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I was honored to be part of the ceremony this morning for striking a commemorative silver medallion to mark the 125th birthday of The Nevada Sagebrush, the student newspaper of the University of Nevada. Reno.
At the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, where historic Coin Press No. 1 is located, Sagebrush alumni including Guy Clifton, Amy Beck and state Sen. Julia Ratti, pushed the buttons on the big green press to create the medallions. I got to take a turn too, although I never worked at the Sagebrush or attended UNR.
But Clifton, longtime journalist who now does public relations for the state’s museums, says by his count 17 members of the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame, located in the room next to where I’m writing this, once worked for the Sagebrush. That represents about a quarter of all the inductees.
Below is information from Guy’s story on the medallion and the 125th anniversary of the Sagebrush’s first edition.
A limited-edition silver medallion honoring the 125th birthday of The Nevada Sagebrush – the student newspaper of the University of Nevada, Reno – was minted on the state’s most historic coin press.
The “first-strike” ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City was attended by members of the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, which privately funded the medallion, and current staff members of the Sagebrush.
The .999 pure silver medallions will be struck on the museum’s historic Coin Press No. 1 – the same coin press that struck millions of dollars in gold and silver coins at the U.S. Branch Mint in Carson City in the late 1800s.
The medallion’s front features lettering from a 1940s era Sagebrush, a quill to represent journalism and a “Block N” to represent the university, and the famous “CC” mint mark. The back side of the coin is the seal of the state of Nevada.
“We wanted something special for the 125th anniversary and felt that a limited edition of 125 medallions would be a fitting tribute,” said Amy Beck, president of the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter. “Tying it in with state history and the old coin press makes it even more special.”
The medallions will be given as “thank you” gifts to the first 125 people who purchase tickets to the annual Sagebrush Alumni Chapter Dinner. The dinner is Oct. 19 – the 125th anniversary of the first edition of the newspaper – at Pinocchio’s Bar & Grill in Reno.
ABOUT THE NEVADA SAGEBRUSH ALUMNI CHAPTER: The Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter was founded in 2012 and is part of the University of Nevada Alumni Association. Its membership is made up of former Sagebrush staff members and friends of the paper. Its mission is to provide monetary and professional support to the current Sagebrush staff.
Assisting Guy in the video above are Bob Nylen, the museum’s curator of history, at the desk and museum director Myron Freedman.
