State-Quarter.com

Washington, D.C., June 19, 2000 — The U.S. Mint today announced that a limited edition of 75,000 South Carolina Official Commemorative Coin Covers featuring two South Carolina quarters from the first day of mintage — May 8, 2000 — will be available through its online catalog at www.USMINT.gov. On June 26, at 12:00 Noon, Eastern Time, the Mint will begin sales of the first Official Commemorative Coin Cover featuring the South Carolina quarter.

“We are especially excited to present the South Carolina Official Commemorative Coin Cover as the next 50 State Quarters™ Official Commemorative Cover in the series for sale,” said U.S. Mint Director Jay W. Johnson. “The American public is not only increasingly aware of the 50 State Quarters Program, but is eagerly searching out the latest new quarter. Each coin builds interest in coins as tangible artifacts of history and art, in addition to encouraging all ages, especially young people, to build their own coin collections.”

“The continued popularity of the commemorative coin covers reflects our increased focus of developing new and exciting official Mint collectibles for our customer!” said Associate Director of Numismatics David Pickens.

Priced at $19.95, the South Carolina Official 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 “May 22, 2000, Columbia, South Carolina” marks the day the South Carolina quarters were first released to the Federal Reserve and the public - certifying this limited edition and honoring “The Palmetto State.”

The reverse design of the South Carolina quarter features the Carolina Wren (the state bird), the Yellow Jessamine (the state flower), and the Palmetto (the state tree). The significance of the Palmetto tree dates back to the Revolutionary War when colonists used a fort made of Palmetto logs to successfully defeat the British fleet trying to capture Charleston Harbor. An outline of South Carolina and a star indicating the capital, Columbia, form the quarter’s background.

The South Carolina quarters are the eighth 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 South Carolina Official 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 shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order.) Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 301-344-4144. Please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Mail Orders Begin June 7, Web Site Sales Start June 12

Free Shipping & Handling Online at www.USMINT.gov

10-Coin U.S. Mint Proof Set Features First Proof Golden Dollar

5-Coin 50 State QuartersTM Proof Set Includes Quarters Honoring Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Virginia

Washington, D.C., June 5, 2000 — The U.S. Mint today announced that the 2000 U.S. Mint Proof Set, including the first proof Golden Dollar and the five new quarters of 2000 issued under the 50 State Quarters Program, will be available by mail on June 7, and online at www.USMINT.gov beginning June 12.

“A perennial favorite, the U.S. Mint Proof Set this year features the first proof Golden Dollar, and the 50 State Quarters Proof Sets continues the most popular numismatic series in history,” said Mint Director Jay W. Johnson. “We’ve listened to our customers, from collectors to dealers to parents and grandparents who buy multiple sets as gifts annually, so there are no order limits on the sets this year.”

“The popularity of the 50 State Quarters Program continues to soar,” said David Pickens, Associate Director for Numismatics, “and we’ve targeted an increased estimated total production of three million 10-Coin U.S. Mint Proof Sets for the year. With the added proof dollar and same price as last year, this is a great collectible for 2000.”

The 10-Coin U.S. Mint Proof Set is available at $19.95 and contains proof versions of the Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Kennedy Half Dollar, and the new Golden Dollar in one sealed presentation case — plus a separate presentation case containing proof versions of the quarters from each state honored this year–Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Virginia. The 5-Coin 50 State Quarters Proof Set is available at $13.95 and may be purchased separately. All sets will be shipped by priority mail in customized security containers.

Proof coins are manufactured at the San Francisco Mint using specially prepared, highly polished dies. Bearing the “S” Mint mark, each coin is struck at least twice to ensure the finest detail in a frosted cameo image on a bright, mirror background. The sealed cases containing the coins are inserted into a specially printed sleeve and accompanied by an official U.S. Mint Certificate of Authenticity.

Customers may order the 10-Coin U.S. Mint Proof Set or the 5-Coin 50 State Quarters Proof Set 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 mail or fax their orders may download an order form at the web site. Fax orders should be directed to (301) 344-4150. Customers may also order by telephone by calling 1-800-USA-MINT. Telephone, mail, and fax orders incur a shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order. Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 301-344-4144. Please allow approximately 4-6 weeks for delivery.