The United States Mint is gearing up to launch their first of five  2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set which will feature the Arkansas Hot Springs quarter. The collectible set will go on sale on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at noon Eastern Time (ET).

For a price of $13.95, the Hot Springs National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set includes one proof-quality quarter-dollar from the mint facility in San Francisco with the ‘S’ mint mark, plus two uncirculated-quality strikes from the other facilities in Philadelphia and Denver with the ‘P’ and ‘D’ mint marks.

Without the new Three-Coin Set, collectors would have to purchase and break-up more expensive sets to assemble a complete quarter’s set by site — namely the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set, or the annual 2010 Proof Set which contains collector versions of all circulating U.S. coins, and the 2010 Uncirculated Mint Set.

The package is made of a durable plastic card for which the quarters are mounted and includes a brief description of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas plus the coin’s design. The Mint’s Certificate of Authenticity is on the back side of the package.

Remaining 2010 quarter-dollars will appear in future America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets but will not be released until 2011. They include the Yellowstone National Park Quarter, Yosemite National Park Quarter, Grand Canyon National Park Quarter, and Mount Hood National Forest Quarter. (Looking for these quarters outside of sets, read Where to get National Park Quarters.)

The Three-Coin Set was originally announced on May 14, 2010, as part of the U.S. Mint’s subscription service program, but now is the first time the set is being sold individually. The Mint’s subscription program is structured much like a magazine subscription, and orders for the new set began on May 19, 2010, at noon Eastern Time (ET) without a release date. A subscription allows collectors to receive each new set automatically as it is released.

Upon Wednesday’s launch, the Hot Springs Three-Coin Set may be purchased on the Mint’s web site at www.usmint.gov/catalog and via their toll-free phone number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The standard shipping and handling charge of $4.95 per domestic order will apply.