WASHINGTON – The United States Mint today announced that the 2005 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set™ will be released February 9, 2005, at 12:00 noon (ET). The release date for this product is two months earlier than in 2004, as part of the United States Mint’s commitment to make many of its 2005 products available earlier in the year.

Priced at $23.95, the United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set includes all five new commemorative quarter-dollar coins issued in 2005 through the United States Mint 50 State Quarters® Program. Minted in proof condition in 90% silver, otherwise known as coin silver, the quarters honor California (“John Muir and Yosemite Valley”), Minnesota (“Land of 10,000 Lakes”), Oregon (“Crater Lake”), Kansas (“Buffalo and Sunflower”), and West Virginia (“New River Gorge”).

Each of these beautiful silver proof coins has a distinctive cameo appearance created by the contrast of a finely detailed frosted foreground against a shimmering, mirror-like background. Produced at the United States Mint at San Francisco, the coins bear the “S” mint mark. The sealed cases containing the coins are inserted into a specially printed sleeve and are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Because we expect demand for the United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set to be high, as it was with last year’s premier issue, customers are encouraged to place orders early. This product is available through the United States Mint’s Online Subscription Program. For more information about this convenient ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov.

Customers can purchase the United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set online through its secure website at www.usmint.gov, or by calling toll-free 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) 8:00 a.m. to midnight (ET), seven days a week. Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday.