###### ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.25in" height="1.25in"}*UNITED STATES MINT NEWS & VIEWS*

####  *EDMUND C. MOY, DIRECTOR*

*NOVEMBER 2006*

**SOUTH DAKOTA'S "SHRINE OF DEMOCRACY" CELEBRATED ON 40^th^ STATE
QUARTER**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.320138888888889in"
height="1.3506944444444444in"} The fifth and final commemorative
quarter-dollar coin released in 2006 honors South Dakota, the \"Mount
Rushmore State,\" and is the 40th coin in the United States Mint\'s 50
State Quarters^®^ Program. Admitted into the Union on November 2, 1889,
South Dakota became the Nation\'s 40th state. The release of this
quarter signals the end of the eighth year of the 50 State Quarters
Program.

The South Dakota quarter features an image of the state bird, a Chinese
ring-necked pheasant, in flight above a depiction of the Mount Rushmore
National Memorial. The design is bordered by heads of wheat. The coin\'s
design also bears the inscriptions \"South Dakota\" and \"1889.\"

Prior to the launch, the United States Mint hosted a Coin Collectors
Forum featuring United States Mint Director Edmund C. Moy. Similar
forums have been held on the eve of other recent coin launches, and have
provided local collectors with the opportunity to engage United States
Mint officials in discussions covering a wide range of numismatic
issues.

**COMMEMORATIVE STRIKE CEREMONY HELD FOR SAN FRANCISCO OLD MINT COINS**

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.25in" height="1.25in"}

The Granite Lady was once again the center of attention in San Francisco
as officials got a glimpse of the silver commemorative coin honoring the
San Francisco Old Mint during a ceremony at the current United States
Mint at San Francisco.

United States Senator Dianne Feinstein and House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi joined officials from the United States Mint for the strike
ceremony, which was held October 27, 2006.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.25in" height="1.25in"} Surcharges from
the sale of the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coins are
authorized to be paid to the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society
to rehabilitate the historic San Francisco Old Mint as a city museum and
an American coin and gold rush museum.

"I know I speak for everyone at the United States Mint when I say how
proud we are to be striking these coins to honor such an important piece
of our shared history in San Francisco," said Gloria C. Eskridge,
Associate Director for Sales and Marketing at the United States Mint.

![](media/image5.png)**UNITED STATES MINT RELEASES 2006 HOLIDAY
COLLECTION**

The United States Mint's annual catalog -- the 2006 Holiday Collection
-- not only celebrates history with the American Buffalo Proof Coin, the
20th Anniversary American Eagle Silver Coin Set, and the final products
of the Westward Journey Nickel Series™, but also makes history with the
introduction of American Eagle Uncirculated Coins in silver, gold and
platinum.

The United States Mint 2006 Holiday Collection also features the coins
of the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Program, including a
\$5 gold proof and uncirculated coin, as well as a proof and
uncirculated silver dollar.

Collectors can also purchase 2006 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins,
featuring the first design in a three year series celebrating the three
branches of our federal government.

Also available for the first time in this catalog are the 2006 South
Dakota Official First Day Coin Cover and the 2006 50 State Quarters^®^
Greetings From America series, including individual state card sets as
well as the five-coin portfolio.

**PRESIDENTIAL \$1 COINS COMING SOON**

The United States is honoring our Nation's Presidents by issuing \$1
circulating coins featuring their images in the order that they served,
beginning with Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison in
2007. The United States Mint will mint and issue four Presidential \$1
Coins per year, and each will have a reverse design featuring a striking
rendition of the Statue of Liberty.

The Presidential \$1 Coin Act (Public Law 109-145) seeks to revitalize
the design of United States coins and return circulating coinage to its
position as an object of aesthetic beauty in its own right. Accordingly,
the new Presidential \$1 Coins will feature larger, more dramatic
artwork, as well as edge-incused inscriptions of the year of minting or
issuance, "E Pluribus Unum," "In God We Trust" and the mint mark.

For regular updates regarding this new coin series, you can subscribe to
the Presidential \$1 Coin Newsletter, by visiting
<http://www.usmint.gov/$1coin>.

In addition to its recognition of the Presidents on \$1 coins, the
United States is honoring the First Spouses through the issuance of
uncirculated and proof one-half ounce 24-karat gold \$10 coins
emblematic of the spouse of each President during that President's term
of service. The United States Mint will issue these coins under the same
yearly release schedule as their corresponding Presidential \$1 coins.

**INTERACTIVE FAQs ADDED TO UNITED STATES MINT ONLINE CATALOG**

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The United States Mint is proud to announce the addition of an
interactive FAQ tool found by selecting
"[Help](https://answers.usmint.gov/cgi-bin/usmint.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php)"
from the United States Mint Online Catalog.

This tool delivers answers to frequently asked questions 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Customers can choose questions and answers from a
list of topics, or they may search on a keyword or phrase of their own
choosing. After entering their search criteria, the knowledge base, or
collection of possible questions and answers, quickly returns several
questions from which the customer may choose.

In addition to providing a quick response to our customers' questions,
the FAQ tool provides customers the opportunity to rate the usefulness
of the response by answering "Did this answer your question?" with a
"Yes," "No" or "Somewhat." The feedback provided by customers will
provide valuable information to the United States Mint as we continue to
identify the need for more questions.

**H.I.P. POCKET CHANGE TEACHER'S LIBRARY A RESOURCE FOR RESEARCH**

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="1.5625in" height="1.5520833333333333in"}
Are you looking for a picture of a historic coin? How about an image of
a new coin? Maybe what you're looking for is information about a person
connected with the history of the United States Mint? You might find
exactly what you're looking for in the Teacher's Library.

Bill the Mint Buffalo has been tidying up there lately, and has added
the nickels from the Westward Journey Nickel Series^TM^ and the quarters
from the 50 State Quarters® Program to the resources. The search
function cross-links to other items, and features have also been added
to put more results at your fingertips. If you've been there before,
it's time for another look. The Library is in the Teacher's section, but
kids, of course, can use it too.