(This release was revised April 14, 2009, to change the sale date of the product.)
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for the District of Columbia Official First Day Coin Cover on April 24, 2009, at noon Eastern Time (ET). Production is limited to 25,000 units.
Priced at $14.95 each, the District of Columbia Official First Day Coin Cover features two District of Columbia commemorative quarter–dollar coins, one each bearing the mint mark from the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver. The quarters are mounted on a handsome display card with a cancelled 42–cent 24/7 Flags postage stamp. The postmark, JANUARY 26, 2009, WASHINGTON
D.C., marks the day the District of Columbia quarters were first released to the Federal Reserve Bank and to the public.
The District of Columbia was created in 1790 and became the Nation’s capital on December 1, 1800. Originally part of Maryland and Virginia, the site was chosen personally by President George Washington to fulfill the need for a new Federal district.
The reverse (tails side) of the commemorative District of Columbia quarter features an image of internationally renowned composer and musician Duke Ellington seated at a grand piano. Inscriptions on the reverse are DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DUKE ELLINGTON and JUSTICE FOR ALL, the District of Columbia’s motto. The District of Columbia quarter reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Sculptor–Engraver Don Everhart.
Orders for the District of Columbia Official First Day Coin Cover will be accepted at www.usmint.gov or at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers may place their orders at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added 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 April 24, 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.