17 September 06

Could You Spare a Colorado Quarter?

Segovia: the request for the Colorado Quarter But only minted in Denver, you understand, not Philadelphia. You’ll know by the small “D” not the small “P.” (You need the OED magnifying glass for this one, folks, at least if you’re over 35.)

This was a request from the guard at the Alcázar in Segovia, who must pose the same question to all American tourists.

Muy Señor nuestro:

Adjunto le envío una moneda de 25 centavos americanos del estado de Colorado sacada en Denver y no en Filadelfia, tal y como nos la pedió hace dos o tres semanas en la entrada al Alcázar, y que por casualidad tenía en el monedero un compañero ayer.

No dude en pedirnos otras monedas estadounidenses, pues casi no nos damos cuenta de lo que se nos escurre por las manos.

Monedas, guerras, mundo. A su servicio.

[More sketchbook scans will follow by popular request]

Posted by at 08:06 PM in Design Arts | Link |
  1. Did you actually find a cup of tea in Spain (beside the aqueduct)? Can we possibly have a translation of the guardia’s request…my rusty Spanish is making the translation very confusing.
    — Jenny    18. September 2006, 03:16    Link
  2. :-)
    — Jean    18. September 2006, 04:35    Link
  3. Jenny: yes, we found tea, but it was always marginal (though better than the tea we find here in the States.) It was always served with UHT milk.

    The Spanish is actually a draft (I won’t actually send this version) of my cover letter to the guard. It goes something like this:

    Dear sir,

    I’m enclosing a Colorado quarter minted in Denver, not Philadelphia, as you requested at the entrance to the Alcazar two or three weeks ago, and which a friend happened to have in his wallet yesterday.

    Please don’t hesitate to request other coins of us, since we’re almost unaware of what throws through our hands.

    Coins. Wars. World. At your service.
    — Pica    18. September 2006, 06:15    Link

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