Arizona, the Grand Canyon state, will launch their grand quarter into circulation starting with an official release ceremony on June 2, 2008. The public invited event will host Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and United States Mint Director Ed Moy and includes several planned activities. There is also a special Coin Collectors Forum on the day prior.

The Arizona commemorative quarter is the third for this year and the 48th quarter-dollar in the 50 State Quarters® Program set for release. Arizona was the 48th state to be admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912. 

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National Public Radio (NPR) had a segment Monday, May 19, discussing the legal battle between Spain and Odyssey Marine Exploration for the 17-tons of Colonial-era coins recovered from the ocean floor.

That legal dispute started back in May of 2007 when Odyssey discovered a 17th-century shipwreck, they code-named the “Black Swan”.

Spain filed legal claims contending the treasure is a part of their country’s cultural heritage and should be returned. Odyssey has said the treasure was found in international waters, and legally retrieved.

In the 4 minute NPR radio segment, Jim Goold, Spain’s attorney, contends that Odyssey’s recovery of the treasure was "immoral and illegal," and provided an analogy of someone taking personal effects from the pockets of those who died in the U.S.S Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

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The American Numismatic Association invites members to share their knowledge with fellow collectors by creating and delivering a Numismatic Theatre presentation during the Baltimore World’s Fair of Money®.

All American Numismatic Association members are invited to share their expertise and imagination with fellow hobbyists by delivering a Numismatic Theatre presentation at the Baltimore World’s Fair of Money, July 30 to Aug. 3.

Numismatic Theatre consists of presentations on a wide variety of topics. It’s a wonderful opportunity for collectors to communicate their ideas and research with the numismatic community. The talks are an educational highlight of every ANA convention, and often focus on a wide range of topics including themes pertaining to a convention’s host city.

Presentations from previous ANA conventions range from:

• "Famous Numismatists of the Past and Present: Focus on Baltimore," and
• "The Panic & Depression of 1837-41: Baltimore’s Shinplaster Bank," to
• "A Numismatic Look at Colonial Annapolis," and
• "The Medallic Art of Baltimore Sculptors Hans Schuler & Hans C. Schuler."

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