The new nickel
The Arch.
Dave Noble and I got there about 1PM, and they were distributing nickels
since noon. LOTS of people were in line for them. Note how the line goes
forward and loops back.
The nickels were brought in a Brinks truck.
Still in line. Also starting at noon were various "cultural events" - people
were sitting on the Arch steps watching them. Estimates ranged from 4000 to 10000 people attended.
Still in line. I can see the the turn though.
Still in line. A number of people were in period costume. I presume they dressed like this because of the event and not because they usually do.
Still in line. Up to the Arch steps now.
Still in line. More people in costume - Norm Bowers as a soldier. He also participates in
the Lewis and Clark boat reenactment.
Still in line. At the turn though.
Still in line. I can see the nickel booths.
Still in line. Big dog. Note that the line also bends back toward me again -
its not a U shape, but an S. Annoying to discover that.
Still in line. A closer view of a nickel booth.
Still in line. A paddle boat passing by. Its St. Louis. Stuff like that
happens.
Still in line. Have made the second turn. Nickels are soon!
Finally at the booth. Nickels originally were distributed allowing a single
person to purchase $500 at once. That was dropped to $100. By this time
the maximum was $20 - the rolls are already sorted into $20 groups (10 rolls)
and I bought $20 worth. No, that is not a US Mint commemorative water bottle.
Dave and I wandered to the stairs and got a seat. The ceremony started at
about 2:45 - the first luminary to speak was the US mint director, Ms.
Henrietta Holsman Fore.
This could be Dr. Robert Archibald, president of the National Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial Council. Might also be Francis Slay, St. Louis mayor. I wish my camera had a better zoom.
The Spanish flag raised, and the Spanish ambassador, Francisco Viqueira.
Note that this ceremony was only a few days after the Madrid train bombings.
His comments were mostly related to historical events surrounding the Louisiana
purchase, but he also did talk about terrorism.
The French flag raised, and the French ambassador, Jean-David Levitte. He
also talked about historical events, but segued into terrorism. He commented
that France was united with the US in their approach to terrorism. Er...
The Spanish ambassador got a standing ovation, and so did the French ambassador, but it seemed to me to be a bit more reluctantly done.
The third flag raised, and the US Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Judge Craig Manson. Wasn't it Nicole Richie who, when talking to the Secretary of
the Interior, commented that he did a good job decorating the White House?
The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America was hanging out on the left
side of the stage.
Its called the "Three Flags Ceremony." Get it?
The mint director passing out commemorative medals to the guests.
They've all got them now and they are showing them off (the little brown
boxes).
The nearby Casino Queen. I wonder if they have nickel slots there...
The ceremony ended around 5PM. On the way out we walked by the Monniae de
Paris booth. The guy in the brown suit is a coin wholesaler who distributes coins from the French mint and Philippine coins (amongst others) and is a
freelance reporter for Coin World. In the issue that highlights the ceremony on the front page he wrote the article and his wife took the photo.
All the nickels are gone. They did not plan well and sold out before even
the Mint director spoke - they were supposed to be distributing them until
5PM.
Detritus.
