First V&T coins to be minted at Nevada State Museum on Nevada Day

It takes money to make money and the Nevada Commission for the Construction of the V&T Railway is out to prove it. Craftsmen will start minting special V&T commemorative coins on Nevada Day, Oct. 31, at the Nevada State Museum.

Proceeds from sale of these coins will to go toward completion of the V&T Rail line between Gold Hill and Carson City, said Commission spokesman Kevin Ray.

Displaying the historic Inyo engine on one side and Nevada's state seal on the other, each coin will contain one ounce of silver and bear the CC mint mark.

"A lot of people are searching for anything with the CC mint mark," Ray said. "We're also expecting to hear from those who collect train memorabilia. This will be a highly sought-after collector coin."

The first 100 limited-edition coins will be placed in card stock and numbered with the date printed on the back. They'll cost $100 each.

The rest, to be minted each month until about 5,000 have been made, will cost $48 each.

"We'll be designing another coin with another engine next year," Ray said. "There'll be a whole series for collectors."

The Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway, the historical society and others are working to rebuild the Virginia & Truckee from Gold Hill where it presently ends 17 miles from Carson City.

Construction is estimated to cost $40.9 million and this fund-raiser will help finance the $90,000 needed to transfer 4 miles of track from downtown Reno to Mound House where it will be stored, Ray said.

The track was donated by Granite Construction, its estimated worth about $500,000 and organizers must have the money to transport it by Dec. 1.

It's been more than 60 years since the V&T last ran between Virginia City and Carson City. Built between 1869 and 1872, it supplied the mines of Virginia City with material and transported ore to the mills in the valley below. The V&T became known as the only railroad ever to carry its entire weight of locomotives, track and equipment in silver.

It was abandoned in 1938, long after the major mines had played out and stopped operating completely on May 31, 1950.

For information or to reserve a commemorative coin, call Ray 687-7410 or visit online at: www.vtrailway.org.

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