**CALIFORNIA KICKS OFF 2005**

**50 STATE QUARTERS^®^ CELEBRATIONS**

![](media/image1.png){width="1.3819444444444444in"
height="1.4048611111111111in"}

The United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters^®^ Program enters its
seventh year on January 31^st^, with the release of the California
commemorative quarter. It is the 31^st^ in the United States Mint's
series that honors all 50 States in the order in which they were
admitted into the union.

United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore will join California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for a launch ceremony at the State
Archives Reference Room.

Pictured on the coin's reverse is a depiction of naturalist John Muir
admiring Yosemite Valley's granite headwall known as "Half Dome." Also
featured on the coin is a soaring California condor. "1850," the year in
which California was admitted into the Union, is also engraved on the
coin.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.75in" height="1.75in"} Following the
ceremony there will be a coin exchange that is expected to place
approximately \$50,000 worth of new California quarters into
circulation. The exchange will take place in the auditorium of the
Secretary of State Building.

**2005 AMERICAN EAGLE GOLD PROOF COINS AVAILABLE**

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.4270833333333333in"
height="1.4270833333333333in"}

The United States Mint is pleased to announce that its 2005-dated
American Eagle Gold Proof Coins were made available to the

public on January 13, 2005. This is significantly earlier than the May
24^th^ availability for the same products in 2004.

In 2004, the price increase in the base metals market was roughly 12%, a
market over which the Mint has no control. In response to these
increasing base metal prices, the Mint raised the price of the American
Eagle Gold Proof Coins by just 7% on each of the five options; the one,
one-half, one-quarter and one-tenth ounce individual coins as well as
the four coin set.

Mintages for each of the five options were also raised for 2005. Each of
the four single coin options, as well as the four-coin set, were
increased by 1,000.

### EARLY RELEASE DATE FOR SEVERAL 2005 PRODUCTS 

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.25in" height="1.2381944444444444in"}
Stemming from a 2004 strategic goal, and driven by strong customer
demand, the United States Mint has succeeded in bringing many of its
newest products to market earlier than ever.

In just the first two months of the new year, customers will be able to
purchase some 2005-dated products a full two to three months earlier
than they could in 2004. For example, the 2005 50 State Quarters^®^
Proof Set was made available for purchase on January 6, when the same
product was not available in 2004 until May 3. A similar acceleration is
evident in the availability of American Eagle Gold and 50 State Quarters
Silver Proof Set^®^.

**TWO COMMEMORATIVE COINS SCHEDULED FOR 2005**

The United States Mint is preparing to strike two historically
significant Commemorative Coins in 2005. The first, scheduled for
release in the spring, is the Chief Justice John Marshall Silver Dollar,
honoring the Nation's longest serving Chief Justice on the 250^th^
Anniversary of his birth in 1755. This program will feature two special
sets in addition to the proof and uncirculated single-coin options.

The second commemorative coin for 2005 is scheduled to be released in
the summer and pays tribute to the United States Marine Corps,
celebrating their 230^th^ Anniversary. With more than 25,000 Marines
currently deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the men and women of the
United States Marine Corps have served their Nation with pride and
distinction since 1775, when the Continental Congress in Philadelphia
first authorized them.

Surcharges from the sales of these commemorative coins will go to the
United States Supreme Court Historical Society and the United States
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation respectively.

WESTWARD JOURNEY NICKEL SERIES CONTINUES IN 2005

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.375in" height="1.3645833333333333in"}
The Westward Journey Nickel Series^TM^, launched in 2004 to commemorate
the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark
expedition, continues in 2005 with two new additions. And for the first
time in 67 years, all nickels will showcase a newly designed portrait of
Thomas Jefferson and feature

"Liberty" in Jefferson's own handwriting. The first design will carry a
new rendition of a classic theme in the history of our Nation's coinage
-- the American Bison. It will be released to the public on February 28,
2005. In August, the second nickel for 2005, and the fourth in the
series, will depict a vision of the western waters as first viewed by
the members of the Corps of Discovery. This design also features a quote
taken from Captain William Clark's journal that reflects the joy that
swept through the expedition at that historic moment -- "Ocean in view!
O! The Joy!"

BAGS & ROLLS OF GOLDEN DOLLAR AND KENNEDY HALVES

![](media/image8.png)

![](media/image9.png) The United States Mint announced that 2005-dated
Golden Dollars and Kennedy half-dollars would be available in bags and
rolls at www.usmint.gov beginning at noon on January 24, 2005. Golden
Dollars are going on sale approximately three months earlier than the
2004 products. Also in response to demand, the Golden Dollars are
available in smaller bag counts of 250-coins; the 2,000-coin bags have
been discontinued. The 2005-dated Kennedy half-dollars will be available
in two-roll sets for \$35.50, including one United States Mint at
Philadelphia and one United States Mint at Denver mint mark coin roll.
They are also available in bags of 200 that include an equal number of
half-dollars with P and D mint marks, for \$135.00.