I'm really going to lighten the load tonight and make my post real short! I wanted to show you the 2007 Gold Pig coin. This is the 12th coin in The Perth Mint's Australian Lunar Gold Bullion Coin Series. The Lunar Series is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which repeats every 12 years. This series represents the years 1996-2007, with the 12 coins representing a different year in the Lunar Calendar.
Yes, Trotter, there is a 2002 Gold Horse coin. I don't know if there are horse banks, but I know there is a piggy bank! Since Hairy didn't tell you about the Pony Express, I'll do the honor on my post today!
The Pony Express was a mail delivery system that consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000-mile trail across the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra. The service opened officially on April 3, 1860, when riders left simultaneously from St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The first westbound trip was made in 9 days and 23 hours, and the eastbound journey in 11 days and 12 hours.
There were 184 stations along the route used by the Pony Express. Several of these stations were located in military forts, while others had to be built. The route was divided up into five divisions. To maintain the rigid schedule, 157 relay stations were located from 5 to 20 miles apart as the terrain would allow for. At each Swing Station, riders would exchange their tired horses for fresh ones, while Home Stations provided room and board for the riders between runs. Each rider rode about 75 miles per day. In emergencies, a given rider might ride two stages back to back, over 20 hours on a quickly moving horse. Riders received $25 per week as pay. The express route was extremely hazardous, but only one mail delivery was ever lost. The service lasted only 19 months until October 24, 1861, when the completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for its existence.
The Patee House served as the Pony Express headquarters from 1860 to 1861. It is one block away from the home of infamous outlaw Jesse James.
Okay, my post wasn't short, but it wasn't as long as the Pony Express route! We love Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam, especially in Wild Wooly Hare!
