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Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar…all for new coins stand up and holler

December 2011

As we look forward into 2012, we will again release new dollar coins and new two bit pieces, commonly known today as quarters. The Federal Reserve Banks are now preparing for the continuation of the Presidential $1 Coin and the America the Beautiful Quarters® Programs, now entering their sixth and third release years, respectively. New coins include the next four Presidential $1 Coins and five quarters honoring national parks throughout the United States.

 

Presidential $1 Coins

Four new designs will be issued for the Presidential $1 Coin Program (Off-site Link) and distributed by the Federal Reserve Banks in 2012. The special ordering process will remain the same in the upcoming year and is outlined in detail for your reference via the New Coin Release Information online resource center.

The four coins being released in 2012 and their public release dates are:

Dollar CoinRelease Date
Chester A. ArthurFebruary 16
Grover ClevelandMay 17
Benjamin HarrisonAugust 16
Grover ClevelandNovember 15

New circulating quarters

The U.S. Mint will release five more new America the Beautiful Quarters (Off-site Link) as part of the continuing program in 2012. The new quarters will not have special ordering arrangements and will be released as needed to meet transactional demand.

The five coins being released in 2012 are:

QuarterRelease Date*
El Yunque National Forest in Puerto RicoJanuary 23
Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New MexicoApril 2
Acadia National Park in MaineJune 11
Volcanoes National Park in HawaiiAugust 27
Denali National Park in AlaskaNovember 5

For more information on upcoming programs and coin availability, please consult your local FedCash Services contact or visit the United States Mint (Off-site Link) online.

Coin Trivia: Did you know?

Why do we call a quarter "two bits"?
In the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates and commoners often cut large silver dollar-sized Spanish Real coin into pie-shaped pieces of small change or "bits". Each bit was 1/8 of the original coin, with two bits being equal to one quarter of the coin. This practice led to the modern use of the term "quarter" to represent that portion of a dollar.

 

*Release dates are subject to change and new coin will be released prior to the dates provided.

“America the Beautiful Quarters” is a registered trademark of the United States Mint.

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