Nevada Capitol turns 150; museum to mint special medallion May 18 in Carson City
May 19, 2021 update: The Capitol Medallion will be minted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays throughout the summer, or until all 2,000 medallions in this limited series are minted.
CARSON CITY, Nevada — The Nevada State Museum, Carson City, will activate historical Coin Press No. 1 from 1 to 7 p.m. May 18 to mint a special medallion commemorating the state Capitol building. Opened in 1871, the Nevada Capitol building celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The special medallion is modeled after one of the earliest images of the Capitol, and features a banner with the state motto, “All for Our Country.”
“Our Capitol building is not just a beautiful Classical Revival structure, but a symbol of Nevada pride and history,” Nevada State Museum Director Myron Freedman said. “The museum is pleased to commemorate the Capitol’s sesquicentennial anniversary by minting a special medallion on historical Coin Press No. 1, another state treasure.”
Coin Press No. 1 was in operation in the late 19th century at the Carson City Mint. Today, the still-functioning press is part of the museum’s collection and stamps commemorative medallions. For this new medallion celebrating the Capitol, Freedman worked with retired U.S. Mint engraver Tom Rogers. Rogers carved the “sculpt,” or design, of the medallion, which then was sent to an engraving company that shrinks, reverses and transfers the relief art to the surface of a tool-hardened steel die. The die will be used to stamp the medallion’s obverse side. The reverse side will feature Coin Press No. 1 and the year 2021. A limited series of 2,000 Capitol medallions will be made using half-ounce, .999 fine silver blanks.
Minting will begin May 18 at the museum. Those interested in purchasing a medallion, $75, and watching as it is minted may sign up for this activity on the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, website here. Note that if you do not already have a museum log-in account, you will be asked to create one before registering for the event.
The museum has 30-minute time slots available from 1 to 7 p.m. Each medallion will be mounted in a card bearing its series number, and Rogers (the engraver) will be on site to autograph it. During the May 18 minting, the rest of the museum will be closed.
The museum is at 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City. Visitors must wear face coverings, have their temperature checked before entry, and practice social distancing. For more, visit CarsonNVMuseum.org.
EDITORS: For images, click here.