**RUGGED ROCKY MOUNTAINS CELEBRATED ON COLORADO QUARTER**

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The third coin of 2006 in the United States Mint's popular 50 State
Quarters^®^ Program will be released to the public in Denver, Colorado
on Wednesday, June 14, 2006.

A parade from the United States Mint at Denver, where billions of the
new coins will be struck, to the Colorado State Capitol building is
planned as part of the day's festivities.

Colorado, also nicknamed the \"Centennial State,\" was admitted into the
Union on August 1, 1876, becoming our Nation\'s 38th state. The Colorado
quarter depicts a sweeping view of the state\'s rugged Rocky Mountains
with evergreen trees and a banner carrying the inscription \"Colorful
Colorado.\" The coin also bears the inscriptions \"Colorado\" and
\"1876.\"

Free United States Mint lesson plans about the Colorado quarter may be
downloaded at www.usmint.gov/kids. Prior to the launch, the United
States Mint hosted a Coin Collectors Forum in a downtown, Denver
bookstore, featuring United States Mint Deputy Director David Lebryk.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.0in"
height="1.3333333333333333in"}PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN SERIES BEING
DEVELOPED

Do you know which of our Presidents served his entire term as a
bachelor? Or which Commander in Chief was the first American citizen,
being born after independence was won?

These questions, and many more, will be answered starting in 2007 when
the United States Mint begins a new program by issuing a new series of
circulating \$1 coins.

Signed into law on December 22, 2005, the Presidential \$1 Coin Act
calls for the design, production and release of this new series of \$1
coins to honor the American Presidents in the order in which they
served. They will be released at a rate of four per year, beginning in
2007, and their specifications will be identical to those used for the
current Golden Dollar featuring Sacagawea.

The obverse of these one-dollar coins will feature newly created
portraits, while the reverse of all Presidential \$1 coins shall bear a
common design of the Statue of Liberty.

Artistic sources for the new Presidential coin images include official
White House portraits, intaglio prints originally executed by the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing and the United States Mint's Presidential
Medal Series.

**2006 UNITED STATES MINT SILVER PROOF SET^®^ AVAILABLE**

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One of the United States Mint's perennial favorites, the annual silver
proof set, first issued in 1968, went on sale May 10, 2006, and features
10 coins offered in stunning proof condition.

Presented in two sturdy, clear plastic protective cases, this set
features all 10 circulating coins produced by the United States Mint in
2006. One case features the Lincoln cent, the "Return to Monticello"
Jefferson nickel, the Roosevelt dime, Kennedy half-dollar and Golden
Dollar featuring Sacagawea. The second case holds all five 2006-dated
coins issued in the 50 State Quarters^®^ Program, honoring Nevada,
Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota. The dime, half-dollar
and all five quarters are struck in 90% silver. In 2005, the United
States Mint sold roughly one million silver proof sets, and this year's
set is expected to be just as popular with collectors.

**2006 SPRING CATALOG RELEASED IN JUNE**

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.7916666666666667in"
height="2.8541666666666665in"}Featuring a stunning view of the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC on its cover, the United States
Mint's 2006 Spring Gift Catalog is ready to be mailed to millions of
numismatic collectors around the world. With the inclusion of products
showcasing the final coin of the Westward Journey Nickel Series, the
choice of President Jefferson's shining memorial is both fitting and
appropriate. In keeping with past issues of the United States Mint's
catalog, the Spring 2006 offering also features the full range of
American Eagle precious metal proof coins as well as many of the
Agency's most popular annual collections.

**TIME MACHINE TRAVELS TO AMERICAN CIVIL WAR**

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.5833333333333333in"
height="1.3229166666666667in"} A new era was recently added to the
popular Time Machine feature on the United States Mint's H.I.P. Pocket
Change™ website, allowing online travelers the chance to visit Boston,
circa 1863. Accompanied by Peter the Mint Eagle, users of all ages join
a woman and her two children as they shop, learning a little bit about
the problems many businesses faced during the Civil War, when almost all
coinage became scarce as metals were needed in the war effort.

In addition to the animated adventure, visitors are also presented with
other interesting facts about the era, and each era includes exercises
for teachers to share with their students.

This new era is the sixth in a series of twelve that, when completed,
will span the entire 214-year history of the United States Mint, weaving
the significance of coinage into the fabric of our Nation's history.

**DENVER CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL**

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height="1.5409722222222222in"}

to lead the celebration with Plant Manager Tim Riley, and to extend
Happy Birthday greetings on behalf of all the employees of the United
States Mint. More than 550 current and former employees attended the
celebration in the ornate Grand Hallway. Acting Director Lebryk and
Plant Manager Riley read a proclamation from the Mayor of Denver that
declared February 1st "United States Mint at Denver Day.\"

Acting Director Lebryk and Plant Manager Riley also presented a time
capsule containing a set of 2006 uncirculated coins minted at Denver, a
scroll signed by the current employees, a scroll signed by the retirees
and guests attending the celebration, and the proclamation from the
Mayor of Denver. The time capsule was inserted inside a carved stone
that will be placed near the front door of the historic facility so that
visitors can see it as the exit their tour of the facility.