(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Mint is adding a new letter to its alphabet -- W for its facility at West Point, New York.
The first coins to bear the W mark are 2019 America the Beautiful quarters, which are likely to go into circulation in four to six weeks, according to the Mint. West Point, which opened as a bullion depository in 1938, typically produces precious metal coins, such as gold and silver.
Circulating coins marked with a P are minted in Philadelphia while D indicates Denver. S is currently used on proof coins from the San Francisco mint.
The first Mint marks were introduced when branches were opened in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; and New Orleans in 1838 to differentiate them from the original plant in Philadelphia.
The first time Philadelphia's mark was used in a circulating coin was in 1942, when the metal composition of nickels was changed to accommodate World War II materials needs.
“We want to encourage Americans to consider coin collecting by making the W mint mark quarters only available in general circulation,” U.S. Mint Director David Ryder said in a printed statement.
This year's quarters will honor:
- Lowell National Historic Park in Massachusetts
- American Memorial Park in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
- War in the Pacific National Historic Park in Guam
- San Antonio Mission National Historical Park in Texas
- The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho
The Mint will produce 2 million of each.
To contact the reporter on this story: Vincent Del Giudice in Denver at vdelgiudice@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kristy Scheuble at kmckeaney@bloomberg.net
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