Sales of the Northern Mariana Islands Quarters will begin on Monday, November 30, 2009 at Noon (Eastern), from the US Mint. These coins mark the sixth and final release for the 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program.
Preceding the Mariana Islands issues were coins honoring the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All of these were issued in 2009 and immediately followed the 50 State Quarter series that ran from 1999-2008.
The obverse of each quarter contains an image of George Washington while the reverse of the Mariana Islands Quarter shows the wealth the islands has to offer in the way of land, sea and air resources. A limestone latte (ancient structure) is seen near the beach where a canoe is floating in the water. Overhead are two white fairy tern birds flying in their standard synchronous pattern. Underneath the vista is a Carolinian mwar (head lei) which signifies honor and respect. The reverse was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
Circulation quality Mariana Islands Quarters can be purchased directly from the Mint in either two-roll sets or in bags. The two-roll sets contain 40 quarters from the Mint in Denver and 40 quarters from the Mint in Philadelphia, with each roll wrapped in special mint wrapping containing the Mint of origin, the face value of the contents and the Mint's logo. Price for the two-roll sets is anticipated to be $32.95, plus shipping and handling.
The quarters can also be purchased in 100 or 1000 coin bags. The buyer can specify which Mint they would like the coins to be from. The price for the 100-coin bag is also going to be $32.95, with the 1000-coin bag going for $309.95.
For more information on the Mariana Islands Quarter, click the image above.
