Rocco visit’s the US Mint and it’s closed…for something!

When I was in eighth grade I went on a trip to Washington, DC, our nation’s capital. When we were there we toured every monument, landmark and government building that we learned about in American history.

One of my favorite tours when I was there was the US Mint. It was fascinating to see how money was printed, cut and distributed. When I got home I decided that I wanted to collect American coins. I engulfed myself in knowledge of the different Mints. The heritage of coins, especially “wheatback” pennies and “Morgan Silver Dollars”. I had a neighbor lady give me three buffalo nickels and I thought she was the greatest person in the world. I took out her trash everyday until just before she died.

I had those coins until I was a little more than 16 years old, (over $12,000.00 dollars worth) until my younger (middle) brother thought it was a good idea to steal them and trade’em in for some cash…he got less than $100.00. Not to air my family’s past dirty laundry but I still had that yearning for collecting American coins and the respect for our nations currency. I always think people take the actual currency for granted because it is just a means to an eventual end… products they want.

I like to believe in and honor the history of our nation and it’s money. I had a Liberty Head Dollar that was minted in Denver that was supposedly worth $3500.00 that I always will remember as being so beautiful. So armed with that memory I thought it was a good idea to visit the U.S. Mint in Downtown Denver while I was staying there…

The video below shows you what happened when I got there:

Here’s a bunch of facts about the U.S. Mint you might not have known:

1. David Rittenhouse was appointed by George Washington as the first Director of the Mint.
2. The first Mint building was the first Federal building erected by the U.S. Government under the Constitution.
3. Past Mints have included Dahlonega, GA; Charlotte, NC; New Orleans, LA; and Carson City, NV.
4. The first Philadelphia Mint used harnessed horses to drive the machinery that produced coinage.
5. A two-cent coin was minted between 1864 and 1873 and was the first coin to bear the motto “In God We Trust”.
6. Legend holds that George Washington donated some of his personal silver to the Mint for manufacturing early coinage.
7. The Mint’s first delivery of coins occurred in 1793 and consisted of 11,178 copper cents.
8. Mint marks, “S”, “D”, “P”, or “W” designate the Mint facility,which produced the coin.
9. Thomas Jefferson first proposed the decimal currency system,which we use today.
10. By provision of the Coinage Act of 1965, Mint marks were not carried on coins made in 1965, 1966, or 1967.
11. The first U.S. commemorative coin was produced in 1892 and featured Christopher Columbus.
12. The Mint’s original coins were made of gold, silver, and copper.
13. In 1943, the content of the cent coins was changed to zinc-coated steel due to copper shortage during World War II.
14. According to the artist, the Indian head on the buffalo nickel (1913-1938) is a composite picture.
15. The Philadelphia Mint mark appears on each of its coins except the Lincoln cent.
16. Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller are the only women honored on a circulating coin. Sacagawea appeared on the obverse of the golden Dollar, Susan B. Anthony appeared on the obverse of the dollar coin, and Helen Keller appeared on the reverse of the Alabama quarter.
17. The Philadelphia Mint covers five acres of land.
18. The first coin to feature an African-American was the Booker T. Washington Memorial Half Dollar.
19. Calvin Coolidge was the first President to have his portrait appear on a coin struck during his lifetime.
20. George Washington first appeared on a commemorative dollar, with the Marquis de Lafayette, in 1899.
21. In 1893, Queen Isabella of Spain became the first woman to be featured on a U.S. commemorative coin.
22. All commemorative coins legislated by the U.S. Mint are legal tender.
23. Original gold coinage included $10, $5, and $2.50 denominations.
24. The Act of April 2, 1792, which created the Mint, required coins to have “…an impression emblematic of liberty.”
25. The Roosevelt dime torch, olive branch, and oak branch portray liberty, peace, and strength and independence.
26. The donation of $508,316 in gold to create the Smithsonian Institution was assayed in the [Philadelphia] U.S. Mint.
27. The first Lincoln cent was produced in 1909 and carried wheat ears patterns on the reverse side.
28. From 1799 to 1873, the Mint was an independent agency reporting directly to the President.
29. The Lincoln cent is the only circulating coin currently produced in which the portrait faces to the right.
30. The United States has two mottos that appear on each circulating coin, “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum.”
31. Designers’ initials can be found on each circulating coin.
32. The design on the back of the Kennedy Half Dollar is the presidential coat of arms.
33. The San Francisco Mint, established in 1854, survived the great earthquake of April 18, 1906.
34. Before creation of a national Mint, “currency” included foreign and colonial currency, livestock, produce, and wampum.
35. The Denver Mint opened in 1863 as a U.S. Assay Office.
36. The present Philadelphia Mint opened in 1969 and is the fourth facility which has been located in that city.

Father Sky-Mother Earth…A place to begin your Santa Fe Day Trip

As you know I know live in Albuquerque, NM which is just 45 minutes from Santa Fe. If you haven’t noticed I love living in “God’s Country” and the drive to Santa Fe is always a welcomed experience. I keep telling myself I’m going to take the Rail Runner (the train system…that Cincinnati still can’t grasp) but I get in my car and drive.

I will take the train and write about it here…don’t you worry! Now that I have done my little rant… I’m good to go.

Every single time I arrive in Santa Fe, I have to start my shopping spree and cultural integration with a cup of espresso and conversation with my good friend D.L Valdes.

He will make your trip as memorable as every trip that I have made. I love his art, his music and his espresso.

Watch the video and meet D.L Valdes…artist, musician and barista.

Florio’s Cigar Bar & Grille in New York’s Little Italy

I get asked all the time…”what is my favorite place to go in New York”? Without hesitation or fourthought I immediately blurt out “Little Italy”.

Growing up Italian and around Italians, Little italy has a warm place in my heart.  I remember fondly getting on the 166 bus with my friends and heading into The Port Authority at 8th and 38th and getting on the “N” train to Canal Street.  The few block walk was always met with anticipation and the hunger pang’s for a “Sausage & Peppa’s” sandwich during Little Italy’s “Feast of San Gennaro”.

Those memories are what still drive me to take the “N” train to Canal Street, but now the anticipation is for a plate of ravioli’s, a glass of wine and a hand rolled cigar from the “secret stash” at Florio’s Cigar Bar & Grille.  Nothing beats it.  Larry Amoruso, the owner, Frank Linsalada  and Anthony Coppola are the faces of Florio’s and who literally make you feel like family from the time you walk in until the very last drop of wine is drunk.

It’s always my first stop when I fly into NYC…on more than one occasion I have walked in with my luggage, and it is the last place I eat on my way to the airport to catch my plane back to Albuquerque.

If you love a fresh tasting tomato sauce to compliment your pasta, lasagna, or my favorite…ravioli’s…then this is where you need to go.

Really anything you pick on the menu is going to be awesome.  If it isn’t then I’ll personally buy your next dinner there.  Yea…it’s that F@#kin’ good!

When you go there don’t forget to tell them Rocco sent ya…

Florio’s Cigar Bar & Grille

192 Grand St., New York, NY 10013
nr. Mulberry Street

Phone: 212-226-7610

map | subway directions

Take a look some photos:

Chroma Studios: An Art Experience in Nob Hill ABQ

When you’re traveling down I-25 through Albuquerque, NM there is an Art Gallery that is so much more than just a place to view local art.  It is also a place where artists learn the actual business of Art…how to create a business from there passion and specific skill set.

Right off the Central Ave exit make a left and you almost crash into Chroma Studios.  Nestled right in next to Souper Soup and just before you get the the University of New Mexico and Nob Hill Chroma Studios sets the stage for great local and regional Artists to share their visions and idiosyncrasies with Albuquerque’s Art fans.

Nationally known artist Paula Manning-Lewis and her musician husband Aaron Lewis (and NO not of Stained fame…but really great just as well) have put together a place where artists can hone their craft, sell there wares and learn how to make money doing it.

When you have the chance take a little trip down to a great place to see great art, talk about shitty art and just have a party loving art.

Check out my video that was taken at a recent opening.