Circulating 2020-W Quarters Carry ‘V75’ Privy Mark for End of WWII

Ten million quarters from the United States Mint facility at West Point will enter circulation this year. Along with the West Point Mint’s "W" mint mark, they will carry a special "V75" privy mark to honor the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in World War II.

Traditionally, U.S. circulating coins are made only at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints and bear their standard "D" and "P" mint marks. The pair of plants makes and ships them to Federal Reserve branches where they are distributed to local banks and other financial institutions.

Last year, for the first time ever, quarters with West Point Mint’s "W" mint mark entered circulation. Like these 2019-W quarters, this year’s editions will not be included in bulk U.S. Mint-sold quarter products.

‘V75’ Privy Mark Design

Coins often carry a small mint mark, usually a single letter, to identify where they are made. Privy marks are much rarer. The "V75" privy mark appears on the quarter’s obverse (heads) side above the inscription "LIBERTY." The following U.S. Mint video shows examples of the mark:

Developed by Mint sculptor-engravers, the mark’s outline depicts the aerial shape of the Rainbow Pool, which is an integral part of the National World War II Memorial located at the West Potomac Park in Washington, DC.

"In a city of many monuments, the WWII Memorial stands out as one of the most recognized and visited in the city, drawing veterans and visitors to remember the sacrifice and heroism demanded in the conflict that altered world history," the Mint said." "We believe the "V75" privy mark’s particular placement, adjacent to the portrait of our revered first President, is an indelible symbol and enduring reminder to all generations of the bravery of ordinary citizens who must go to war to ensure their freedom. We at the Mint are proud to present the "W" quarter and "V75" privy mark in this important anniversary year."

Inside the outline, the raised "V" is for Victory and "75" represents the anniversary of the war’s ending.

10 Million ‘W’ Mint Mark and ‘V75’ Privy Mark Quarters for 2020

Equally mixed across the five unique 2020 quarter designs, there will be a combined ten million quarters made for circulation with the "V75" privy mark and "W" mint mark. They will be issued as part of the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program which celebrates national parks and other national sites in each state, D.C., and U.S. territory.

This year’s quarters honor:

National Park of American Samoa in the U.S. territory of American Samoa (released Feb. 3),

Weir Farm National Historic Site located in the state of Connecticut (released April 6),

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in the U.S. Virgin Islands territory (release on June 1),

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont (release on Aug. 31), and

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas (release on Nov. 16).

Release Timeline

The first two quarter designs bearing the marks launched today, April 6. The U.S. Mint expects these and future editions to begin appearing in circulation within four to six weeks of release. The special quarters are mixed in with Denver- and Philadelphia-struck quarters

"Two million each the first two 2020 "W" America the Beautiful Quarters will be placed into circulation mixed among "P" and "D" mint mark quarters, with one million of each sent into circulation from the Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver," the Mint said. "No ‘W’ quarters will be mixed into bulk bags that are sold to coin dealers under the Mint’s bulk purchase program."

Release dates for upcoming 2020-W quarters are contingent on the Mint’s manufacturing capacity and schedule, the agency indicated.

The West Point Mint also minted quarters for circulation from 1977 to 1979. Those, however, do not have mint marks, making them indistinguishable from the ones made in Philadelphia.

Other U.S. Mint coins for 2020 will feature the unique privy mark, including special American Eagle gold and silver proof coins.

The "W" mint mark quarters are among a portfolio of numismatic products, some of which will also feature the "V75" privy mark. Detailed information about these numismatic products will be shared later this year," the U.S. Mint noted.

The U.S. Mint produced over 11.9 billion 2019-dated coins for circulation. More than 1.65 billion of them were quarters with mintages that ranged from 231 million to 475 million across five designs. The U.S. Mint is on track to make about the same number of quarters in 2020.