The 2008 United States Mint Proof Set® will be available beginning June 24 at 12 noon (ET). There is no order limit for this set, which is priced at $26.95.

The 2008 United States Mint Proof Set includes four Presidential $1 Coins honoring James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren and the final five quarters of the 50 State Quarters® Program honoring Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii. The Lincoln cent, the Jefferson 5-cent coin (nickel), the Roosevelt dime, the Kennedy half-dollar, and the Golden Dollar featuring Sacagawea also are included.

The United States Mint Proof Set-manufactured at the United States Mint at San Francisco using specially prepared, highly polished dies-contains extraordinarily brilliant coins, with sharp relief and a mirror-like background. A frosted, sculpted foreground gives these coins a special cameo effect. The coins are sealed in three presentation cases that are housed in a custom “sleeve.” A Certificate of Authenticity is included with each set.

Collectors may purchase the 2008 United States Mint Proof Set, and other numismatic products, at www.usmint.gov, or by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). All domestic orders will be assessed a shipping and handling fee of $4.95 per order.

The United States Mint Proof Set also is available through the United States Mint’s Online Subscription Program. For more information about this convenient ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, any order placed prior to the official on-sale date and time shown above shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.

The United States Mint announced today a new program to ship circulating Presidential $1 Coins directly to retail establishments, financial institutions, and members of the public. The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program provides individualized service to the financial community and other interested parties who wish to acquire $1 coins at face value in smaller quantities than currently available to financial institutions.

“Retailers and financial institutions want to be responsive to customers’ requests for the Presidential $1 Coin,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. “The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program will help them to easily obtain the number of coins that best suits their needs.”

The United States Mint is initiating this program to proactively comply with a directive in the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 to remove barriers and improve circulation of the $1 coin.

The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program is intended to complement-not substitute for-the Federal Reserve Banks’ coin ordering systems. The role of the Federal Reserve Banks is to distribute bulk quantities of coin to depository institutions, which in turn distribute to branches, other financial institutions and the public. Market research conducted by the United States Mint found that some retailers and smaller banks would prefer to obtain Presidential $1 Coins in small quantities. By fulfilling these needs, the United States Mint $1 Coin Direct Ship Program complements the Federal Reserve’s coin ordering systems and, at the same time, helps to encourage circulation of $1 coins. (more…)

The third installment in the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Series is scheduled for release today, June 10th. This new Historical Signature Series collection of products began on April 8th with the introduction of the George Washington folder. The Series highlights the 2007 Presidential $1 Coins honoring the Presidents of the United States. The Set features a proof version of the Presidential $1 Coin and a Presidential intaglio print from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The product is presented in a textured, leather-like folder which opens to reveal the intaglio print and the official Presidential signature. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each United States Mint Historical Signature Set.

The most current United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set – features Thomas Jefferson, and is the third in this new collection. The proof coin which is extraordinarily brilliant, has a sharp relief and a mirror-like background. The frosted, sculpted foreground gives a special cameo effect. The image of President Thomas Jefferson appears on the obverse of the coin and the reverse features a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty. The Presidential $1 Coins also feature edge-incused inscriptions of the year, “E Pluribus Unum,” “In God We Trust,” and the mint mark. The size, weight and metal composition of the new Presidential $1 Coins are identical to that of the Sacagawea Golden Dollar. Each coin is mounted in a removable capsule.

Visible from the cover of the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set is the Presidential intaglio print of Thomas Jefferson printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Opening the cover reveals the official Thomas Jefferson Presidential signature, courtesy of the White House Historical Association.

The two previous Presidential “Signature Sets” of George Washington and John Adams are still both available from the US Mint Store. Each Set, including the new Jefferson Folder costs $19.95 each.

Are you yearning to see the panoramic vistas of the Grand Canyon but cannot make the trip? Do the next best thing and get shiny new Arizona commemorative quarter-dollar coins, available in bags and rolls beginning June 2 at 12 noon (ET). Customers may order as many of these options as they like. There is no order limit.

The Arizona quarter is the 48th coin in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program. The coin’s reverse features an image of the Grand Canyon with a Saguaro cactus in the foreground. A banner reading “Grand Canyon State” separates the two images to signify that the Saguaro cactus does not grow in the Grand Canyon. The coin also bears the inscriptions “Arizona” and “1912.”

The coins contained in the bags and rolls were struck at United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia for use in general circulation. The two-roll sets, offered at $32.95, include one roll each of 40 coins bearing the “D” and “P” mintmarks. The coins are wrapped in distinctive packaging bearing the 50 State Quarters logo, the mint of origin, the official state abbreviation and the dollar value of the contents. The 100- and 1,000-coin bags are offered at $32.95 and $309.95, respectively. Each canvas bag has a tag with the mint of origin and the state abbreviation. (more…)

In honor of Louisa Adams, the Nation’s sixth First Lady, the United States Mint will release a ½-ounce 24-karat gold coin bearing her image at 12 noon (ET) on May 29, 2008. The Louisa Adams First Spouse Gold Coin will be available in proof and uncirculated versions priced at $619.95 and $599.95, respectively. The mintage limit is set at 40,000 across both product options. Customer demand will determine the ratio of proof to uncirculated coins produced.

Orders for the Louisa Adams First Spouse Gold Coin will be limited to one per product option per household for the first week of sales. The United States Mint will reevaluate this limit following the initial sales period and either extend, adjust or eliminate it.

Bronze medals bearing the likeness of the coin also will be available for $3.50. There is no mintage or order limit for this option.

It could not have been easy for Louisa Catherine Adams, wife of our Nation’s sixth President, John Quincy Adams, to follow in the footsteps of her esteemed mother-in-law and former First Lady Abigail Adams. Despite her predecessor’s legacy, however, Louisa-an accomplished musician, hostess and writer on the subjects of women’s rights and abolitionism-managed to make her mark in Washington society and in political circles. Louisa staunchly supported her husband’s career and was invaluable in furthering his initiatives.

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Louisa Adams designed by Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. Inscriptions on the coin are “Louisa Adams” and “1825-1829,” the years she served as First Spouse. Additional inscriptions on the coin’s obverse include “In God We Trust,” “Liberty” and “2008.” (more…)