By Scott Wong for The Arizona Republic

Thousands of Arizonans, from schoolchildren to grandparents to state dignitaries, packed the Capitol lawn Monday for the roll out of the state commemorative quarter. The celebration, replete with an old-fashioned red stagecoach, mariachi band and free mint ice-cream drumsticks, marked the culmination of a public process that began three years ago with more than 4,000 quarter designs.

It also offered coin collectors their first chance to get their hands on the much-anticipated Arizona quarter.

Featuring a saguaro cactus against the backdrop of the Grand Canyon, the coin is the 48th in the U.S. Mint’s decade-old 50 State Quarters Program. The Mint plans to release Alaska and Hawaii coins later this year.

“When I bought the (collectable coin) folders, I didn’t know if I’d still be alive when it was done,” Scottsdale resident Charles Clark, 69, said before picking up a pair of quarter rolls for coin sets he plans to present to his granddaughters. “It’s gonna wrap up this year, and I think I’m gonna make it.”

State Capitol police estimated that more than 5,000 people were on hand.

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