Dime found, quarter needed

The first 2015-dated dime was reported to me yesterday following the posting of my blog asking what collectors were finding around the country.

It came from a collector in California, so I assume it is a Denver Mint product.

The email said, “I read your column daily and I see where you say that nobody has come up with the new 2015 dimes.

“I came across one 2015 dime that I received in change at the Base Exchange on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., last week.”

I am grateful for this email. Only needed now is a report of a 2015 quarter in circulation and I expect it will come soon.

The Homestead National Monument of America quarter officially debuts next week on Feb. 10 in Beatrice, Neb.

There will be a ceremony at Beatrice High School with the state’s lieutenant governor, Mike Foley, and Mayor Stan Worth on the guest list.

The U.S. Mint will be represented by David Croft, Associate Director of Manufacturing.

For collectors, the crowning portion of the official quarter launch will come at the end when they can trade $10 bills for uncirculated rolls of the new quarters.

I did not know where Beatrice was before I looked it up and found that it is located in southeastern Nebraska and it has a population of over 12,000.

That makes it larger than Iola, Wis., but definitely a part of the same small-town America.

America the Beautiful quarters are good teachers of geography if you take the time to study their background.

Next Tuesday’s guest list will also include Patty Trap, Acting Regional Director of the National Park Service (Midwest Region), and Mark Engler, Superintendent of the Homestead National Monument of America.

On Monday night, the Mint will host a public coin forum from 6-7 p.m. at the Homestead National Monument of America Education Center, 8523 West State Highway 4 in Beatrice.

I hope collectors in the area will take advantage of the opportunity and go to it

The Mint says participants can express their views about future coinage and learn about upcoming programs and initiatives.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is winner of the 2014 Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."