WASHINGTON — The United States Mint announced today that quarters honoring Louisiana, the third coin under the 50 State Quarters Program to be struck for the year 2002, will go on sale beginning May 20, 2002, at 12:00 noon (EDT), and will be available for purchase the entire 10–week release period. The Louisiana quarters are available in two–roll sets (40 coins per roll), including one Philadelphia and Denver Mint Mark coin roll each, and in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins. The Louisiana quarters are also available as part of the Mint’s popular subscription program. The 50 State Quarters collectibles featuring the Louisiana state quarter will go on sale beginning May 30, 2002.
Louisiana joined the Union on April 30, 1812, becoming the 18th state. The Louisiana quarter’s reverse design honors the Louisiana Purchase, which President Thomas Jefferson acquired for $15 million from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803. Eventually, 13 new states would be carved out of the territory, which nearly doubled the young nation’s size, making it one of the largest countries in the world.
The coin’s reverse design also features a pelican, the state bird of the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” and a horn as a tribute to the state’s heritage of jazz music. Each coin roll is wrapped in a specially designed United States Mint paper coin wrap that prominently displays the 50 State Quarters program logo, a “P” or “D” representing the roll’s mint of origin, “LA” designating the state of Louisiana, and “$10” representing its dollar value.
Each bag is marked with the Mint of origin and the dollar value of its contents ($25 or $250). Two roll sets will sell for $32.00, bags of 100 coins for $35.50, and bags of 1,000 coins for $300. These rolls and bags, featuring quarters used in regular transactions and struck on our main production floors at the Philadelphia and Denver Mint facilities, will be shipped directly to you from the United States Mint. Note that there are no order limits on these products.
In addition, the Mint’s popular 50 State Quarter gift items featuring the Louisiana quarter become available May 30, including the 2002 Louisiana Collector’s Spoon, with the Louisiana quarter mounted at the top of the handle and “LOUISIANA” spelled out in block lettering down the 4–and–1/2–inch stem.
Other items showcasing the Louisiana quarter include the black leather fob and the key ring; the Louisiana Quarter sterling silver bookmark, the nickel–plated Louisiana quarter golf divot tool, and the Louisiana quarter pendant and sterling silver rope chain. Wristwatches and desk clocks featuring the Louisiana quarter will be available later this summer.
Customers can purchase the Louisiana quarter bags and rolls and Louisiana quarter collectibles by using the Mint’s secure website at http://www.usmint.gov, or by calling 1–800–USA–MINT (6468).
As an added convenience, customers may participate in a subscription–ordering program where specific products, such as quarter bags and rolls, are charged and shipped to the customer automatically as each new state quarter is released.
A shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order will be added to all phone and fax orders. Hearing and speech–impaired customers may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468) (TTY). Please allow approximately 2–3 weeks for delivery.