More than 2,500 people attended the Homestead National Monument of America quarter launch held Feb. 10 in Beatrice, Neb., reports Nebraska collector Mitch Ernst, who attended the event for the first 2015 quarter.
The Homestead quarter design, a wooden cabin and water pump bracketed by ears of corn is “intended to represent the three fundamentals of survival common to all homesteaders,” said David Croft, Associate Director of Manufacturing at the Mint at the ceremony.
Afterwards, Patty Trap, Regional Director of the National Park Service; Mark Engler, Homestead Superintendent; Mike Foley, Nebraska lieutenant governor, and Croft, pumped the handle on a reproduction of an old-fashioned water pump and the new quarters literally poured out to the delight of the crowd.
Children under 18 all received a free quarter while over 1,500 people waited in line after the event to purchase the new quarters from the Denver Mint.
After the launch, there was an Open House at the Homestead Monument Education Center where another quarter exchange took place.
A P&D quarter set was offered by the “Friends of Homestead.”
The Homestead quarter is the first of five designs to be introduced in 2015.
