**2003 UNITED STATES MINT PROOF SETS AVAILABLE**

On Mar. 24, 2003, the United States Mint released its newest set of
proof quarters issued under the 50 State Quarters® Program \-- Illinois,
Alabama, Maine, Missouri and Arkansas \-- sealed in a presentation case.
The set sells for \$13.95.

![](media/image1.png){width="1.625in"
height="1.0847222222222221in"}Proof coins are manufactured at the San
Francisco Mint facility using specially prepared, highly- polished dies.
Bearing the \"S\" mint mark, each coin is struck at least twice to
ensure the finest detail in a frosted cameo image on a bright,
mirror-like background. The sealed cases containing the coins are
inserted into a specially printed sleeve and are accompanied by an
official United States Mint Certificate of Authenticity.

Customers may order as many sets as they desire while supplies last.
This product is also available through the United States Mint's
subscription program. To order, please visit
[http://www.usmint.gov](http://www.usmint.gov/). Also, look for the
United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set and the United States Mint
Silver Proof Set -- coming soon!

**CHECK OUT THE NEW**

**50 STATE QUARTERS^®^ WEBSITE**

The United States Mint has revamped its 50 State Quarters® Program
website in a new interactive and colorful way. Please visit
[www.usmint.gov](http://www.usmint.gov/) to see for yourself!

**ALABAMA QUARTERS**

**IN CIRCULATION**

On Mar. 24, 2003, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley joined United States Mint
Director Henrietta Holsman Fore ![](media/image3.png){width="1.5in"
height="1.4534722222222223in"}at Tuscumbia's "Ivy Green," birthplace of
Helen Keller, to unveil the new Alabama state quarter.

Alabama became the 22nd state to be admitted into the Union on December
14, 1819. The Alabama quarter design features an image of Helen Keller
with her name in English, and in a reduced-size version of braille. The
Alabama quarter is the first U.S. circulating coin to feature braille.
An Alabama long leaf pine branch and magnolias grace the sides of the
design, and a \"Spirit of Courage\" banner underlines the central image.

**ALABAMA QUARTERS IN\
2-ROLL SETS AND BAGS**

On Mar. 17, 2003, two-roll sets of Alabama quarters --- featuring one
roll each of Philadelphia and Denver mint marked coins --- became
available. The sets sell for \$32.00.

![](media/image4.png){width="1.45in" height="1.2159722222222222in"}Bags
of 100 and 1,000 Alabama quarters are also on sale. Each bag is marked
with the Mint of origin. Bags of 100 coins sell for \$35.50

and bags of 1,000 coins for \$300.

**UNITED STATES MINT CONSUMER & BUSINESS AWARENESS SITE**

![](media/image5.bmp)The United States Mint's Consumer and Business
Awareness website -- www.usmint.gov/consumer -- explains the variety of
replicas and coin-related products in the market that are easily
confused with authentic U.S. Mint coins
![](media/image6.jpeg){width="2.74375in" height="1.16875in"}and medals
with helpful and easy to understand information for consumers and
businesses.

**CLASSY QUARTERS**

The United States Mint "H.I.P. Pocket Change" Web site
[www.usmint.gov/kids](http://www.usmint.gov/kids)

offers new resources for students. Just posted on the site is a new set
of lesson plans, based on the state quarters of 2003.

Grouped into three grade groups (K-1, 2-3, 4-6), each set of plans
consists of six lessons, one for each of the five new quarters and one
general plan. Teachers at school and parents at home can use these plans
to teach math, geography, social studies, art... a real "wealth" of
information and fun activities for eager pupils.

Download the free lesson plans, individually or in sets, as Acrobat
(.PDF) files or as electronically-readable rich text (.RTF) files for
your student or class. These plans, and other great teaching aids, are
kept in our Teachers Section at
[www.usmint.gov/kids](http://www.usmint.gov/kids).

**NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENNIAL MEDAL SERIES -- COMING
SOON**

To honor the centennial of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the
United States Mint is proud to offer the National Wildlife Refuge System
Centennial Medal Series.

The series features four limited-production commemorative silver medals
and one commemorative bronze medal. The initial silver and bronze medals
are tentatively scheduled for release in early summer 2003, with the
remaining three silver medals to be released throughout the rest of the
year.

The series will feature a common obverse depicting President Theodore
Roosevelt, the Refuge System's founder, and the inscriptions
"CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF CONSERVATION 1903 -- 2003 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
and "NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM."

The four silver medals will feature different reverse designs, with
either a bald eagle, elk, salmon or canvasback ducks, to represent the
diversity of wildlife that the System protects. The medals will be
struck in Philadelphia but will not bear a mint mark.

A portion of the proceeds is authorized to benefit the National Wildlife
Refuge System and its conservation effort.

For more information on these medals, visit the United States Mint's
website at www.usmint.gov or to call toll-free at 1-800-USA-MINT
(872-6468).