San Antonio Missions ATB Quarter Launch (and Quarter Exchange)
specksynder
Posts: 26 ✭✭✭
Made it out to the US Mint's Quarter "Launch" event in San Antonio this morning. The quarter representing Texas in the ATB series features the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. While the Alamo is the most famous San Antonio mission, the National Park only includes four other missions in the area: Mission Concepcion, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano, and Mission Espada. They date back to the 1700s and have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ceremony this morning was very well attended. I overheard Mint employees saying they thought it was the highest turnout they had seen. The launch ceremony was held in a local auditorium. There were a few school groups there (and anyone under 18 got a free San Antonio ATB quarter). Speakers included the local Congressman, the Archbishop of the local Catholic Diocese (remember, these missions are still operating parishes), the Park Superintendent, and the acting Deputy Director of the US Mint.
The ceremony began with a presentation of color by a historical Texican group playing The Yellow Rose of Texas.
Pat Hernandez from the Mint presented Mardi Arce from the National Park with a plaque containing First-Day-of-Production San Antonio Quarters from both the P and D mints.
The ceremony concluded with the Deputy Director and the Superintendent pouring bags of quarters through a contraption based on the gristmill wheels from the missions - The MC announced the coins were now officially in circulation.
The local bank hosted the quarter exchange, selling bank-wrapped paper rolls of P-mint San Antonio quarters for face value. Minimum 1 roll, maximum 10 rolls. We filed out of the auditorium to a long line. The per-person limit was later dropped to 5 rolls maximum, then finally 2 rolls maximum.
Chris Costello, the artist who created the reverse design (Pat Hernandez says he learned since joining the mint that it is pronounced REE-verse, not ruh-VERSE) was on hand and graciously signed rolls or programs. He originally would sign up to five items, but that was later dropped to a limit of 2 items.
There are only a few of these events left, but if you attend one, it seems it would behoove you to leave the ceremony early and join the line. While there were some disappointed folks, the organizers did an excellent job of communicating the entire time.
Comments
@specksynder Awesome. Thanks for sharing. I attended the very first one of the series back in 2010.
@specksynder
Thanks for sharing and pics of your experience at ATB San Antonio Missions Texas quarter launch.
Thanks for the report and pictures.... were there an W quarters in the lots available?? Might have been some in the rolls..... Cheers, RickO