According to the U.S. Mint Office of Public Affairs, the CNMI quarter was released into circulation on Nov. 30 and is the sixth — and final — coin in the U.S. Mint 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. territories Quarters Program.
A total of 700,000 coins were released thus far.
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, there will be a forum at American Memorial Park Visitor Center where the public can learn about new U.S. Mint coin programs and ask questions about the future of U.S. coinage.
The launching ceremony will be held on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 9:30 a.m. also at the park.
Brunhart, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, first lady Josie Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos will present the new CNMI quarter to more than 1,000 children.
Members of the community may also exchange their currency for $10 rolls of the CNMI quarters, according to the U.S. Mint.
U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill designed the coin’s reverse side. The coin shows a large limestone latte, the supporting column of ancient indigenous Chamorro structures; a canoe of the indigenous Carolinians representing the people’s seafaring skills across vast distances; and two white fairy tern birds flying overhead.
A Carolinian mwar, symbolizing the indigenous people’s virtues of honor and respect borders the bottom of the design near the inscription, “Northern Mariana Islands.”
Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said he’s glad that the CNMI coins were finally circulated.
“It puts us at par with the rest of the U.S. political family, symbolically, I guess,” he said.
House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho, R-Saipan, said more CNMI coins should be circulated in the future.
“We should have more coins to promote the CNMI as part of the political family of the U.S.,” he said.
Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, for his part, said the coins will enable the CNMI to be known by many other Americans who are still unaware that the islands are part of the nation and that Chamorros and Carolinians are Americans, too.
