WASHINGTON — The United States Mint’s first numismatic offering of the new year will be the 2012 United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set™. The set – available for purchase starting at noon Eastern Time (ET) on January 10 – contains proof versions of the third set of five coins in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program struck in 90 percent silver. The coins bear reverse (tails side) designs honoring El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico), Acadia National Park (Maine), Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii) and Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska). The obverse of the coins (heads side) features a restored version of the 1932 John Flanagan portrait of George Washington.
The silver proof coins in the set are produced at the United States Mint at San Francisco using specially prepared, highly polished dies and feature a frosted foreground image on a mirror–like background, giving them a cameo effect. The coins – each bearing the “S” mint mark for San Francisco – are sealed in a protective lens and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
The 2012 United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set is priced at $41.95. Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog and at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). Please add $4.95 to all domestic orders to cover shipping and handling costs.
Collectors may also purchase the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set through the Online Subscription Program. To learn more about this convenient shopping method, please visit http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.
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 January 10, 2012, noon ET 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.