Colorado’s beloved Pueblo chile — the key ingredient for delightfully messy sloppers, stick-to-your-ribs stews and mouthwatering salsas — will be featured on a $1 coin as part of the U.S. Mint’s American Innovation Coin program, Gov. Jared Polis announced Thursday.
The multiyear project highlights innovation by issuing special coins for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, Polis’ office said in a news release.
Colorado’s coin will feature the popular Mosco variety, which was developed by Mike Bartolo at the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and released to growers in the early 2000s.
Mosco chiles have thicker, meatier walls that hold up well to roasting and are typically hotter than other green chiles — characteristics Bartolo selected for over years of plant breeding that began with an inherited bag of seeds from his late uncle, Harry Mosco.
“The Pueblo chile represents Colorado’s history, heritage and strong agricultural roots,” Polis said in a statement, calling it the “very best chile that exists.”
Colorado submitted five coin designs featuring the Pueblo chile, and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday voted to move forward with the first design, which depicts a plant laden with chiles against a background of mountains, forests and plains.
Read more No charges in fatal Brighton shooting of 33-year-old man
A citizen advisory board will review the coin design in October, after which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will give the final stamp of approval.
The nomination is a well-deserved spotlight for the Pueblo chile, said state Rep. Matthew Martinez, whose district includes part of Pueblo.
“From salsas and hot sauces to beer, the Pueblo chile is a versatile food that is essential to our economy and helps put Pueblo on the map nationally,” Martinez said in a statement.
Polis and other Colorado officials also used the nomination to stir the pot of the state’s rivalry with New Mexico’s Hatch green chiles, noting that the upcoming Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival is a chance for “New Mexico residents (to) escape up north to buy the superior chiles.”
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
Read more Mercury Cafe building under contract to Denver ownership group planning revival
Read more Killing endangered wildlife is legal if they aren’t the target, new Trump rule says
