Through research, he learned to create replicas of the tools early Utahns used to mint coins.

"I could go and make a perfect replica of a Mormon coin of 1849 and if I did not learn anything from it, then all I would have is a good replica," he said. "Now I have a good replica and better historical insight into what those people had to do to meet that challenge than anybody who has not done this."

Now an agent for the Utah Office of Recovery Services, Larson has spent the past six months building his minting tools. He has constructed a pedestal, die holders, a 16-foot-long gravity hammer, a planchet cutting machine, gravers, punches and stamps.

"I've been working on those darn things, splitting my fingers and bleeding, virtually every minute that I have not been doing anything else, ever since last February."

Larson will exhibit his coins and tools at the Heritage Park portion of Picnic in the Park on Friday and Saturday at Orem City Center Park, 300 E. Center. The event, designed to show the lifestyles of those who lived during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, begins each day at 10 a.m. and is free to the public. Larson's coins will be available for purchase for $15.

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Additional Information

Events on tap at Provo Freedom Festival

Through July 5 - Self-guided Historic Provo Tour; brochures available at the Provo City Library, Provo City Utilities, Historic County Courthouse and Chamber of Commerce.

Through July 5 - Patriotic Art Exhibit open all day at the Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU; admission is free.

July 2 - Children's parade at 7 p.m.; route begins at Provo Memorial Park.

July 3-4 - Balloon festival launches at 6:30 and 7 a.m. at the Freedom Field; tickets required for breakfast.

July 2-4 - Arts Festival on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Utah County Complex.

July 3 - Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Provo Tabernacle; breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. at Tabernacle Park.

July 3 - Freedom Awards gala at 6:30 p.m. in the BYU Wilkinson Center Ballroom, $30 a person.

July 3 - Volleyball tournament at 7:15 a.m. (check-in time) at Scera Park in Orem, entry fee.

July 3 - Fireworks in the Park at dusk at the Orem City Center Park, free.

July 3 and 4 - Picnic in the Park from 11 a.m. to dusk on Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Orem City Center Park, free.

July 3-4 - Heritage Park Living Exhibit from 11 a.m. to dusk on Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Orem City Center Park, free.

July 4 - Freedom run at 7 a.m. at Timpview High School for the 10K, at Provo's Kiwanis Park for the 5K and at the Provo Tabernacle for the one-mile run, entry fee.

July 4 - Grand Parade at 9 a.m., route begins at 960 N. University Ave.

July 4 - Stadium of Fire at 8:15 p.m. in Cougar Stadium featuring Huey Lewis and the News, the Flying Elvi sky divers and fireworks show, $24, $20, $15, or $10 a person.

For more information on all Freedom Festival events, visit the Web site at (www.-fredomfestival.org) or call the hotline at 370-8019. Call 378-BYU1 for tickets to the Freedom Awards Gala and Stadium of Fire.