US News

SURF’S UP

The Silver Surfer has ridden a wave right onto the quarter dollar. Marvel’s space-dwelling superhero will grace 40,000 U.S. quarters in a deal between 20th Century Fox and the Franklin Mint to promote the upcoming movie “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” according to a report by Variety.

Over the past three days, the promotional quarters were delivered in special Silver Surfer-themed armored trucks and released into regular circulation to cities across the country. The coins are the first ever to feature a contemporary movie character. The quarters are not merely promotional; they can be used as legal tender. A single coin could buy one New York Post Late City Final, while three would purchase the Post’s Sunday edition.

The coins are just one tactic in a massive effort by 20th Century Fox to promote “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” which opens June 15th. This weekend, Fox will hire 20 skydivers and a champion sky-surfer to perform an air show at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in North Carolina for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.