WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for the 2012 Star–Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins on March 5 at noon Eastern Time (ET). The bureau is authorized by Public Law 111–232, the “Star–Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act,” to strike and issue up to 100,000 gold $5 coins and 500,000 silver $1 coins to commemorate the bicentennial of the writing of our national anthem. Design descriptions are available on the United States Mint Web site at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/commemoratives/?action=2012StarSpangled

The 2012 Star–Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins will be available in both proof and uncirculated qualities. Product options and their prices are as follows:

*The introductory price period ends on April 5, 2012, at 5 pm (ET), at which time regular pricing takes effect.

**Pricing for the proof and uncirculated $5 gold coins and the two–coin set, which contains one proof gold coin and one proof silver dollar, will be based on the United States Mint’s pricing structure for numismatic commemorative products containing gold, located at http://catalog.usmint.gov/wcsstore/ConsumerDirect/images/catalog/en_US/CommemGoldCoinGrid.pdf

Surcharges collected from sales of the 2012 Star–Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins – $35 for each gold coin and $10 for each silver coin – are authorized to be paid to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. The Commission will use these funds to support its bicentennial activities, educational outreach, and preservation and improvement of the sites and structures related to the War of 1812.

The United States Mint will accept orders at its Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/catalog, and at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling charge of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders to cover shipping and handling costs.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on–sale date and time of March 5, 2012, noon ET shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.

# # #

United States Mint – Connecting America through Coins