By Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….
The 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Set™ – Saratoga National Historical Park went on sale today, December 1, at the United States Mint.
Priced at $9.95, the set features two uncirculated finish quarters minted in Denver and Philadelphia and one proof quarter minted in San Francisco. Like other three-coin sets in the America the Beautiful Quarters program, the coins are packaged in a plastic card with a certificate of authenticity printed on the back.
The quarter’s reverse features a close-up centered on a sword passing from one hand to another, symbolic of the surrender of British General John Burgoyne to the victorious American General Horatio Gates on November 17, 1777, 10 days after the Second Battle of Saratoga. The battle and Burgoyne’s surrender is considered a turning point in the American Revolutionary War since it won the rebellious colonies the much-needed military, financial and materiel support of European superpower France.
United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Barbara Fox (View Designer’s Profile) and Mint sculptor-engraver Renata Gordon (View Designer’s Profile) designed and engraved the reverse, respectively.
The 2015 Saratoga National Historical Park quarter is the 30th entry in the 56-coin program. The Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) quarter was the first to be released, on April 19, 2010. The last quarter in the series–the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Alabama)–is set for release in 2021.
The first ATB quarter for 2016 (and the 31st entry in the series)–the Shawnee National Forest (Illinois)–is set for release on February 8.
Collectors should visit usmint.gov to place their orders for the Saratoga three-coin set, or call the Mint toll free at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with Teletype equipment may call 1-888-321-MINT to order.
The Saratoga National Park three-coin set is also eligible for purchase through the United States Mint’s Online Product Enrollment Program; please see http://catalog.usmint.gov/enrollment.html for more information.
