For the second time this year, the United States Mint released a coin as part of its America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The most recent issue celebrates the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in the District of Columbia.
The Frederick Douglass quarter launched today, April 3, 2017, and is available in 40-coin rolls and 100-coin bags. Buyers have the option of quarters produced at the U.S. Mint’s facilities in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.
Frederick Douglas Quarter Designs
Six design candidates were presented as possibilities for the coin’s reverse (tails side). These were reviewed by parties of the site, the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
The winning design, by Thomas Hipschen, offers a scene of Frederick Douglass seated at a writing desk, with his home in Washington, D.C., in the background.
U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill executed the design for use on coins. In the following Mint video, Hemphill talks about sculpting it.
All coins of the America the Beautiful series contain the same obverse (heads side) portrait of George Washington. The effigy of the first President of the United States was designed by John Flanagan and first seen on 1932 circulating quarter-dollars.
A mintmark is also on an obverse to show which production facility made it.
Quarter Dollar Products
Roll and bag product pricing for the Frederick Douglass quarter is as follows:
| Product | US Mint Production Facility | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 40-coin rolls | San Francisco | $18.95 |
| Two-roll sets | 40 Philadelphia & 40 Denver coins | $32.95 |
| Three-roll sets | San Francisco, Philadelphia, & Denver | $46.95 |
| 100-coin bags | San Francisco | $34.95 |
| 100-coin bags | Philadelphia | $34.95 |
| 100-coin bags | Denver | $34.95 |
Coins in the rolls and bags feature are in circulation quality, but have never actually been released into circulation.
Also, the Philadelphia and Denver Mints produce coins for circulation, so they will eventually appear in pocket-change. Those from San Francisco, however, are only produced for numismatic purposes like in these roll and bag products.
Ordering, Coin Forum, Ceremony and Coin Exchange
To order America the Beautiful coin rolls and bags, visit the U.S. Mint’s online store, found here. You may also order by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
A coin forum will be presented by U.S. Mint officials today, Monday, April 3, 2017, from 3-4 PM ET. The forum will allow the general public to learn about U.S. Mint programs and ask questions of officials. It will be held at the United States Mint Headquarters at 801 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20220.
Tomorrow, April 4th, an official release ceremony will take place at 10AM ET. It will be at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020. (See park information.) After the ceremony attendees can exchange cash for rolls of the new quarter.
2017 America the Beautiful Quarters
The Frederick Douglass quarter, the thirty-seventh in the series, was preceded by a coin honoring Effigy Mounds National Monument of Iowa.
Three more quarters are scheduled to appear this year. They honor Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways, New Jersey’s Ellis Island National Monument and Indiana’s George Rogers Clark National Historical Park.
I have what I believe is a Frederick Douglass error quarter. On the obverse just above Washingtons eye is a heavy line. Also on the obverse just below the I T & E are about six tiny raised spots. The coin has a D mint mark. I have 3 more of these same quarters, all with a D mint mark, but they do not have the above mentioned marks. I can send pictures if you like. If this is an error coin can you verify it? Please let me know. Thank you
What about the original Frederick Douglas quarters from the 1940’s?