Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin Goes into Circulation May 19

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- May 19 marks the anniversary of General Ulysses S. Grant's campaign in 1863 to take the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Nearly a century and a half later, the United States Mint will release to the Federal Reserve Banks  a new $1 coin struck in honor of Grant, who went on to become the Nation's 18th President.  To observe the coin's release, the United States Mint, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will hold a special launch ceremony and coin exchange on May 19 at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis, Missouri.

Both the obverse (heads side) and the reverse (tails side) designs on the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin are by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.  In addition to Grant's portrait, the coin's obverse bears the inscriptions Ulysses S. Grant, In God We Trust, 18th President and 1869-1877.  The coin's reverse bears a rendition of the Statue of Liberty and the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  The year of minting or issuance, 2011, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the mint of origin are incused on the coin's edge.

Presidential $1 Coins are produced for use in everyday cash transactions.  The coins last for decades, are 100 percent recyclable and can save the country hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

The Presidential $1 Coins will be shipped to banks and other financial institutions in rolls, unmixed with other $1 coins.  For each new design, banks may order and store the coins up to three weeks prior to the introduction, so they will have supplies on hand on the release date.  The coins will be available in unmixed rolls for two weeks after the introduction of each design.  The special ordering process begins again when each new Presidential $1 Coin is released.

The ordering period for unmixed quantities of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin began April 28.  To order boxes of wrapped rolls ($1,000 minimum order) of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin, depository institutions can use FedLine Web® Access Solution.  In addition, local Federal Reserve Bank offices can handle special requests for $2,000 bags of unmixed Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coins, orders for $2,000 bags of mixed $1 coins, and orders for Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coins after the special order period ends on June 2 (while supplies last).

Presidential $1 Coins also are collectible.  They are educational and fun, with four new designs, each featuring an American President, issued each year.  The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin will be featured in collectible products available for purchase through the United States Mint's Web site at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

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.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• High-resolution images of the circulating Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coin are available at:  http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=photo#Pres
• Background information of the Presidential $1 Coins is available at:  http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/
• Lesson plans based on the Presidential $1 Coins are available for download at: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
• To subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, please visit http://www.usmint.gov/email/?action=newsletters.
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SOURCE United States Mint