First Colorful Colorado Quarters Struck

Mint's debut of state coin a peak moment for governor
The winning Colorado quarter design takes a shine to a particular fourteener

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By Alicia Caldwell
Denver Post Staff Writer

Gov. Bill Owens pushed a button on the hulking machine before him and moments later, there it was: Colorado's new State Quarter.

With television camera lights shining on his face, Owens looked at the crowd of dignitaries and media with concern.

"We misspelled Colorado," he joked.

The governor's remark (the quarter was later pronounced perfect) was one of many moments of levity and reflections of a legacy Wednesday at the U.S. Mint as the new State Quarter made its public debut.

Colorado's quarter is One of the first of the newly-minted Colorado State Quarters. The Denver Mint began making them on May 24, 2006. (Post / Cyrus McCrimmon) the 38th in the 50 State Quarters program. Already, 100 million Colorado quarters have been made and are being readied for release June 14, said Tim Riley, manager of the Denver Mint.

Before they're through, federal coin factories in Denver and Philadelphia will make 575 million to 650 million Colorado quarters, Riley said.

For those who are keen to quickly get a Colorado quarter, a limited number will be available for sale during a ceremony at the state Capitol on June 14, the official release day...
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