US Mint: America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set Release Date is May 13, 2010

The United States Mint on Thursday issued a press statement officially announcing a Thursday, May 13, release date for the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set.

The set includes the first proof quarters that will be issued this year and the first from the America the Beautiful Quarters™ Program which celebrates national parks and national sites with rotating quarter-dollar reverse designs.

The new clad set has not gone up in price, despite the fact that it includes one less quarter than the 2009 version. At noon Eastern Time on the 13th, collectors can order the 2010 proof set for $14.95, plus the standard $4.95 shipping and handling charge.

The sets include quarters featuring designs emblematic of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon.

Each proof coin is struck from San Francisco, bearing the ‘S’ mint mark so denoting.

"Proof coins are manufactured at the United States Mint at San Francisco," the Mint describes in its press statement. "Unlike coins produced for general circulation, these coins are extraordinarily brilliant, with sharp relief and a mirror-like background. A frosted, sculpted foreground gives proof coins a cameo effect."

They are composed of the same metal alloys that are used in daily circulating quarters.

As of this writing, only the Hot Springs quarter has been released into circulation. The Yellowstone quarter is expected to start circulating on June 1, 2010.

When available, the sets may be purchased from the Mint website (http://www.usmint.gov/) or by calling the Mint toll-free telephone number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

The 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set is expected to be released on May 27, 2010, for $32.95. It includes the same quarters, but they are instead struck from 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.