A Message from United States Mint Director David J. Ryder

Nov 18, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

Dear Mint Customers,

I want to take this opportunity to speak to you about the Mint’s approach to our numismatic program.

First off, the United States Mint is unique in that we are an agency of the Federal Government, and also a retail sales organization. The goal of our numismatic program is to serve the American people by producing coins and medals that tell America’s story, are desirable to our customers, and generate net earnings. Net earnings not required for Mint operations are transferred to the United States Treasury general fund and ultimately benefit you, the taxpayer.

During my tenure as Mint Director, I have challenged my staff to come up with new and creative products to energize, excite, and expand the collector community. My team has met this objective on many occasions, most recently with our products honoring the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and our collaboration with the Royal Mint commemorating the 400th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic journey of the Mayflower.

As we look to provide the market with innovative and interesting products, we engage in market research and solicit feedback from the numismatic community. Our forecasting team examines historical performance and gleans insights on current customer interests and also assesses any new product’s overall potential. When we develop mintage limits for our numismatic products, we use our best efforts to come up with what we think are mintages that will satisfy customer demand and ultimately sell out. Contrary to the belief of some, we’re not happy when a product sells out immediately —that means that we underestimated demand and disappointed many customers. On the other hand, we don’t want to set mintages so high that we’re left with unsold inventory, which results in additional expense when we recycle the coins and medals and dispose of the packaging. Finding the right number is part art and part science. Most of the time I think we’re successful, but in the case of the World War II 75th Anniversary products we clearly underestimated demand.

As many of you are aware, a slowdown of the Mint’s online sales website caused frustration for many of our loyal customers, who were unable to purchase their desired product. One contributing factor is that there were 390,000 users attempting to access the website during one time frame, which is more than triple the capacity we had planned for. I can also tell you that our solutions to prevent automated purchases by “bots” also put an immense strain on our website and can lead to unintended issues for other legitimate purchasers. The overwhelming demand for these products outpaced our website capacity in ways that we are still trying to better understand and remedy. That said, more than 75 percent of 75th Anniversary End of World War II products were purchased by the Mint’s registered customers. I have asked my team to do a thorough analysis of what went wrong, and, by balancing capacity versus cost, come up with long-term, lasting solutions that will provide our customers with a vastly improved buying experience.

Also, we have different sets of customers purchasing our products, including individual collectors and dealers. We do not provide preferential treatment to any of our customers, be they individual collectors or professional coin dealers, and we have measures in place, both automated and manual, to ensure that household order limits are adhered to. We have seen an increase of activity by another sector of customers—buying groups who offer to pay a premium to individuals who purchase our high-demand products. This sector is one of the reasons you are seeing high prices for our products on the secondary market. The Mint has no control over what individuals do with their numismatic products once they are purchased. Some customers choose to add these coins and medals to their collections, while others choose to sell them for a profit.

In summary, I and my team are working to change the way the Mint has done business in the past. We endeavor to produce numismatic products that our customers will value. Along the way, we’ve made mistakes, and are doing our absolute best to learn from those mistakes. I thank you for your loyalty as a Mint customer, and look forward to your continued presence with us as we continue our journey of celebrating America through our numismatic products.

Sincerely,
Dave

Final 2020 America the Beautiful Quarters® Three-Coin Set Available on November 5

Nov 6, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) will release the final 2020 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set featuring coins honoring Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on November 5 at noon EST.

Priced at $11.50, the set includes the following coins:

• One uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint
• One uncirculated quarter from the Denver Mint
• One proof quarter from the San Francisco Mint

The reverses (tails) of these coins depict a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, iconic to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Inscriptions are “TALLGRASS PRAIRIE,” “KANSAS,” “2020,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The design was created by Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by Mint medallic artist Renata Gordon.

The coins’ obverses (heads) depict the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan, which has been restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original model. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

A durable plastic card with an image of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve holds the coins. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the card.

To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/tallgrass-prairie-national-preserve-2020-quarter-3-coin-set-20AH.html.

One final three-coin set with coins honoring Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama, the final quarter of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, will be released in 2021. For more information about this program and all products on sale in the series, visit: https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/.

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have, but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

The Mint launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program in 2010 as authorized by Public Law 110–456, the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (Act). The Act called for the Mint to issue 56 quarter-dollar coins with reverse designs depicting national parks and other national sites in each state or territory and the District of Columbia. The year 2020 marks the 11th year of the program. The program will conclude with one final coin to be issued in 2021.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of Nov. 5, 2020 at noon EST.

United States Mint Opens Sales in November for the End of World War II 75th Anniversary Coins and Medal Program

Nov 5, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON– Beginning in November, the United States Mint (Mint) is releasing four products to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II.

November 5

End of World War II 75th Anniversary American Eagle Gold Proof Coin (20XE)
Product Limit: 1,945
Price: Per Pricing Grid

The obverse features a version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The reverse (tails) features a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and eaglets. The 22-karat gold coin is struck in West Point and bears the “W” mintmark. The coin is packaged in burgundy velvet, satin-lined presentation case.

End of World War II 75th Anniversary American Eagle Silver Proof Coin (20XF)
Product Limit: 75,000
Price: $83.00

The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman’s full-length figure of Liberty in full stride, enveloped in folds of the flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. The reverse (tails) features a heraldic eagle with shield, an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left. The coin is struck in West Point and bears the “W” mint mark. The coin is packaged in a blue velvet satin-lined presentation case.

Both coins include a special privy mark incorporated on the obverse symbolizing the 75th anniversary of the triumph of World War II with “V75.” The design outline of the privy mark represents the aerial view shape of the Rainbow Pool located at West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., which is now an integral part of the World War II Memorial.

November 9

End of World War II 75th Anniversary 24-Karat Gold Coin (20XG)
Product Limit: 7,500
Price: Per Pricing Grid

Packaged in a burgundy velvet presentation case, this West Point-minted 99.99 percent gold coin bears an obverse design featuring an eagle in flight grasping an olive branch, symbolizing peace, in its right talon. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Ronald Sanders created the design, which was sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill. The design is inspired by the 1945 version of the Great Seal of the United States, where the eagle faces to the right, toward the olive branch. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “1945,” and “WORLD WAR II.” The reverse (tails) design echoes the sun element featured on the obverse of the 1945 Victory Medal. The sun from that medal has, 75 years later, risen to noonday brilliance. It shines on the symbolic olive branches on the left. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “75th ANNIVERSARY,” “2020,” “AU 24K 1/2 OZ.,” and “$25.” AIP artist Donna Weaver created this design, which Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon sculpted.

End of World War II 75th Anniversary Silver Medal (20XH)
Product Limit: 20,000
Price: $75.00

This medal is produced at the Philadelphia Mint and displays the same obverse design and inscriptions as that of the 24-karat gold coin. The medal also displays the same reverse design as the 24-karat gold coin, but with the sole inscription “75th ANNIVERSARY.” The medal is packaged in a blue velvet satin-lined presentation case. A decorative sleeve and Certificate of Authenticity with WWII-related information accompanies each of the coins and the silver medal.

Sales for all products begin at noon EST on the respective dates. Orders for each option will be limited to one per household for the first 24 hours of sales. The Mint will remove the limit following the initial 24-hour sales period. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit:

• https://catalog.usmint.gov/end-of-world-war-ii-75th-anniversary-american-eagle-gold-proof-coin-20XE.html (20XE)
• https://catalog.usmint.gov/end-of-world-war-ii-75th-anniversary-american-eagle-silver-proof-coin-20XF.html (20XF)
• https://catalog.usmint.gov/end-of-world-war-ii-75th-anniversary-24-karat-gold-coin-20XG.html (20XG)
• https://catalog.usmint.gov/end-of-world-war-ii-75th-anniversary-silver-medal-20XH.html (20XH)

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale dates and time of November 5 and November 9, 2020, at noon EST.

United States Mint Opens Sales for Rolls and Bags of Massachusetts American Innovation™ $1 Coins on October 29

Oct 28, 2020 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON–The United States Mint (Mint) will accept orders for rolls and bags of uncirculated Massachusetts American Innovation™ $1 Coins beginning on October 29 at noon EDT. Available product options and pricing are below.

The American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a multi-year series featuring distinctive reverse (tails) designs that pay homage to America’s ingenuity and celebrate the pioneering efforts of individuals or groups from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

The Massachusetts $1 Coin is the second release of 2020. Its reverse design recognizes the invention of the telephone and depicts the dial of an early rotary telephone. Inscriptions are “MASSACHUSETTS,” “TELE-PHONE,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The year of minting (“2020”), mint mark (“P” or “D”), and the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the coin’s edge. The reverse design was created by Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by Mint Medallic artist Eric David Custer.

American Innovation $1 Coins feature a common obverse (heads) design that depicts a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation. The obverse design was created by AIP artist Phebe Hemphill and sculpted by Medallic artist Justin Kunz.

To sign up for Remind Me alerts, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/american-innovation-1-coin-2020-rolls-and-bags-massachusetts-MASTER_INNOVATIONMA.html. For all products available in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/american-innovation-dollar-coins.

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Additionally, due to operational adjustments in response to COVID-19, our customer service representatives are available to assist with any questions you may have, but are unable to accept credit card information or place your order over the phone. Please use our website for all order placements at this time.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time of Oct. 29, 2020, at noon EDT.