Today, December 4, 2012, the United States Mint released the Denali National Park Quarters Three-Coin Set.
The set is available for ordering directly from the U.S. Mint for $9.95, plus the bureau’s standard shipping and handling charge of $4.95 per order.
The newly released three-coin set includes different examples of the Denali National Park Quarter. This quarter features a reverse design emblematic of the national park located in Alaska.
The quarters found in the three-coin set are:
- 2012-P Denali National Park Quarter in uncirculated quality
- 2012-D Denali National Park Quarter in uncirculated quality
- 2012-S Denali National Quarter in proof quality
The letter designations represent U.S. Mint facilities of San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. The coins have the respective S, D and P mint marks.
All three of these coins are considered collector grade versions of the Denali quarter. These differ from the circulation quality strikes issued in general circulation through the Federal Reserve Bank system early last month. They also differ from those circulation quality strikes available from the U.S. Mint in bags and rolls which also made their debut last month.
Uncirculated coins (of which two are included in the three-coin set) are typically struck multiple times resulting in a coin with enhanced detail over its circulating counterpart. The proof quality coin (of which one is found in the set) is struck with specially polished dies at least twice to ensure sharp relief. The blanks used for the proof coin are specially treated and polished resulting in a strike with frosted, sculpted foregrounds and a mirror-like background.
Denali National Park Quarters, as previously mentioned, feature a reverse design emblematic of the national park. It shows the image of a Dall sheep with a rising Mount McKinley pictured off in the distance. The design was completed by AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz. Included inscriptions are DENALI, ALASKA, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM
Shown on the obverse of all America the Beautiful related coins is a portrait of George Washington, by John Flanagan. Obverse inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
Quarters of the three-coin set are placed in a durable plastic card featuring a photo of Denali National Park. A description of the national park and a United States Mint Certificate of Authenticity is found on the backside of the card.
Orders for the set may be placed via the Mint’s online catalog at http://catalog.us.mint.gov/. Orders are also accepted by telephone by calling 1-800-U.S.A-MINT (872-6468).