Maryland Quarter Bags Sell Out in 2 Hours,
Pushing Total Sales to 12.8 Million Coins -
Mint Announces 72-Hour Order Period for Next Quarter Bags Sale
Washington, D.C., April 14, 2000 –The U.S. Mint today announced that the record pace of sales of the Maryland quarter in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins pushed the Mint Web site to its first million-dollar hour on April 3, with total single hour sales reaching $2.7 million. Sellouts of the quarter bags, which went on sale at 9 a.m., were announced at 10 a.m. for the 100-coin bags and at 11 a.m. for the 1,000-coin bags.
“The Mint’s record $2.7 million hour exceeded all expectations of achieving a million dollar hour,” said Acting Mint Director John Mitchell. “We’re pleased to announce that the improvements in Web technology that we’ve focused on - upgrading server speed and capacity - performed as planned, and we were able to process all the orders.”
“While this drove us over the pre-announced limit of 10 million coins,” said Mitchell, “the servers allowed us to quickly process the tremendous pace and number of orders that came in during the first two hours - so we are fulfilling all those orders, up to 12.8 million coins. Furthermore, to address the extraordinary demand for the quarter bags, when the next of the 50 State Quarters, honoring South Carolina, goes on sale in bags in late May, we will accept and fulfill all orders received during this 72-hour sales period. Watch our Web site for more information.”
The Mint began online sales in April 1999, recorded its first $1 million month in May, 1999, its first $1 million week during July last year, and its first $1 million day on October 18, 1999, driven by sales of seven million Connecticut quarters in four and one-half hours. Total online sales amounted to $26.5 million for the period October 1 through December 31, 1999. The Mint is projecting online sales of more than $125 million this year, placing it among the nation’s top e-tailers.
Customers may currently order the new Golden Dollar in bags and in rolls via the U.S. Mint Web site, www.USMINT.gov. There are no limits placed on the orders, however, depending on order volumes, delivery may be delayed as much as six to eight weeks. Customers who prefer to fax their orders may download an order form from the web site and fax it to (301) 344-4150, and customers also may order by telephone by calling 1-800-USA-MINT. (Telephone and fax orders do not guarantee faster delivery times and incur an additional shipping and handling fee of $3.95.
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Mint today announced that a limited edition of 75,000 Maryland Commemorative Coin Covers featuring two Maryland quarters from the first day of mintage — February 28, 2000 — will be available through its online catalog at www.USMINT.gov. On April 17, the Mint will begin sales of the first official Commemorative Coin Cover featuring the Maryland quarter.
“We continue the 50 State Quarters Commemorative Cover series, featuring the latest quarter honoring Maryland,” said U.S. Mint Acting Director John Mitchell. “The covers are an affordable, attractive collectible, that make a perfect gift for a young collector or someone just starting a collection.”
Priced at $19.95, this official Maryland Commemorative Coin Cover includes quarters from both the Philadelphia and Denver facilities on a handsome display card with the 33-cent Flag-Over-City postage stamp. The postmark of “March 13, 2000, Annapolis, Maryland” marks the day the Maryland quarters were first released to the Federal Reserve and the public – certifying this limited edition and honoring “The Old Line State.”
The reverse design of the Maryland quarter features a depiction of the Maryland State House dome in Annapolis—the oldest working state house in the country, and the only state house to have served as the nation’s capitol. The state house is surrounded by the nickname “The Old Line State” and balanced on both sides by White Oak leaf clusters.
The Maryland quarters are the seventh coins of the 50 State Quarters Program that will honor each of the 50 states in the order they entered the union. Five state designs will be issued each year through 2008 at approximately 10-week intervals.
Customers may order the Maryland First Day Commemorative Coin Cover directly online via the U.S. Mint secure web server at www.usmint.gov and pay no additional shipping and handling charges. Customers who prefer to fax their orders may download an order form at the web site and fax it to (301) 344-4150, and customers also may order by telephone by calling 1-800-USA-MINT. Mail orders to U.S. Mint, Customer Care Center, Lanham, MD 20706-4331 Attention: Order Processing. (Telephone, fax, and mail orders incur a shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order.) Please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for delivery.
National Coin Week is April 16-20. Celebrate by visiting the U.S. Mint’s web site at www.usmint.gov. There are a variety of activities, games, and educational offerings that are fun for everyone. See the new Golden Dollar ads, and solve the Golden Dollar interactive puzzle. Track or report on the first sightings of coins from the 50 State Quarters Program and download a free 50 State Quarters Program screensaver. Plus show your children how coins are made at the U.S. Mint’s h.i.p. pocket change, our site filled with fun and games just for kids.