WASHINGTON — The United States Mint announced today that commemorative quarter–dollar coins honoring Wisconsin, the fifth coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program to be released in 2004, will go on sale beginning October 25, 2004, at 12:00 noon (ET), and will be available for purchase during the 10–week release period. The Wisconsin quarter–dollars are available in two–roll sets (40 coins per roll), including one roll each from the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver, and in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins.
On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state to be admitted into the Union. The Wisconsin design depicts an agricultural theme, featuring a dairy cow, a round of cheese, and an ear of corn. The design also bears an inscription of the State motto, “Forward.” Wisconsin adopted the State motto, “Forward,” in 1851, reflecting the State’s continuous drive to be a national leader. Wisconsin produces more than 15 percent of the Nation’s milk and more than 350 varieties of cheese. Wisconsin is also a major corn producer. State corn production contributed $882.4 million to the Wisconsin economy in 2003.
Each coin roll in the two–roll set 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, “WI” designating the State of Wisconsin, and “$10” representing its dollar value. Two–roll sets will sell for $32.00, bags of 100 coins for $35.50, and bags of 1,000 coins for $300.00. Each bag is marked with the mint of origin and the dollar value of its contents ($25.00 or $250.00). These two–roll sets and bags feature quarters used in regular transactions and are struck on our main production floors at the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver. There is no order limit on these products.
Customers can purchase the Wisconsin quarter–dollars in two–roll sets and bags by using the United States Mint’s secure website, www.usmint.gov, or by calling 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). As an added convenience, customers can participate in a subscription–ordering program in which specific products, such as two–roll sets and bags, are charged and shipped to the customer automatically as each new quarter is released. For more information about this ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov. Hearing– and speech–impaired customers may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 per order will be added to all domestic orders. Quarter bags of 1,000 coins will have an additional charge of $7.95 per bag because of their weight and size.