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Some recent newspaper headlines may have caught your attention.
In June, auto analysts reported U.S. drivers traveled 30 billion miles less since November 2007 than in the same time period the year before.
In July, hyperinflation forced the price of a can of baked beans to 30 billion Zimbabwean dollars.
In August, the United Kingdom unveiled plans for a £30 billion high-speed rail link from Scotland to Heathrow Airport in London.
But one bit of information that didn't make the national news headlines was the fact that the U.S. Mint has surpassed the 30 billion coin mark in the production of State quarter dollars. The completion of production of the Arizona coin put the total State quarter dollar at 33,774,200,000 pieces.
For State quarter dollar collectors that means plenty of coins are available to finish assembling their 50-coin sets (or 100-coin sets if you are collecting one example struck at the Philadelphia Mint and one from the Denver Mint).
Even without knowing the final production totals for the 2008 State quarters, an informal pocket change survey reveals that you can find even the earliest of State quarter dollars still in circulation.
During the week of Aug. 4 my pocket change totaled 22 Washington quarter dollars including 12 State quarters. I found a 1999-D Georgia coin, a 2000-P Massachusetts coin, a 2000-P New Hampshire coin, a 2001-P Kentucky coin, two 2001-D North Carolina coins, two 2001-D New York coins, a 2002-D Indiana coin, a 2003-D Alabama coin, a 2007-D Idaho coin and a 2008-P New Mexico coin.
Who knows how many of the folks who have collected multiple rolls of State quarter dollars will start easing them into circulation?
So if you've just discovered the world of State quarter dollar collecting, don't fret. There are plenty of coins out there to put together those sets you might be contemplating.
First Reports
Ed Jutras of Rhode Island reported June 27 that he picked up a roll of 2008-P Arizona quarter dollars.
Johniece Brooks of Washington, D.C., reported June 30 that she received a 2008-P Arizona quarter dollar in change after buying her lunch.
Philip Atkinson of New Hampshire reported June 30 that he received a 2008-P Arizona quarter dollar in change.
Brian Hoeft of Nevada reported June 30 that he received a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in change.
Dave Dunford of Oregon reported July 1 that he received a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar from a bank.
ElizaBeth Doman of Wisconsin reported July 1 that she found a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in change from a gas station.
Keith Greenwell of Indiana reported July 3 that he received four 2008-P Arizona quarter dollars in change.
Heidi Huenergardt of Kansas reported July 7 that a bank was her source for a roll of 2008-D Arizona quarter dollars.
Burt Eisen of Missouri reported July 7 that he found a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in his change.
Circulation Reports
Nick Lowe of Ohio reported July 21 that he received a 2008-D Arizona quarter dollar in change at a gas station.
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