Carson City museum nets $4,625 for COVID relief, continues fundraiser

Nevada State Museum, Carson City, Director Myron Freedman demonstrates historic Coin Press No. 1.

CARSON CITY, Nevada — The Nevada State Museum, Carson City, raised $4,625 for the COVID-19 Relief Fund during its Oct. 30 minting of special medallions on historic Coin Press No. 1, and will continue fundraising efforts through Dec. 31, 2020. Silver planchets (.999 fine silver blanks from which the medallions are made) are available at the museum store for $100; every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. purchasers can watch as their planchet is imprinted with a relief of a Nevada health care worker on the coin press. A portion of the proceeds goes to the COVID-19 Relief Fund administered by the Community Foundation of Western Nevada.

“We were pleased with the response to our Oct. 30 event, and will continue offering the experience of seeing the famous coin press mint these special medallions to the public and hopefully raise more money for this great cause,” Myron Freedman, Nevada State Museum, Carson City director, said. “This is also the last minting project during the historic Carson City Mint’s sesquicentennial year.”

The design of the Nevada Health Care Heroes medallion, created by retired U.S. Mint engraver Tom Rogers, is based on an image of a health care worker at one of the COVID-19 testing stations set up by the Nevada National Guard. Medallions will be minted on Coin Press No. 1, the first coin press to operate at the Carson City Mint. A former U.S. Branch Mint, the Carson City Mint was in operation from 1870 to 1893. Today, the old mint building is incorporated into the museum.

EDITORS: For a short video of a coin press, click here. For images of the Nevada Health Care Heroes medallion, Coin Press No. 1 and the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, click here.

The Nevada State Museum, Carson City, is one of seven state museums, and is part of the Nevada Division of Museums and History. The Nevada Division of Museums and History preserves, shares and promotes the understanding and celebration of Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage for the enrichment of all generations. Details: NVMuseums.org.