The latest in a string of recent US Mint sell outs includes the 100-coin bags of “S” mint marked circulating quality 2012 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarters and the 2012 Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarters. These sell outs come despite a clear indication of a longer sales period.

In mid-May, the US Mint revealed that the San Francisco Mint would strike circulating quality quarters bearing the “S” mint mark for inclusion within numismatic products. This was the first time that the “S” mint mark had appeared on circulating quality coins in more than three decades.

After some early indications that the “S” mint marked quarters would be limited to production of just 1.4 million per design, the US Mint later indicated that 1.4 million was only the “initial mintage scheduled to be manufactured.” The Mint planned “to mint to demand for the product.”

Sales of 100-coin bags and 40-coin rolls for the first design featuring El Yunque National Forest began on June 21, 2012. The product page for this and subsequent releases stated that the bags and rolls would be available for one year after the initial release date.

The recently sold out 100-coin bags of the 2012-S Chaco Culture Quarters and 2012-S Hawaii Volcanoes Quarters took place well before one year after the release date. The release dates for these products were June 12, 2012 and August 27, 2012, which result in a total sales period of about five months and less than three months. The 40-coin rolls for each option do still remain available.

Below I have summarized the sales to date for rolls and bags of the circulating quality 2012-S quarters.

Sales of Circulating Quality 2012-S Quarters To Date

An inquiry to the US Mint confirms that the two options mentioned have sold out. The reason is because the US Mint has already switched over to 2013 production. The US Mint has confirmed that circulating quality quarters with the “S” mint mark will be offered for the 2013 America the Beautiful Quarters.

Today, August 27, 2012 at 12:00 Noon ET, the United States Mint will begin sales of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarter numismatic bags and rolls.  This is the fourteenth release of the ongoing America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

As a change from past practice, today’s release will include the products containing the “P” and “D” mint marks, as well as the products containing circulating quality coins with the “S” mint mark.

The reverse design for the Hawaii Volcanoes Quarter contains the dramatic image of an eruption on the east rift of Kilauea Volcano. This was designed and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. The obverse contains the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan.

The US Mint will offer 100-coin bags of circulating quality coins from either the Philadelphia, Denver, or San Francisco Mint, priced at $34.95 each. Two roll sets containing one 40-coin roll each from the Philadelphia and Denver Mint will be priced at $32.95. Single 40-coin rolls from the San Francisco Mint will be available priced at $18.95 each.

Packaging for each product includes US Mint branding with an indication of the design, state abbreviation, mint mark, and face value of the contents.

The US Mint indicates that these products will remain available for one year from the original release date.

Previous Circulating Quality “S” Mint Mark Quarters

In May of this year, the US Mint had revealed that they were producing circulating quality 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters with the “S” mint mark to offer in numismatic products. Initially, they had indicated a mintage of 1.4 million for each design, but shortly afterwards this was clarified as the “initial mintage”, with total production to be based on collector demand.

The product offering seemed to generate some early excitement and was historically significant as the first circulating quality coins to carry the “S” mint mark since 1981.

The US Mint released 100-coin bags and 40-coin rolls for the first three quarter designs of the year in rapid succession. The 2012-S Quarters for El Yunque National Forest were released on June 21, followed by Chaco Culture National Park on July 12, and Acadia National Park on August 9.

Sales for the first release are on target to exceed the US Mint’s indicated initial mintage, although the pace of sales has slowed for the second and third releases. As of the most recent report, sales account for 1,363,120 El Yunque coins, 925,760 Chaco Culture, and 639,960 Acadia.

The US Mint has not yet indicated whether the circulating quality “S” mint marked quarters will be offered for future years.

Today June 21, 2012 at 12:00 Noon ET, the United States Mint will begin sales of circulating quality 2012 El Yunque National Forest Quarters bearing the “S” mint mark for San Francisco.

This is a new product offering, which represents the first time that the “S” mint mark has been used on circulating quality coins in more than three decades. Although the coins are “circulating quality” they will not be released into circulation and will only be available through the US Mint’s numismatic bag and roll offerings.

As discussed in previous posts, the US Mint has produced circulating quality 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters with the “S” mint mark for each of the five designs for this year featuring El Yunque National Forest, Acadia National Park, Chaco Culture National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Denali National Park and Preserve. An initial mintage of 1.4 million for each design has been struck, although the US Mint intends to produce the coins to meet demand. As such production may be re-started within the calendar year, leading to higher mintages.

This is an interesting product which, if successful, would seem to open the door to similar offerings in later years for quarters or even other denominations. At this point, the US Mint has indicated that they have not yet determined whether production of “S” mint marked circulating quarters will continue for subsequent years.

The present offering is for 100-coin bags or 40-coin rolls containing 2012-S El Yunque National Park Quarters. Based on the images on the US Mint’s website, the packaging will be similar to that used for the numismatic bags and rolls of the regular “P” and “D” mint marked versions. There is an indication of the issue, state abbreviation, face value, and the mint mark.

Each 100-coin bag is priced at $34.95 and each 40-coin roll is priced at $18.95. The product pages indicate that the bags and rolls will remain available for one year from the release date.

How will collectors respond to this new offering?

Demand was unexpectedly high for this year’s 2012 Presidential Dollar bags, rolls, and boxes. This was driven by the fact that the coins would no longer be released into circulation, but only available within US Mint products. Many collectors of the series who had been acquiring the coins from banks were likely driven to the offering. Additional collector interest may have also been driven to the series based on the lower mintages compared to prior years. It is also possible that mass marketers purchased large quantities of the coins for later promotions.

The offering of 2012-S quarters will have these same factors impacting demand, although generally the series seems to carry a lower awareness with the general public, which mitigates some of the factors. The differentiation by mint mark may also be something that carries less of an impact compared to the situation for Presidential Dollars where absolutely none are being released for circulation.

The United States Mint will begin sales of the Acadia National Park Quarter numismatic bags and rolls starting today June 11, 2012 at 12:00 Noon ET. This will be the thirteenth release of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

The reverse design of the coin features a view of the Bass Harbor Head Light House and Acadia’s coastline. This image incorporates many of the representative elements of the park, including the coastline, light house, pine trees, and the ocean. This is the design that had been recommended by both the CFA and CCAC.

The US Mint will offer 100-coin bags of circulating quality Acadia National Park Quarters from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint. The canvas bags are sewn shut and include an indication of the year, design, state abbreviation, mint mark, and face value. Each bag is priced at $34.95.

Two roll sets containing one 40-coin roll from the Philadelphia and Denver Mint will also be available. The rolls feature special numismatic wrapping that includes the design, state abbreviation, mint mark, and face value. Each two roll set is priced at $32.95.

The Acadia National Park Quarter bags and rolls are expected to remain available for sale for approximately one year from the release date. At an unannounced future date, bags and rolls of circulating quality Acadia Quarters with the “S” mint mark are also expected to be released.

To coincide with today’s release, it is expected that sales of the eighth release of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program featuring Olympic National Park will conclude. The US Mint has been timing the conclusion of sales with the start of sales for the coin one year ahead in the release schedule.