Washington, D.C., June 5, 2001 — The United States Mint announced today it will begin selling its limited–edition of Formation of the Union Set beginning June 13 and online at www.usmint.gov on June 18 at 12:00 Noon (Eastern Time). Only 50,000 of The Formation of the Union Sets will be produced.
This is the third product produced under the “Coin &Chronicles” partnership between the United States Mint and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Priced at $49.95, each set will contain the first thirteen quarters from the 50 State Quarters™ Program from both the Philadelphia and Denver mint facilities — 26 in all — including all the difficult–to–find early quarters, as well as the latest issues.
As an exciting bonus, the set will include a special message from President George W. Bush, discussing the origin and the importance of the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum, inscribed on all modern U.S. coinage. This is the first time in history a U.S. Mint product has included a message from the President of the United States.
“The history of our Nation is told through its coins, a concept that the 50 State Quarters™ Program has reinforced,” said David Pickens, Associate Director for Numismatics. “The Formation of the Union Set is a wonderful educational opportunity, and will delight both collectors and non–collectors.”
Incorporating photographs of many coins in circulation prior to the establishment of the U.S. Mint, plus fascinating images of rare historic archival records from NARA, The Formation of the Union Set tells the story of the pivotal years between 1774 and 1792, when 13 small separate colonies declared their independence from England, and joined a newly established Union.
Customers may order The Formation of the Union Set five ways: First, they can save shipping and handling charges by ordering online using the Mint’s secure web site at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog. Second, they may call 1–800–USA–MINT. Third, they may download a fax order form from the web site and fax it to (301) 918–2039. Fourth and fifth, customers may request an order form from the Mint Customer Care Center at (202) 283–COIN, or download an order form at the web site, and mail it to the United States Mint, P.O. Box 382601, Pittsburgh, PA 15250–8601 (Attention: Order Processing). A shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order will be added to all telephone, mail, and fax orders for these products. Hearing and speech–impaired customers may order by calling (301) 344–4144 TTY. Please allow approximately 6–8 weeks for delivery.