United States Mint bags and rolls of the 2010 Mount Hood National Forest Quarter were released today at noon ET.
Each Mound Hood Quarter two-roll set is sold by the U.S. Mint for a price of $32.95 while each Mound Hood Quarter bag is $35.95.
The Mount Hood National Forest Quarter marks the last of the five releases scheduled in 2010 for the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. A total of fifty-six coins will be issued under the complete program which is slated to run until 2021. The coins in the series honor a different site of national interest from around the country such as national parks, national forests, etc. One site was chosen from each state, the District of Columbia and the five US territories.
"The bags and rolls contain circulating quality coins that were struck on the main production floors of the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia," according to the Mint. "The two-roll set includes one roll each of 40 coins-one each bearing the "P" and "D" mint marks. The distinctive packaging displays the name of the national park or site, state abbreviation, mint of origin and "$10," the face value of its contents. Each canvas bag contains 100 coins and bears a tag denoting the mint of origin, name of the national park or site, state abbreviation and "$25," the face value of its contents."
Buyers will have a choice of which minting facility they would like their strikes to be from when purchasing the quarter bags, Philadelphia or Denver. No such selection will be required for those purchasing the two-roll sets as both facilities are represented by the set.
Mount Hood National Forest quarters were released into general circulation today as well. Federal Reserve Banks will issue them as needed to fulfill transactional demand throughout the country.
On the reverse of the coin, an image of Mount Hood itself is shown with Lost Lake in the foreground. It was completed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. Inscriptions include MOUNT HOOD , OREGON, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
The obverse contains a portrait of George Washington that will be included on all strikes of the America the Beautiful Program. John Flanagan designed the original image for use on the 1932 circulating quarter dollar. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
The US Mint plans an official release ceremony for the Mound Hood National Forest Quarter in two days on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, beginning at 10:30 AM Pacific Time(PT). Plans call for the ceremony to be held at the World Forestry Center located at 4033 SW Canyon Road in Portland, Oregon, just a few miles from the border of Mount Hood National Forest.
After the ceremony, attendees will be given the opportunity to exchange cash for rolls of the new coins while children aged 18 and under will receive a free quarter-dollar just for attending. The ceremony will also be broadcast live on the web at: http://www.americathebeautifulquarters.gov/.
A coin forum is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 16, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT at Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center. The forum will be hosted by United States Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart who will discuss the future of American coinage.
Mount Hood National Forest Quarter bags and rolls may be ordered from the United States Mint website (http://www.usmint.gov/), or its toll free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).