On June 8, 2010, the United States Mint announced a new program which would allow individuals and businesses to order America the Beautiful Quarters in bulk quantities. The program was created as a response to the current economic conditions which make it difficult to obtain the new series of coins through the banking system.
Under the program, individuals and businesses may order bulk bags containing 200,000 coins, or $50,000 face value in quarters. All orders carry a 3% processing fee of $1,500 per bag. The pick up of the bulk bags from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint must be arranged with a properly licensed commercial carrier.
Through June 22, 2010, the United States Mint has sold 97 bulk bags. With 200,000 coins included in each bag, this yields a total of 19.4 million quarters sold through the program. The bulk orders were placed for Hot Springs National Park Quarters and Yellowstone National Park Quarters. The breakdown between the two issues and by mint facility were not indicated.
The number of quarters sold through the Bulk Purchase Program represents a sizable portion of the total mintage. The latest preliminary production figures show 59.6 million Hot Springs Quarters and 68.4 million Yellowstone Quarters produced to date, meaning bulk purchases have taken up 15.16% of the collective mintage.
The United States Mint also currently offers America the Beautiful Quarters through their numismatic bags and rolls program. Bags containing 100 coins or two roll sets including 80 coins are sold to collectors at a premium to face value. Through July 18, 2010, the US Mint has sold 28,795 of the 100-coin bags and 71,563 of the two roll sets across available products for the Hot Springs and Yellowstone National Park Quarters. This represents another 8.6 million quarters.
Taken together, sales through the bulk purchase program and numismatic bags and rolls program account for 28 million quarters, or 21.88% of all America the Beautiful Quarters minted. For a "circulating" coin series, a significant proportion of the mintage is not following the expected path.
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