Washington, D.C., October 3, 2001 – The U.S. Mint announced today that quarters honoring Kentucky, the fifth and last coin in the 50 State Quarters™ Program to be struck for the year 2001, will be sold online for 72 hours, beginning October 15, 2001, at 12:00 noon (ET) and ending October 18, 2001, at 12:00 noon (ET). The Kentucky 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.

Though the 15th state to join the Union, Kentucky was the first on the western frontier to do so and is one of four states to call itself a "commonwealth." The Bluegrass State is the home of the Kentucky Derby, the longest running annual horse race in the country, and is grazing ground for some of the world's finest racehorses. The new quarter’s design features Federal Hill, a prominent symbol of the state, known as "My Old Kentucky Home." The design also shows a side view of the famous Bardstown home where Stephen Foster penned the state song, "My Old Kentucky Home," and a thoroughbred racehorse standing behind a fence in the foreground.

Each coin roll is wrapped in a specially designed U.S. Mint paper coin wrap that prominently displays the 50 State Quarters™ Program logo, a “P” or “D” representing the roll’s mint of origin, “KY” designating the state of Kentucky and “$10” representing its dollar value.

Each bag is marked with the Mint of origin and the dollar value of its contents ($25 or $250). Two roll sets will sell for $32.00, bags of 100 coins for $35.50, and bags of 1,000 coins for $300. 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. Note that there are no order limits on these products.

Customers can purchase the Kentucky quarter bags and rolls three ways. First, they can save shipping and handling charges by ordering online using the Mint’s secure website at www.usmint.gov. Second, they may call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Third, they may download a fax order form from the website 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 1-888-321-MINT (6468). Please allow approximately 2-3 weeks for delivery.