2019-W Quarter Coin Hunt Winner Announced
For Immediate Release
Contact: Duncan Crary, (518) 274-2723
DCC@DuncanCrary.com
COIN HUNT WINNER: BALLSTON SPA MAN WINS $500 FOR FIRST “W” QUARTER BROUGHT TO STORE FOR SALE
U.S. Mint Has Launched National “Coin Hunt” for West Point Mint Mark, Local Coin Dealers Get in on The Fun
COLONIE, N.Y. (4/29/19) -- A local coin shop offered to pay $500 to the first customer to bring a new “W” quarter into their store to sell.
Ferris Coin & Jewlery Co. Managing Partner Mike Dozois hands David Himmel of Ballston Spa, N.Y. a check for $500 in exchange for his 2019-W Quarter.
Dozois inspects the first 2019-W Quarter to arrive at Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co., at 199 Wolf Road.
David Himmel, 71, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., exchanged one of his three recently found 2019-W Quarters for the well-above-value $500 purchase price this afternoon at Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co., located at 199 Wolf Road.
“I just got them in my change,” Himmel said of how he came across the special quarters, noting that he’s only a casual collector. “If I see something new, I’ll save it. I have some old stuff, too.”
Himmel said he’d probably give one of the remaining coins to his kids, though he might keep one for his collection. He found out about the special offer from a local TV news broadcast and called the shop Monday to inquire if anyone had claimed the special price.
Established in 1930, Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co. announced the $500 offer on Friday, during National Coin Week, in order to create excitement for coin collecting in the Capital Region, allowing anyone the opportunity to find “treasure” among their pocket change.
The first 2019-W Quarter to come into the Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co. store at 199 Wolf Road, Colonie, N.Y.
WHAT IS A “W” QUARTER?
The U.S. Mint is launching into circulation a limited amount of America the Beautiful series quarters with the “W” mint mark – a first for the U.S. Mint in 227 years of minting coins.
The “W” denotes that the quarters were produced at the West Point Mint in New York's Hudson Valley. While West Point has produced quarters in the past, they didn’t have a mint mark and were indistinguishable from Philadelphia quarters.
Reverse of 2019-W Quarter featuring Lowell National Historical Park.
The mint mark will eventually appear on all five of the 2019 America the Beautiful series quarters. Two million of each quarter in the series will have the “W” mint mark, meaning 10 million total quarters will have the special mark. So far, two styles of the 2019-W coins have been released to selected cities in 29 states nationwide and have started appearing in circulation soon. Boston and New York City are the closest cities to the Capital Region to have received the coins on April 1.
Himmel's quarter featured Lowell National Historical Park on the reverse.
"There are currently 4 million 2019-W quarters out there right now for you to find," Dozois said. "More will be released soon."
Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co. is the only authorized United States Mint bullion coin seller in the Capital Region. The store sells collector coins and medals.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OTHER RARE COINS
The U.S. Mint released the “W” Quarters in advance of the “Great American Coin Hunt” as part of National Coin Week, April 21 to April 27.
A number of coin dealers throughout the nation have been sneakily using rare coins, that are still legal tender, to pay for items or to leave as tips.
Dozois has a stack of silver quarters and dimes, buffalo nickels and “Indian Head” pennies that he’s been spending over the last week. The coins are nominally valuable, “So keep your eyes on your change,” he said.
ABOUT FERRIS COIN & JEWELRY CO.
Trusted since 1930, Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co. buys and sells gold and silver bullion, rare coins, flatware and paper currency, as well as gold and platinum jewelry for resale, repair or recycle. Four in-house experts offer appraisals for personal and estate collections, including diamonds, and can assist with getting each piece proper insured.
In 1930, husband and wife Charlie & Arlene Ferris opened Ferris Stamp in downtown Albany, N.Y. at 402 Broadway. Later they incorporated coins into their business model as Ferris Stamp and Coin. In the 1960s, after her husband died, Mrs. Ferris sold the business to Wendell C. Williams who relocated the shop to Lark Street before relocating again to 114 Central Ave. in 1976.
The business re-opened in its fourth location at 199 Wolf Road in August 2017.
In 2018, Ferris Coin & Jewelry Co. launched a nationwide contest to design a silver coin-shaped medal honoring Albany’s famous African American World War I hero, Sgt. Henry Johnson. The winning design artist was Chris Costello of Arlington, Mass. Costello's artwork has appeared on 23 U.S. coins and medals, including one Congressional Gold Medal.
HOURS & INFORMATION
Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m to 3 p.m. The store is closed Saturdays during summer, starting Memorial Day. The store phone number is (518) 434-3860. Email: info@ferriscoin.com
For information and updates, visit http://ferriscoin.com or https://www.facebook.com/FerrisCoinCo
MEDIA CONTACT:
Duncan Crary, (518) 274-2723 DCC@DuncanCrary.com
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