"Just about anything to do with Carson City coins and the mint, I collect," he said. "You can hold a piece of history in your hand."

Dozens of history lovers and the curious filed through the cool hallways and stairwells of the museum, taking in the coins and three floors of Nevada history from American Indian basket weaving to the world's largest, exhibited Imperial mammoth skeleton, found in the Black Rock Desert.

Monday, the museum was bustling with about 450 visitors, in part thanks to the constant drone of the 134-year-old Press No. 1.

As he ran the press, Hopple offered bits of coin history to the crowd gathered round.

"He's so knowledgeable. We're lucky to have him," Nylen said. "We've had a tremendous turnout today."