Washington, D.C., May 14, 2001 -- The U.S. Mint announced today that circulating quarters with a reverse design honoring Rhode Island will be sold online beginning May 21, 2001, at 12:00 noon (ET), and ending May 24, 2001, at 12:00 noon (ET). The Rhode Island quarters are available in two-roll sets (40 coins per roll), including one Philadelphia and Denver Mint Mark coin roll each, and in bags of 100 and 1,000 coins.

Collectors will have 72 hours to purchase two-roll sets and bags of the newest quarters. The Rhode Island quarter is the third coin struck for the year 2001 under the 50 State Quarters™ Program. With the release of the Rhode Island quarter, for the first time in history, the original 13 Colonies will be commemorated on circulating American coinage. The Rhode Island quarter, which honors the “Ocean State”, features a vintage sailboat gliding through Rhode Island's famous Narragansett Bay, and an image of the Pell Bridge in the background, showcasing Rhode Island's most popular sport-sailing.

Each coin roll is wrapped in a specially designed U.S. Mint paper coin wrap which prominently displays the 50 State Quarters™ Program logo, a “P” or “D” representing the roll’s mint of origin, “RI” designating the state of Rhode Island, and “$10” representing its dollar value. These rolls and bags, featuring quarters used in regular transactions and struck on our main production floors at the Philadelphia and Denver Mint facilities, will be shipped directly to you from the U.S. Mint. Each bag is marked with the Mint of origin and the dollar value of its contents ($25 or $250). Note that there are no order limits on these products.

Customers can purchase the Rhode Island quarters three ways: First, they can save shipping and handling charges by ordering online using the Mint’s secure web site, at www.usmint.gov/catalog. Second, they may call 1-800-USA-MINT. Third, they may download a fax order form from the web site and fax it to (301) 918-2039. A shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order will be added to all telephone and fax orders for these products. Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling (301) 344-4144 TTY. Please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for delivery.