The United States Mint 2008 Alaska Official First Day Coin Cover goes on sale Tuesday, September 30 at noon eastern for the price of $14.95, plus $4.95 for standard shipping and handling.
The 35,000 limited edition covers are the 49th in the series and include two Alaska state quarters featuring a grizzly bear emerging from the water clutching a salmon in its jaws.
The quarter-dollars were collected from the first day of their mintage — July 14, 2008. One quarter is from the Mint’s Denver facility and bears the "D" mint mark while the other is minted from Philadelphia with a "P" mint mark.
The display card housing the two state quarters includes one of the four U.S. 42-cent Flags 24/7stamps and a postmark of August 25, 2008, Denali Park, AK — the date the Alaska quarters were first made available to the public.
The Alaska state quarter is the 49th, and second to last coin released in the United States Mint 50 State Quarters® Program. The highly popular program began in 1999 and has seen over 33.7 billion state quarters struck prior to Alaska’s. The program ends with the Hawaii commemorative quarter set for release in November. New D.C. and U.S. Territory quarters will continue in 2009.
In addition to the reverse or tails side of the coin featuring a grizzly bear with a salmon, the North Star is depicted above the inscription "The Great Land." Additional inscriptions are "Alaska" and "1959," which is the year the state was admitted into the Union.
Ordering information
When available, orders may be placed on the U.S. Mint’s product and order page:
2008 Alaska Official First Day Coin Cover (Q57)
The covers may also be purchased through the Mint’s toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).
