San Francisco produced 2012-S El Yunque quarters in circulating quality launched today in United States Mint bag and roll products. The U.S. Mint placed them on sale at noon ET with 100-coin bags listed for $34.95 each and rolls with 40 quarters priced at $18.95 each.
Differing mint marks are what make these newer quarters unique from those that have appeared in pocket change since their February release from Federal Reserve Banks.
San Francisco minted quarters bear the "S" mint mark, a designating U.S. Mint facility letter that in recent years has only appeared on quarters and other coins struck to proof quality and produced for coin collectors. El Yunque quarters launched earlier this year have either a "D" or "P" mint mark, denoting production at the Denver Mint or Philadelphia Mint.
A further differentiating factor between the varying circulating quality quarters is that the United States Mint is the only place to get the new ones. The bureau is producing 2012-S El Yunque quarters with a single intent of selling them to coin collectors. They will not get released into circulation. As a result, many more collectors will see San Francisco quarters as an appealing addition to their collections.
All El Yunque quarter-dollars feature a design that honors El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. Specifically, the reverse design by Gary Whitley depicts a Coqui tree frog on a leaf beside a Puerto Rican parrot behind an epiphyte plant.
Additional circulating quality quarters launch later this year. These will include the other four 2012-dated America the Beautiful Quarters® that honor:
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico,
- Acadia National Park in Maine,
- Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii, and
- Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska
2012-S El Yunque quarters in circulating quality are available directly from the United States Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov. There are no ordering limits or mintage limits.