Following the news that the United States Mint will not offer First Day Coin Covers for the new America the Beautiful Quarters series, one collector has decided to create a similar product on his own. The collector, known on eBay as "greanmonkey", has already created a batch of Hot Springs Quarter First Day Coin Covers and plans to create additional covers for each release of the series.
The America the Beautiful Quarters program will highlight a National Park or site from each of the 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Images or scenes representing each site will be featured on unique reverse designs, while the obverse of each coin will feature a portrait of George Washington. The 56 different quarters will be issued based on the order each site was federally designated, with five quarters released per year and a single quarter released in the final year of the series.
For previous series which have featured rotating designs, the United States Mint has offered First Day Coin Cover products. In general, these products include one or more coins mounted on a card and placed within an illustrated envelope. The envelope is stamped and postmarked with the official circulation release date of the coins or another relevant date. In some cases, the coins included in the covers are sourced from the first day of production. The US Mint decided not to offer similar products for the American the Beautiful Quarters Program after a review of their numismatic product portfolio.
"I've been a fan of the First Day Coin Covers series that the U.S. Mint started creating back in 1999 with the 50 States Quarter program," said greanmonkey. "Not only are they well-made, graphically appealing, and educational, but they are a true one-of-a-kind and rare numismatic-philatelic product. When I found out the Mint was not going to make covers for the new America the Beautiful Quarter series, I was very disappointed. A number of my numismatic friends started discussing whether it was possible to make similar products ourselves, and that's when I got the idea to try my hand at making the same kind of collectible item."
Each of the collector created Hot Springs Quarter First Day Coin Covers includes one 2010-P Hot Springs Quarter and one 2010-D Hot Springs Quarter, which were obtained on the first day of issue or at the official release ceremony. The quarters are mounted within an envelope illustrated with a scene from the park on the front and information about the park and quarter design on the back. The envelopes are stamped and posted marked Apr 19 2010, Hot Springs Natl Park Arkansas 71902. This cancellation is from the official circulation release date from the Post Office located at the actual park.
Only 100 of the Hot Springs Covers, as described above, were created. The covers are offered for sale at this eBay seller account.
"Homemade first day coin covers are nothing new, but trying to make them for the entire fifty-six coin series and get them canceled at relevant locations on the date of release is pretty daunting. I think I've been relatively successful with my first attempt for the Hot Springs Quarter, but we'll have to wait and see if I can do the same for the next fifty-five coins."
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The covers look REALLY good, almost exactly like what the Mint would have put out. I was really impressed with them when they arrived for me to take to Hot Springs to get the cancellations. I was glad to be able to help out my fellow collector with his efforts.
I really want this project to be a success. Maybe if these covers take off, the Mint will be sorry they abandoned them!
Great idea, have already been to e-bay have bought the first ones, looking forward to getting them.
Hope more people can join in with this to keep it going for many years until the program is finished. It is very important as he needs help with some postmark locations.
I am really glad someone is doing this. I feel the mint made a grave mistake not offering these, was really looking forward to it, but glad someone else took this on!!!!