A Reno coin collector secretly paid for a purchase at a Carson City store Saturday using a rare 1877 quarter, and is now encouraging people to search their pockets for the coin.
The finder of the silver "Seated Liberty" coin is eligible for a $300 reward as part of a promotion for an upcoming show at the Nevada State Museum.
"It's something we've really been wanting to do for a few years," said Rusty Goe, who owns Southgate Coins in Reno with his wife, Marie. "We want to publicize the fact that Carson City once had a U.S. mint in operation. We want them to know how significant that mint was and how important coins are that survived from that mint."
The quarter was one of 4.1 million minted in Carson City from 1838 to 1891. Only about 7,500 survive. Goe put special markings on the one he spent, to identify it if someone turns it in, he said. Only he and museum history curator Bob Nylen know what those marks are.
The Liberty Seated type has Liberty with stars and the date on front and an eagle with the "CC" mark and the words "United States of America Quar. Dol." on the tails side. It's one of the more common coins surviving from the mint and valued at about $200 to $250.
"We thought it would be a good representative," Goe said. "It's got so much detail left in it."
Goe and his wife picked a store in the middle of the city to spend it. He won't reveal what type of store, but said it was bustling with customers. Goe placed it in the middle of a stack of quarters to pay for $2.37 in merchandise then kept the cashier distracted during the transaction.
He doesn't know if she caught on when his wife took her picture and he winked for the camera.
The secret mission will pay off, if the coin is turned in to the museum before the Carson City Mint Coin Show Aug. 28 - 29. If not, the finder can still cash it in for the reward. Hopefully, whoever finds it will recognize it as something special and turn it in.
"I'm sure this will jump out for somebody," Nylen said. "It will be interesting to see who finds it."
The coin show may also feature a rare 1873-CC dime Goe bought in July at an auction for $891,250. The "1873-CC Without Arrows Dime" dime, minted at the Carson City Mint, is the only one known to exist.
If insurance and security hurdles can be overcome, the dime will be back at the place it was minted for the first time in 131 years.
The show will also display rare coins representing mints from all over the United States minted from the 1790s to the present. Hundreds of Carson City coins will be displayed along with paper money. A few dealers will also bring in foreign coins.
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
