Designs Signal Conclusion of Popular Program

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint is announcing today the designs for the five new 2008 commemorative quarter-dollars in the 50 State Quarters® Program. The new quarters-honoring Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii-signal the end of the most popular coin program in the history of U.S. coinage.

The first commemorative quarter of 2008 honors Oklahoma. It is the 46th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program. Oklahoma, nicknamed the “Sooner State,” became the 46th state admitted into the Union on November 16, 1907. Designed by Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Medallic Sculptor Phebe Hemphill, the reverse of the coin features Oklahoma’s State bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher, in flight with its distinctive tail feathers spread. The bird is soaring above the State wildflower, the Indian Blanket, amid a field of similar wildflowers. The coin’s design also bears the inscriptions “Oklahoma” and “1907.”

The second commemorative quarter of 2008 honors New Mexico. It is the 47th coin released in the 50 State Quarters Program. Nicknamed the “Land of Enchantment,” New Mexico was admitted into the Union on January 6, 1912, becoming the 47th state. Designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart, the reverse of the New Mexico quarter features the Zia sun symbol. The symbol is superimposed over a topographical outline of the State. The coin’s design also bears the inscriptions “Land of Enchantment,” “New Mexico” and “1912.”

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Sometimes it’s the little things in life that throw you the biggest curve.

Most everyone has been admonished at one time in their life to be aware of the “fine print” on documents. But what do you know about the fine print on coins?

A reader e-mailed recently to ask: “Why does the design on the Wyoming quarter appear to have a tiny three-letter mark just above the ‘m’ of unum?”

That “fine print” or three-letter mark on the Wyoming quarter represents the initials of the U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver, who executed the design. In the case of the Wyoming coin, that would be Norman E. Nemeth, who “signs” his State quarter designs nen.

Often collectors are confused by the designer’s initials on a U.S. coin; some mistake it for a Mint mark.

Two- or three-letter initials appear somewhere in the design of each of the 45 State quarter designs now in circulation. Those initials identify the Mint sculptor-engraver who worked on the coin. Read Full Story

The U.S. Mint is rolling out its fourth new presidential coin on Thursday, this one bearing the likeness of James Madison, the father of the Constitution.

While there are a lot of doubters, Mint Director Ed Moy says he is hopeful that the latest attempt to introduce a dollar coin will be more successful than previous efforts. The past two dollar coins — the Susan B. Anthony, introduced in 1979, and the Sacagawea, introduced in 2000, were spectacular flops.

The new presidential coins, in an effort to tap into the huge success of the 50-state quarter program, feature a changing design with a new president introduced every three months in the order they served in office. The hope is that the changing designs will keep interest high and avoid the sharp drop-off in demand seen with other coins after their initial introduction. Read Full Article