Displaying items by tag: SUNY Empire State

U.S. Mint; Saratoga National Historical Park Put New Coin in Circulation

SCHUYLERVILLE – A United States Quarter, commemorating the British surrender at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, is now in circulation. 

With an official “coin pour” at a Quarter Launch ceremony at a packed Schuylerville High School auditorium on Tuesday, November 17, the 30th coin released as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, was officially put into use. 

Participants and attendees included hundreds of schoolchildren, who learned about the historic and local context of the event depicted on the coin, which many believe was the “Turning Point” of the Revolutionary War, eventually enabling the colonies to achieve independence from the British Empire. The quarter's reverse (tails side) depicts a close-up of the moment British General John Burgoyne surrendered his sword to American General Horatio Gates.

Saratoga National Historical Park (SNHP) Ranger and Historian Eric Schnitzer added some historical nuggets that may have been news to many in the audience regardless of age. The surrender in 1777 was the first time the British had done so anywhere. The surrender also led to the first official day of Thanksgiving, which that year was celebrated on December 18. Schnitzer added that the Battle of Saratoga was the first event to be featured twice on U.S. currency (having originally appeared on a $500 Federal note that is no longer circulated and extremely rare), and the first event to be depicted on both paper currency and a coin.

Following the presentation of colors by the SNHP Color Guard, students from Schuylerville High School, its symphonic band and vocal ensemble participated at several points throughout the program: leading the Pledge of Allegiance, performing the National Anthem and America the Beautiful, and other patriotic numbers. 

SNHP Superintendent Amy Bracewell and Acting Quality Manager Ron Harrigal from the U.S. Mint, poured the newly minted quarters to officially launch the new coin. All students and attendees under age 18 were presented with a new quarter, and the public was given the opportunity to be among the first in the Nation to get brand new quarters during a coin exchange, conducted by Glens Falls National Bank, that was held after the ceremony.

Coin to be launched on November 17

SCHUYLERVILLE – The United States Mint and the National Parks Service have announced that a special new quarter will be launched on November 17 that will honor Saratoga National Historical Park and the British surrender at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. 

The Saratoga National Historical Park quarter is the 30th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, a 12–year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites. The official launch will take place at Schuylerville High School on Tuesday, November 17, at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to the launch ceremony. Invited guests include U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The event will also be streamed live on wnyt.com. 

The coin’s reverse design (tails side) depicts a close-up of the moment General John Burgoyne surrendered his sword to General Horatio Gates, a turning point many believe marked the beginning of the end of the American Revolutionary War.  Inscriptions on the quarter are “British Surrender 1777,” “SARATOGA,” “NEW YORK,” “2015” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” 

After the launch ceremony, Glens Falls National Bank will be the official sponsor of a “quarter exchange,” where individuals will be able to purchase rolls of quarters (up to 10 rolls maximum), for $10 cash per roll.  Friends of Saratoga Battlefield will also have a sales table for those wishing to purchase commemorative quarter sets, featuring the Saratoga quarter, for $8.50 per set.  

The evening before the launch ceremony - Monday, November 16, from 5 to 6 p.m.—the U.S. Mint will host a coin forum at the Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville. This coin forum is an opportunity for the public to express their views about future coinage, and to learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/sara