The U.S. Mint is always issuing new commemorative coins and sets. There are a remarkable variety of U.S. coin types in everyday pocket change, with more than 38 different State Quarter types in circulation. Learn all about collecting U.S. coins.
Actually, the Treasury Department's estimate of 140 million State Quarter collectors seems suspect. This figure probably includes everybody who ever put away 1 coin from his or her own state or something, but the point is that State Quarter collecting is very popular. Like any popular series of coins, the supply often fails to meet demand, causing a price increase.
The 50 State Quarters Program, authorized by Congress in 1997, has been very successful. More than 140 million Americans are collecting the 50 state quarters. The state quarters program isn't just for coin collectors, however. Many citizens have had the opportunity to participate in the quarter design process. Thousands of Americans have suggested designs that represent their state's unique, positive features. The final designs are selected from these submissions. In 2005, the Idaho Commission on the Arts solicited concepts from the public and received over 1,200 submissions. Each state's quarter is minted for only ten weeks, and then will never be minted again.
A great way to organize and maintain a collection of state quarters is with a state quarter albums. Because state quarters contain state-specific information on the coins, albums are an easy way to keep the coins organized and easily viewable.
For those just starting a coin-collecting hobby, coins they collect are usually placed inside a large glass jar or bowl. Serious collectors prefer to store their collection in a special state quarter album. State quarters map folders are a very popular way to store and display a collection and are available in coin shops and from coin dealers.
Mint officials estimate that about 114 million Americans are collecting state quarters. In fact, about two of every three quarters minted in the last two years have been taken out of circulation by collectors amassing stockpiles that average 25 quarters each. Many of these new collectors are kids.
"It was inconceivable to people to think a few years ago that coins could become a collectible in the realm of Beanie Babies or Pokemon cards," says U.S. Mint spokesman Michael White. "But this state quarters program sort of transformed coin collecting from a smaller hobby to something very mainstream."
The 2008 state quarters are the last of the 50 State Quarters Program. Coin collecting State Quarters has brought many new people to the hobby.
While most of the collectors of state quarters are youngsters with minimal income, these kids are probably building their set with the assistance of an adult who will hopefully also have some interest in building the full set. What is the problem that will unfold if this happens? The problem is that the 1932-D quarter only had a mintage of 436,800 pieces while the 1932-S had only 408,000 pieces produced. With mintages like that, it is unlikely that any more than 350,000 of each are still in existence now that over 80 years have passed since they were struck. So you see, the dilemma arises that there are not nearly enough 1932-D's and -S's to go around if lots of people suddenly decide to start forming complete Washington quarter collections.
Today, the partnership among the Citizen's Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, Congress and the sponsoring organizations that back new coins has stabilized the market for commemorative coins. The 50 State Quarters Program - the longest running and most successful program of its kind - has re-ignited interest in coin collecting. One hundred and fourteen million Americans are now collecting state quarters, and most are new to the hobby.
But anyone who collects state quarters in hopes of reaping big gains will probably be disappointed. Although some collectors maintain that a few of the quarters disappeared from circulation so quickly that they might bring $1 (if they're in extremely good condition), common coins rarely appreciate that much.
Thanks to the success of the state quarter program, the U.S Mint began this year honoring U.S presidents on dollar coins. Each year four presidents will be featured annually. Washington, Adams and Jefferson are now in circulation.
The United State Mint only produced 520,400,000 California state quarters. That might seem like a lot, but this article explained that since there were over 36,000,000 California residents, this quarter was the "most rare" on a per-capita basis.
South Carolina and Georgia stuck to traditional concepts an outline of the state surrounded by regional flora and fauna. As the "Magnolia State," Mississippi opted simply for flower blossoms. The New York quarter features a majestic Statue of Liberty.
The Professional Numismatists Guild, for example, publishes free booklets for beginning collectors (available by writing to: Robert Brueggeman, PNG Executive Director, 3950 Concordia Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028). The PNG also offers free "quarter boards" for displaying state quarter collections.
The Mint has announced mintage totals for the Washington State Quarter. A total of 545.2 million were released into circulation. Take the leap into the wonderful world of coin collecting with a 1999 Philadelphia Mint State Quarter Set. It comes with all the 1999 state quarters in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and includes custom packaging.
Clearly, the Commemorative Coin Program works best when it benefits collectors and sponsoring organizations alike. Congress has authorized more reasonable mintages, sales have recovered, and the market is significantly more stable.
Perhaps the most notable debate arose in Missouri, where an artist disagreed with the Mint's interpretation of his design. The artist protested in Washington, D.C. outside the Mint and at the Illinois quarter release by pasting his own design onto thousands of quarters and handing them out to bystanders, coin watchers said.
