Local couple wants to create memorabilia for America’s 250th birthday

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – With the United States coming up on a monumental birthday next summer, two local residents are offering special memorabilia with a local spin.

Local artist Mary Ann Bucci and her husband Ron of Zanesville presented the Muskingum County Commissioners with challenge coins today and offered them the opportunity to produce more for  America’s 250th birthday, featuring local points of interest painted by Mary Ann.

“Well I chose this particular painting of the upper part of the courthouse since the county commissioners are right here in residence and it actually shows the date 1874 and the Ohio flag and the American flag,” Mary Ann said. “I have other paintings like this one up here on the wall of the courthouse but this one just had an enlargement that I thought would show better when it’s reduced to such tiny little size.”

This is a painting by Mary Ann Bucci who plans to produce challenge coins featuring this piece.

The back of the coin features the names of the county commissioners who will still be in office on the July fourth. All of this is part of an effort to celebrate the country, county, and city that they love.

“You know, we both love living in Zanesville and Muskingum County. It’s been great to us. Our community’s very generous, very kind, very caring, very loving,” Ron said. “And we just want to promote it and have other people know what a great community we have here. ”

The J.W. and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation and Muskingum County History have already partnered with the Bucci’s to produce a similar challenge coin featuring a painting of the Y-Bridge.

UPDATES 8/22/2025: Muskingum County History has these coins for sale at $10 a piece at the Stone Academy location. Hours are Wednesday – Friday 1 – 4pm; Saturday 10am – 4pm.