Today, August 26, 2013, the United States Mint started selling circulating quality America the Beautiful Quarter® that honor Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Maryland. 2013 Fort McHenry quarters are the 19th issued in the series and the fourth of the year.
This is not the first opportunity to see the 2013 Fort McHenry quarter, at least for coin collectors. All five 2013 quarters were introduced earlier this year in several proof and uncirculated U.S. Mint products for collectors, like the popular 2013 Proof Set, 2013 Silver Proof Set, 2013 Mint Set and the 2013 America the Beautiful Quarter Proof Sets in clad and silver. Today marks the first time the Fort McHenry quarter is available in circulating quality and its entrance into circulation for commerce.
These new quarters are available in numismatic 40-coin rolls and 100-coin bags from U.S. Mint facilities in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.
Those from the San Francisco Mint are struck solely for coin collectors. Those from Philadelphia and Denver will also make their way into circulation, but it can take a long time since financial institutions cannot order coins by a certain design or from a specific minting facility. Buying them straight from the U.S. Mint is a way to shorten the wait and, generally, get them in better quality.
Designs for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Quarter
Obverse or heads sides of the Fort McHenry quarter is identical to others, with John Flanagan’s portrait of George Washington surrounded by inscriptions reading UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR. Also included on this side is the mint mark for the mint of origin.
Reverse or tails side of America the Beautiful Quarters have designs that are emblematic of the sites they represent. The reverse design on this coin depicts the site during the "Defenders Day" celebration, considered the centerpiece annual event held at Fort McHenry. The fireworks symbolize the "rocket’s red glare," linking the fort to its historic past, when Francis Scott Key penned the poem, "The Star Spangled Banner." Inscriptions are FORT McHENRY, MARYLAND, 2013 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Design candidates were developed in consultation with representatives of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Designs for all five 2013 quarters were officially revealed on December 10, 2012.
Pricing and Options for 2013 Fort McHenry Quarter in Bags and Rolls
These numismatic products are available with several different options. The product with the lowest price is a single 40-coin roll from the San Francisco mint, which has a price tag of $18.95.
For $32.95, collectors have the option to buy two rolls of 40 coins, one roll is from the U.S. Mint facility in Denver, and the other roll comes from the Philadelphia Mint.
Collectors can order 100-coin bags from each of three minting facilities for $34.95 per bag.
The most expensive option for collectors is a three-roll set for $46.95, which includes one roll from San Francisco, one from Denver and one from Philadelphia.
Ordering Fort McHenry Quarter Bags and Rolls
Interested collectors can order bags and rolls of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Site quarters directly from the United States Mint’s website on this product page.
Orders are also accepted by calling by calling the Mint’s toll free number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). If buying by phone, orders have a standard shipping and handling charge of $4.95. Right now and through September, the United States Mint is running a free standard shipping promotion for orders placed on the web. Also, expedited shipping on web orders is reduced $4.95 to $12.95.
There is no mintage, household or product limits in place for any of these product options with consumer demand deciding the final number of products sold.
About the America the Beautiful Quarters
The United States Mint introduced the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program in 2010 with a quarter that honored Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. The program is scheduled to issue five new quarters each year until the 56th quarter is released in 2021 commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama.
Preceding the Fort McHenry quarter were the 2013 coins honoring White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, Perry’s Victory National and International Peace Memorial in Ohio and Great Basin National Park in Nevada. The fifth quarter will commemorate Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota. It is scheduled for an early November launch.
Additional information on the series, including all past releases, may be found from this site’s section of news about the quarters.
I have found a 2013 Maryland D Ft McHenry Quarter with a perfect ring around the edge of the reverse between the design and the edge of the quarter. Example the ring goes through the middle of each word around the quarter and is directly centered. It is very clearly legible and I have not seen anything on internet about it yet. Is this a new variety find or is it a double struck coin. If you can help me out that would be great, Have A Nice Easter,
Thanks Again
Moses
I found a quarter identical to Moses, except that mine is a P. As of yet, I have seen no additional information about this anomaly.
I as well have found a Fort McHenry quarter with a ring. Just like tbonejeff’s, mine is from Phila. Your two posts are the only ones I can find so far about this error.
I found a 2013 Maryland quarter with a line through the ‘2013’