Whatever happened to quarters last year?

[James]

Last year I only saw two (count 'em, two!) 2009 quarters. Both had the design for the District of Columbia on the back (Duke Ellington at a piano). The first one I got was on July 20, at a pizza restaurant in Garden City, Kansas. I told my father that night about it, and he had not yet seen the D. C. quarter, either. I think the second came in an envelope from a nonprofit organization. In years past I got countless quarters of the present year--of course, it accelerated toward the end with more in supply. See this site for a picture if you haven't yet, either: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/DCAndTerritories/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=dcterritories&local=DC

What happened? Did the United States Mint put out fewer quarters?

[ekkostar]

The recession happened? I don't know, maybe they were running low on materials and it isn't as if there aren't other quarters out in circulation. My problem with the new quarters is that I have trouble getting vending machines to accept them.

[MrCleveland]

I'm wondering if they'll go back to the regular-looking quarters.

I actually collect the state quarters, but if my parent's don't find a job this winter...I'll be selling them!:(

[sara]

I work with money so I've seen alot of 2009 quarters. They were minted to show US territories. In addition to D.C. there were quarters for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I have seen all of them except for the Mariana Islands one. In 2010 the US Mint will start a new national parks program for quarters. It's similar to the state program and will have 56 different designs, so it will be a while before we have regular quarters again.

[James]

In 2010 the US Mint will start a new national parks program for quarters. It's similar to the state program and will have 56 different designs, so it will be a while before we have regular quarters again.

That's awesome! I was hoping we wouldn't go back to the design used up until 1998 with the eagle on the back! I loved the 50 state program, and every quarter I come across is like a Christmas present--a "will it or won't it?" in regards to having a design I haven't seen yet!