When Nevada’s historic coin press fires up for its August run at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, it will have plenty of company. The former United States Mint press will be surrounded by 23 coin dealers from across the country Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25, for the 2012 Carson City Mint Coin Show. The museum’s premier fundraising event showcases outstanding collections, family fun and medallions made onsite.
Dealers will buy, sell or trade coins during the event and offer free appraisals. The Reno Coin Club will exhibit collections and information in the North Gallery.
Coin Press No.1, the original Carson City press, will operate both days from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., minting commemorative medallions with the famous CC mint mark. Curator Bob Nylen will share Nevada mint history and will be joined by Ken Hopple who has volunteered for more than 12 years as the museum’s chief coiner.
“I’ve met all the governors and Gen. Chuck Yeager too. To be in the Carson City Mint—it has so much lore and history. It is neat stuff,” Hopple said. As a member of an amateur archeologist society, Hopple said he became involved with the press when important artifacts were dug up onsite years ago. Seeing the faces of people who visit kept him coming back to help. “People eat it up.”
The show is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Among the activities planned for the two-day event are collections, exhibits, minting and gold panning. Children can pick from a treasure chest filled with free foreign coins. Live Western and oldies music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday is by Joseph E. Greco. Gold panning is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. For $5 children will get hands-on help and will keep any gold flakes found in their pan.
“A significant part of our annual fundraising is the raffle. We have some great prizes including uncirculated Carson City silver dollars from the 1800s,” said Deborah Stevenson, curator of education for the museum. Raffle prizes include Arista watches, framed medallion sets and coins donated by dealers. Tickets are $1 each and six for $5, and are available at the museum in advance and during the show.
“This show in the warm atmosphere of the former Carson City Mint brings together the history of the Old West and the Comstock Lode, the story of the Carson City Mint that operated from 1870 to 1893 and the hobby of numismatics or coin collecting,” Stevenson said.
Among the event’s sponsors are the Nevada Appeal, Carson Nugget, Alsco, Northern Nevada Coin, Downtown Coin Club, Camelot Party Rentals, Reno Coin Club and Friends of the Nevada State Museum.
Refreshments will be available from the friends’ organization. Admission is $8 for adults and is free with museum membership and for those 17 and under. For information call (775) 687-4810. The museum is at 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City.
