Sen. Jake Flake, R.I.P

A great friend at the Arizona Legislature passed away over the weekend, Sen. Jake Flake. You can review and add your own thoughts and prayers about this great man at the Flake Family Guestbook.

Sen. Jake Flake was one of the “good guys” at the Legislature. You never heard an unkind word about the dignified, humble and immeasurably honorable rancher from Snowflake. I don’t know what word means “patriotic” when it’s applied to one’s state rather than to one’s country. Whatever that word is, Jake Flake embodied that spirit of love for Arizona that includes rare statesmanship and a profound respect for the people and natural heritage of Arizona. I can’t help but think that a precious, unappreciated era is slipping away with his passing. He will be sorely missed. God bless you, Jake Flake and thank you for sharing your light with the people of Arizona.

Official Arizona Quarter Commemorative Folio

You can own the Official Arizona Quarter Commemorative Folio celebrating the Arizona’s Quarter from the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program. This gorgeous limited edition collectible includes an uncirculated-quality Arizona Quarter protected by a crystal clear case to ensure your piece of historical art remains in pristine condition.



The actual image of the Grand Canyon and saguaro cactus from the Arizona Quarter’s reverse design is embossed on the front in luxurious copper foil. The inside tells the story of Arizona’s quarter with beautiful images and an educational description of the design.

Made possible by the generous underwriting of Wells Fargo and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold and designed by PRfect Media, this commemorative folio is a perfect gift or collectible for all Arizonans of any age.


The commemorative can be purchased online at the University of Arizona Bookstore and in person at the Arizona Capitol Museum Gift Shop for $10. The gift shop is also the exclusive dealer of 2012 individually numbered folios priced at $20 that feature the Arizona Quarter produced at the Philadelphia Mint with the distinctive "P" mint mark on the front of the quarter. The Arizona market is served by the Denver Mint. All new quarters sent to Arizona are from Denver and have the "D" mint mark on the front of the quarter. Non-numbered folios contain the Denver quarter.

UPDATE: To purchase the numbered folios, contact the Arizona Capitol Museum Gift Shop directly. I'm not sure if sell through their site (probably not) but I'm sure they'll take an order over the phone with a credit card.

The Official Arizona Quarter Commemorative Folio was released to the public on June 2, 2008 at the Official Arizona Quarter Launch Ceremony at the State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona and quantities are strictly limited to a single press run of 25,000 with 2012 of these numbered 1 through 2012. Once we are sold out, these will no longer be available.

100% of the proceeds from this commemorative will benefit the official celebration of Arizona’s Centennial through the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission.

US Mint releases Arizona quarter with Grand Canyon, Saguaro cactus featured in design

By Paul Davenport Associated Press

PHOENIX – The U.S. Mint has released the Arizona state quarter, with Mint and state officials staging a ceremony at the State Capitol that drew thousands of people to get some of the first coins publicly available.

“It’s awesome. It represents Arizona, definitely,” said Chandler barber Douglas Morales.

Gov. Janet Napolitano and Mint Director Ed Moy gave free quarters to children, while many adults purchased rolls of quarters and special commemorative packages, some of which Wells Fargo transported to the Capitol via stagecoach.

“It’s a big day with the issuance of the new quarter and we do collect them. We’ve got to add to our collection,” said Ed Phillips, a meteorologist who was at the Capitol with his wife and two sons.

The Arizona quarter is the 48th in the 10-year series featuring all 50 states. The coins are issued in order of statehood, and quarters for Alaska and Hawaii will complete the series later this year.

Moy said the design of the tail’s side featuring the Grand Canyon and a Saguaro cactus should be instantly recognizable as representing Arizona and popular with collectors and others because of the nature features.

“It’s beautiful,” said Julie Collums, a high school history teacher from Mesa. “I like that it captures the whole essence of Arizona and not just a part of it.”

Collums, waiting to purchase quarters for friends of her mother, was near the head of a line that grew to include more than 1,000 people.

Capitol Police estimated that 5,000 people attended the event, with 2,500 or so there at any one time, said Sgt. Hollis Korey.

“It’s a great endorsement of the design that we have,” said public relations consultant Farrell Quinlan, a former Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry official who served on the state’s quarter commission.

Napolitano picked the design from among five finalists recommended by the commission, which sifted through 4,200 of written ideas submitted by state residents. Mint artists converted the ideas into visual representa­tions, and Moy on Monday presented Napolitano with the artwork for the chosen design.

The combination design was the overall favorite on 112,830 entries submitted to an online poll conducted by Napolitano’s office.

Moy said 500,000 Arizona quarters will be produced. Production for previous quarters have ranged from 416,000 (Oklahoma) to nearly 1.6 million (Virginia), according to the Mint’s Web site.

The other designs considered for the Arizona quarter showed just the Grand Canyon, 19th Century explorer John Wesley Powell boating down the Colorado River through the canyon, a Saguaro-dominated desert scene and Navajo Indian “codetalkers” serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

Officials said rolls of quarters would be available at Wells Fargo banks - the bank was a sponsor for the quarter’s launch - starting Monday and at other locations in coming weeks.