The United States Mint announced the release date for bags and rolls of the 2012 El Yunque National Forest Quarters, the first of five 2012 quarters that will debut this year as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The El Yunque Quarters will go on sale Friday, February 3, at noon Eastern Time.
2012 El Yunque National Forest Quarter
The price for each 2012-dated 100-coin bag will be $34.95, and the two-roll set containing 80 quarters will be $32.95. These prices are lower than last year's products by $15 and $7 respectively. Price cuts from the U.S. Mint have been attributed to the updating of the product costing process, acquiring metals at current lower prices and negotiating better pricing from suppliers.
The 2012 El Yunque quarter is the eleventh in the series that started in 2010 and runs through to 2021. The law requires each design to depict a national site or park located in the U.S. or its territories. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner selected each of the 56 sites, and the U.S. Mint will release the specially designed quarters in the order in which the honored location was first established as a national site.
The El Yunque National Forest, located in Puerto Rico, is the second forest to be featured in the program, but it is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. It was established as a national site on January 17, 1903.
The reverse of the quarter features two creatures that are emblematic of the site. They are the Coqui Tree Frog and the Puerto Rican parrot. The design also showcases an epiphyte plant and tropical flora in the background. Inscriptions include EL YUNQUE, PUERTO RICO, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The design was created by Gary Whitley and engraved by Michael Gaudioso.
El Yunque Quarters in Bags and Rolls
The 100-coin bag comes in two options. Buyers have a choice between 2012-P quarters or 2012-D quarters, representing the Mint facilities in Philadelphia or Denver. The tag on the canvas bag will indicate the city of origin with either a "P" or a "D" and will have, "El Yunque National Forest," the abbreviation "PR" for Puerto Rico, and the face value of $25.
As for the two-roll set, it contains a 40 coin roll from both facilities. "El Yunque National Forest," the the abbreviation "PR" for Puerto Rico, and the face value of "$10" is on the special Mint coin wrapper of each roll as well as a "P" or "D" for the coin's origin.
It should be noted the quarter was released into public circulation via the Federal Reserve Banking System beginning on January 23, 2012.
For additional information on this year's quarters, also check out the 2012 quarter designs and our sister site America the Beautiful Quarters.
Below is the official United States Mint press release about the El Yunque Quarter Bags and Two-Roll Sets.
United States Mint to Release First 2012 Coin in America the Beautiful Quarters® Program on February 3
The first 2012 coin in the United States Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters Program -- honoring Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest -- entered into circulation on January 23. At noon Eastern Time (ET) on February 3, the bureau will offer collectible bags and rolls of the El Yunque National Forest quarter for sale at its Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.
The 100-coin bags are priced at $34.95, and the two-roll sets (40-coins per roll) are priced at $32.95. These prices are significantly lower than those charged for America the Beautiful Quarters Bags and Rolls products in 2011.
The coins in the bags and rolls were struck on the main production floors of the United States Mint facilities at Denver and Philadelphia for general circulation. The two-roll sets include one roll each bearing the "P" and "D" mint marks. The special numismatic packaging displays the name "El Yunque National Forest," the abbreviation "PR" for Puerto Rico, "$10," the value of its contents, and "P" or "D" for the mint of origin. Each canvas bag has a tag with "El Yunque National Forest," "PR" and "P" or "D."
In addition to ordering via the secure web site, customers may also order at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321 MINT (6468). A fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders to cover shipping and handling costs.
Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time of February 3, 2012, noon ET shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint's Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.
About U.S. Mint
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.
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