Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Mint today announced that a limited edition of 75,000 Rhode Island Official First Day Coin Covers will be available online at www.USMINT.gov. at 12:00 Noon (Eastern Time) on June 25, 2001. The Rhode Island Official First Day Coin Covers feature two Rhode Island quarters from the first day of mintage—May 7, 2001.

Priced at $19.95, the Rhode Island Official First Day Coin Cover includes quarters from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mint facilities on a handsome display card with the 34-cent Statue of Liberty postage stamp.

The postmark of “May 21, 2001, Providence, Rhode Island” marks the day that the Rhode Island quarters were first released to the Federal Reserve Bank and the public—certifying this limited edition and honoring America’s “Ocean State.” The coin’s design features a vintage sailboat gliding through Rhode Island’s famous Narragansett Bay, and an image of the Pell Bridge in the background, with the design showcasing Rhode Island’s most popular sport—sailing.

The Rhode Island quarter is the 13th coin of the 50 State Quarters™ Program that honors 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 purchase the Rhode Island Official First Day Coin Covers five ways: First, they can save shipping and handling charges by using the Mint’s secure web site www.USMINT.gov/catalog. Second, they can call 1-800-USA-MINT. Third, they may download an order form at the web site and fax it to (301) 344-4150. Fourth and fifth, you may request an order form from the U.S. Mint’s Customer Care Center at (202) 283-COIN, or download an order form at the web site, and mail it to the U.S. Mint, P.O. Box 382601, Pittsburgh, PA, 15250-8601 (Attention: Order Processing). A shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order will be added to all fax, mail and telephone orders for these products. Hearing and speech impaired customers may order by calling (301) 344-4144 (TTY). Please allow approximately 3-4 weeks for delivery.