The United States Mint began selling bags and rolls of the 2011 Olympic National Park Quarter at noon Eastern Time today, June 13. The reverse design on the quarters honor the national park located in the state of Washington.
"The coins in the bags and rolls were struck on the main production floors of the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia for use in general circulation but have never been released into circulation," the Mint describes.
The Olympic park quarter is the third of five releases this year, bringing the total of coins issued within the America the Beautiful Quarters Program to eight since it kicked-off last year. A total of fifty-six quarters at a rate of five per year will launch until the last one is made available in 2021. Each of the quarters will honor a specific national park or other national site located in the United States or one of its five territories.
The Olympic National Park Quarter two-roll set is $39.95 — the same price as previous issues from this year. The two rolls include 80 coins in total, with 40 produced from the Philadelphia Mint and 40 struck from the Denver Mint. These are the two United States Mint facilities responsible for producing America’s circulating coins.
"The special numismatic packaging (on the rolls) displays the name "Olympic National Park," the abbreviation "WA" for Washington, "$10," the value of its contents, and "P" or "D" for the mint of origin," the Mint says in describing the rolls.
The Olympic National Park Quarter bags are priced at $49.95, also the same price as previous quarter bags of this year. Buyers have the option to purchase a bag that includes 100 coins from either Philadelphia or Denver. The canvas bags are tagged with the name of the park, "WA" and "P" or "D".
Olympic Quarter Circulation Release, Ceremony, and Coin Forum
As the United States Mint announced earlier this year, the ceremonial release for the Olympic National Park Quarter will occur Tuesday at 11 a.m. (PT) at City Pier in Port Angeles, Washington. Anyone may attend the ceremony. Children 18 years and younger will receive one of the new quarters for free while adults can exchange their cash for rolls of the coins. Bags of them are not offered.
A public coin forum will also be held. That is scheduled to occur tonight at 7 p.m. (PT) at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, located at 3002 Mt. Angeles Road in Port Angeles, Washington. The free coin forum provides an opportunity to ask United States Mint officials about past and upcoming coin programs.
Olympic National Park Quarter Designs
design of the coin, by Susan Gamble, features a Roosevelt elk on a river bar of the Hoh River. A scene of Mount Olympus is shown in the background. Inscriptions include OLYMPIC, WASHINGTON, 2011 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
The obverse or heads side is the same as previous America the Beautiful Quarters, featuring the familiar portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
US Mint Products with Olympic Quarters
The quarters are also available in many other products produced by the United States Mint. Most of these are made for collectors and include:
- 2011 Proof Set (issued)
- 2011 Silver Proof Set (issued)
- Uncirculated 2011 Mint Set (issued)
- 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set (issued)
- 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set (issued)
- 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Uncirculated Coin Set (issued)
- 2011 Olympic National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set (September 9)
- 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Circulating Coin Set (November 22)
Two unique products that feature the same designs as the quarter-dollar include a bullion coin and a collector coin which have a diameter of three inches and are composed of five ounces of .999 fine silver. Intended for investors, the Olympic 5oz Silver Bullion Coin was released May 23. The Mint has not yet indicated when it will release the collector Olympic 5 oz Silver Uncirculated Coin, but it is expected out this year.
Order Information
The Olympic bags and rolls and related products may be purchased from the United States Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov/ or by calling the bureau’s toll free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Upcoming America the Beautiful Quarters for this year include coins honoring Vicksburg National Military Park and Oklahoma’s Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The first 2011 Gettysburg quarter was made available on January 27. It honors Gettysburg National Military Park located in Pennsylvania. The second 2011 Glacier quarter was released in bags and rolls on April 4. It celebrates Glacier National Park located in the state of Montana.
For more information about the Olympic National Park, visit the National Park Service site for it located at http://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm.
Where ARE all the National Parks quarters in circulation????