WASHINGTON — Collectors can begin placing their orders for the United States Mint 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Silver Proof Set at noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 23, 2009. The set, priced at $29.95, includes all six commemorative quarter–dollars scheduled for minting and release this year. The coins, struck in 90% silver, honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Proof coins are produced at the United States Mint at San Francisco using specially prepared, highly polished dies. Specially treated coin blanks are struck multiple times to ensure the finest detail in a frosted cameo image on a brilliant, mirror–like background. The coins–each bearing the S mint mark for San Francisco–are sealed in a protective lens that is inserted into a specially printed box. A United States Mint Certificate of Authenticity is included.
Customers can purchase the United States Mint 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Silver Proof Set at the secure Web site, http://www.usmint.gov. Orders also will be accepted at the toll–free number 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). Please add $4.95 shipping and handling fee to all domestic orders.
Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on–sale date and time of noon ET on March 23, 2009, shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.