More Quarters Will Be Produced

The huge demand for state commemorative quarters has forced the U.S. Mint to more than double its production, an official revealed at a meeting in Washington to unveil design proposals for five more states. The mint typically produces about 1.5 billion quarters a year, but last year it produced 3.6 billion because so many people are collecting the new state quarters rather than spending them. The commission recommended designs for New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and Kentucky quarters, which are due out next year. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers must approve the designs before they go to the governors of the five states for final approval. The coins are minted in the order states joined the union.