Why Everyone Is Searching for the Rare New 2019-W Quarter
2019-W Quarter: Historic First West Point Circulating Coin
Complete guide to finding the first circulating coins with the "W" mint mark in over 100 years
Introduction
The U.S. Mint made numismatic history with the announcement of the first-ever circulating coins to bear the "W" mint mark of the West Point Mint. This represents the first new mint mark to appear on circulating U.S. coinage since the Denver Mint opened in 1906—a 113-year milestone that has collectors nationwide searching through their pocket change.
Timed to coincide with the 227th anniversary of the founding of the United States Mint, this historic April 2nd announcement revealed that 10 million special 2019-W America the Beautiful quarters would be struck at West Point for circulation, creating an instant modern rarity that any American could potentially find in their change.
Table of Contents
The five 2019 America the Beautiful designs
The 10 million coin mintage consists of two million each of the five 2019 America the Beautiful designs, making each design equally rare but individually significant:
Lowell National Historical Park
Massachusetts
Celebrates America's industrial heritage and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the United States.
American Memorial Park
Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas
Honors the American and Marianas people who gave their lives during the Marianas Campaign of World War II.
War in the Pacific National Historic Park
Guam
Commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Texas
Preserves four 18th-century Spanish frontier missions representing the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America.
Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness
Idaho
Protects the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states, covering 2.3 million acres of pristine landscape.
Minting Strategy
These historic quarters are not available for direct purchase from the U.S. Mint and won't be released in bulk from West Point. Instead, they're mixed with regular quarter production at Philadelphia and Denver, ensuring fair distribution and giving ordinary Americans the chance to discover them "in the wild."
How West Point quarters enter circulation
The distribution strategy ensures these coins reach the general public rather than being monopolized by dealers. The 2019-W quarters are sent to the U.S. Mints in Philadelphia and Denver, where they're mixed with regular ATB quarter output before being packed into bulk bags for Federal Reserve distribution.
Bulk Distribution Facts
These massive bulk bags are shipped on specially designed steel pallets that can be securely stacked and moved by forklift, ensuring safe transport of over a ton of quarters in each shipment.
Calculating your odds of finding one
With approximately 1.85 billion America the Beautiful quarters minted in 2018 (945 million at Philadelphia, 908 million at Denver), the statistical odds provide insight into this modern treasure hunt.
The Math
If ATB quarter production remains consistent with 2018 levels, the odds that any random 2019 quarter you receive in change will be a 2019-W West Point quarter are approximately 185 to 1. However, this assumes none are pulled from circulation by collectors—which is clearly not the case.
Best Finding Strategies
- Purchase $10 rolls of new quarters from banks
- Focus on areas that received early shipments
- Check quarters immediately after bank visits
- Ask bank tellers about recent quarter deliveries
Reality Check
- Billions of older quarters still in circulation
- Many 2019-W quarters will be hoarded quickly
- Geographic distribution affects local odds
- Time is critical—find them early
Where to find West Point quarters
The U.S. Mint has provided detailed information about the initial release locations, giving collectors geographic advantages in their search efforts.
First Wave Cities (April 1st, 2019)
The first shipments of 2019 America the Beautiful quarters containing West Point quarters were released to these select cities, making them prime hunting grounds for early discoveries.
Western Region
- Denver, CO
- Albuquerque, NM
- Helena, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
Southern Region
- Atlanta, GA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Miami, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Shreveport, LA
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- San Antonio, TX
Central Region
- Chicago, IL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Louisville, KY
- Minneapolis, MN
- Jackson, MS
- Kansas City, MO
- St. Louis, MO
Eastern Region
- Boston, MA
- Baltimore, MD
- Beltsville, MD
- Detroit, MI
- New York, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
- Tallmadge, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Richmond, VA
Additional Cities
- Memphis, TN
- Nashville, TN
Distribution Notes
Bold cities indicate Federal Reserve Banks, while italicized cities mark Federal Reserve branch banks. Additional cities received shipments throughout April 2019, with some locations receiving multiple deliveries while others obtained supplies through their regional Federal Reserve distribution channels.
The Great American Coin Hunt connection
The release of the 2019-W quarters coincided with National Coin Week (April 21-26, 2019) and "the biggest coin drop in U.S. history"—the Great American Coin Hunt. This coordinated effort by thousands of coin stores and collectors deliberately introduced over a million rare coins into circulation.
What to Look For
- Buffalo Nickels and Wheat Cents
- Vintage Silver Certificates
- Blue Seal and Red Seal bills
- Coins with local dealer decals
- Any pre-1965 silver coins
Prize Potential
- Coins worth up to $100
- Store credit at participating dealers
- Educational opportunities
- Gateway to coin collecting
Double Opportunity
While searching for the new 2019-W quarters, don't overlook older rarities that may have been deliberately placed in circulation during the Great American Coin Hunt. Check both your quarters for the "W" mint mark and examine all denominations for potential vintage treasures. Even your paper money could yield surprises during this historic coin hunting period.
Conclusion
The 2019-W America the Beautiful quarters represent a unique confluence of numismatic history, democratic distribution, and collector opportunity. As the first circulating coins with West Point mint marks in over a century, they've captured the imagination of both seasoned collectors and casual coin enthusiasts.
The strategic distribution method ensures these coins reach ordinary Americans rather than being monopolized by dealers, creating a genuine "treasure hunt" experience. With only 10 million coins across five designs mixed into billions of quarters, finding one requires patience, persistence, and a bit of luck.
Start Your Search
Whether you're a serious collector or simply curious about this historic release, checking your quarters has never been more rewarding. Focus on the cities that received early shipments, visit banks for fresh quarter rolls, and remember that time is of the essence—as awareness spreads, these coins will become increasingly difficult to find in everyday circulation.