IF you’re thinking of something special and inexpensive as a gift this holiday season, Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos has a suggestion — the newly minted and circulated CNMI quarter.
Inos said the CNMI quarter is a very historic economic symbol for the 14 island-chain’s 33 years of political union with the United States and residents could help spread the word about this unique relationship this holiday season.
“This is the real thing. This would make a very nice Christmas gift,” Inos told the Variety.
He said the CNMI quarter would also make a good investment for people, especially young children.
“Keep it. Save it. One day, it would be a collector’s item and hopefully it would have a higher value,” said Inos who himself exchanged dollar bills for the CNMI quarter which he intends to give as gifts for his friends and family members.
On Nov. 30, the U.S. Mint released 76 million pieces of the CNMI quarter valued at $19 million with the seal “We Dare Defend Our Rights.”
U.S. Mint Deputy Director Andrew Brunhart officially launched on Saipan the CNMI quarter last Dec. 10 and personally gave about 1,000 schoolchildren the coins.
Brunhart, a retired U.S. Navy captain, said the Federal Reserve is already circulating the CNMI quarters to banks and other financial institutions.
This process will be completed over the next nine weeks, after which the coin will never be produced again.
The CNMI quarter is the sixth and the last coin to be launched out of the 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarter Program.
The U.S. Mint circulated quarters for the District of Columbia on Jan. 26, 2009; Puerto Rico on March 30; Guam on May 26; American Samoa on July 26; and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 28.
“This is going to be the last minting. There won’t be any more. We only have limited circulation. When those quarters make it to the U.S. Treasury, that’s it,” said Inos.
The CNMI quarter design shows a canoe representing the Carolinians’ seafaring skills across vast distances; a large limestone latte, the supporting column of ancient Chamorro structures; and a Carolinian mwar or lei made of plumeria, langilang, peacock flower and teibwo or Pacific Basil, symbolizing their virtues of honor and respect.
The U.S. Mint said a coin typically lasts for up to 40 years.
The CNMI quarter weighs 5.67 grams and measures 24.26 mm in diameter. It is made of cupro-nickel clad.
Cynthia Meals, division chief for external relations for the U.S. Mint, said they are encouraging schools to teach schoolchildren about U.S. geography using the coins like the CNMI quarter.
“This is a good way to learn about the rest of the country,” she said and added that lesson plans for teachers about the coins representing the 50 states and U.S. territories are available on their Web site.
Program-specific lesson plans for K-12 teachers are available for download at www.usmint.gov/kids.
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