Thread: US Mint unveils quarter with Spanish inscription

US Mint unveils quarter with Spanish inscription

By REBECCA BANUCHI,
The Associated Press
3:56 p.m. April 2, 200

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The director of the U.S. Mint on Thursday unveiled the first U.S. coin with an inscription in Spanish, a quarter honoring Puerto Rico as the "Isla del Encanto" – or "Island of Enchantment."

The coin presented at a ceremony in the Caribbean territory's capital is the latest in a series that already has recognized all 50 states and, like the others, it depicts the traditional profile of George Washington on one side.

But the reverse side shows a sentry box on a Spanish colonial fort and a hibiscus, the U.S. island's official flower, along with the phrase: "Isla del Encanto."

At the presentation in San Juan's colonial district, U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy said the U.S. coin is the first to circulate with a phrase inscribed in Spanish. He said the quarter will be an ambassador for the "marvels" of Puerto Rico.

Gov. Luis Fortuno, whose party favors making this Caribbean island the 51st U.S. state, dismissed any suggestion that the inscription highlights Puerto Rico's cultural differences with the mainland.

"The reality is the United States is one of the biggest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, with 45 million citizens of Hispanic descent," Fortuno said, adding that the use of Spanish represents "the integration of a great nation" that has room for many languages.

The Puerto Rico quarter entered circulation on Monday. A quarter for the District of Columbia debuted earlier this year, and the Mint is also rolling out others this year for Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=76602

"The reality is the United States is one of the biggest Spanish-speaking countries in the world, with 45 million citizens of Hispanic descent," Fortuno said, adding that the use of Spanish represents "the integration of a great nation" that has room for many languages.

Is that 45 million legal citizens of Hispanic descent? Its possible it means legal citizens at this point, with the 1986 amnesty, family reunification immigration laws, birthright anchor babies, any Spanish-speaking refugees, Peurto Rico's territory status.

With that high a number from one ethnic group, speaking a foreign language, that is a reason against legalizing another 10 million Hispanics, which would quickly and easily become forty million with family reunification and birth rates. The Melting Pot U.S. isn't supposed to have that high a percentage from any one ethnic group. We actually have a law against it, but then its an immigration law, so probably won't be enforced.

I think it was a bad move. May Puerto Ricians are bi-lingual or speak English.

Originally Posted by Dixie

I think it was a bad move. May Puerto Ricians are bi-lingual or speak English.

I think you are right about that. Most Puerto Ricans speak English. I went to San Juan a while back and it was almost like visiting a US city. This is a silly move by the US mint.