New state quarter on the scene - May 99
Lately
you may have noticed some unusual coins in your pocket. Now there’s a new quarter
that looks a bit different from the ones you grew up with. If you haven’t seen the
new quarter yet, it will make you take a second look.
Some people think it’s fake, others think it’s Canadian but Bud
Nugent, president of coin club said, “They’ve come out minting these new
quarters. They have one for each state and they’re coming in sequence of when the
state signed the Declaration of Independence.”
Starting
this year, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut will replace the
trusty Washington quarter, which is no longer being minted. That quarter has been
around since 1932, but the mint decided to start making new state quarters for the next
ten years. Bud Nugent is the president of Silversands Coin Club and he says the new
quarter isn’t much different than the old one. “They’re the same metal
content, they’re the same diameter and they’re exactly the same weight”,
says Nugent. These new quarters may be similar to the old ones, but with one very
big difference, they could be worth more than just 25 cents. Only five states will be
minted a year and each year there will be five new states introduced.
Nugent says if you’ve got a coin that’s shiny with no scratches, hang
onto it. Nugent says, “People who are not even coin collectors are collecting them.
And in an un-circulated condition, if you get them directly from a bank or shortly
thereafter, no doubt they will be worth something more than just a quarter in ensuing
years.”
But Nugent warns, if everyone decides to hang onto the coins there could be a
shortage of quarters in years to come. Nugent says the state quarter is already being
advertised nationally for $12.50 to $15 dollars a roll.
If you would like more information on the new quarters, contact the U.S. Mint at
1-800-USA-MINT. The Mint will make the new quarters through 2008. The Florida quarter will
be out in 2004.
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