Alaska State Quarter Launches Without the Guv!

I was rather surprised when the email alerts came through a little while ago, letting journalists know that the Alaska Statehood Quarter launch ceremony had proceeded without Alaska Governor Sarah Palin being present. As press offices often do, they write these events up in advance as if they had already happened, so that print media with longer lead times can cover the story in a timely manner. After all, how often would a state governor miss a high-profile and fun event like their own state's Statehood Quarter launch? I was a little mystified when the U.S. Mint's press release update didn't explain why the Governor wasn't there, but I'm sure everyone has heard by now why Gov. Palin missed the launch: she has been selected by Sen. John McCain to be his running mate! Since politics isn't my coverage area, I'm not going so say much about this except, "You go, girl!" :)

Alaska Lt. Governor Sean Parnell got to stand in for Gov. Palin. (Heck, he might be taking over her office before too long!) U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy was also a no-show, but this had been planned. Deputy Director Andrew Brunhart has been taking on some of the public duties of the Director's Office since he joined the Mint's executive staff a few months ago, so it was Brunhart who joined Parnell in the official ceremony. The Alaska Quarter launch went about the same as most of these things have gone. A few brief speeches, some local entertainment, and then the kids in the audience lined up for their free coins. The event took place at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.

When I was researching Alaska's background in preparation for writing my profile of the Alaska State Quarter, I learned that Alaska gets to claim some remarkable stats! For instance, there are more caribou that people in Alaska! Less than 1% of the land in Alaska is privately owned. And most incredible of all, Alaska is so huge that it lays claim to having the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost points in the United States. (Yes, Alaska reaches further west than Hawaii!) But easternmost?! Check out my article to verify this claim and see more amazing statistics about the USA's biggest state.

• Alaska State Quarter Profile

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Photo courtesy of the United States Mint.