Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry leads first strikes.
A first-strike ceremony symbolically beginning production of the 2008 Oklahoma state quarter was held Jan. 9 at the Denver Mint.
Leading a 19-person state delegation to the event was Gov. Brad Henry, First Lady Kim Henry and their daughter Baylee. They joined Denver plant manager David Croft.
Among the dignitaries who got to strike examples of the new coin that features the scissortail flycatcher on the reverse was Broken Arrow, Okla., dealer John Highfill.
Official launch of the state quarter will occur at 11 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. There the governor will be joined by Acting U.S. Mint Deputy Director Dan Shaver.
The public will be able to buy rolls of the new coins at the event and children under 18 will get a free example.
From 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, the day prior to the official launch, Shaver will host a coin collectors forum for those who would like to come and attend. It will be in the Chesapeake Room of the Oklahoma History Center.
