Hawkers of a special State Quarter set are capitalizing on the extra foot traffic today at the statehouse. Ryan Dirks, an intern in the Governor’s office, set up shop in the statehouse cafeteria, selling a commemorative pair of Iowa Quarters. Dirks says about five-thousand Iowa quarter sets were sold last Friday when the state quarter was launched. They have about 10-thousand left to sell, and Dirks says “we’re trying to get rid of ’em.” Each quarter set comes in a plastic case with a certificate of authenticity. It costs five dollars, and the proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the Governor’s mansion. Dirks has shelled out money for a few of his own. Dirks bought a couple for his grandparents and one set for himself. Dirks says he helped assembled the sets, and he thought he’d like to have at least one to keep. Business has been brisk today. By midday, Dirks had sold nine cases, with 36 sets in each case. One state legislator in town for the special session bought 50 sets, and plans to hand them out to folks he meets on a trip to China.
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