New quarter featuring Liberty Bell enters circulation ahead of America's 250th birthday

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A newly released commemorative quarter marking the nation's 250th birthday is now entering circulation, giving Americans the chance to carry a small piece of Philadelphia - and U.S. history - in their pockets.

The U.S. Mint unveiled the coin this month, featuring Thomas Jefferson on one side and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell on the other.

Mint Director Paul Hollis said the quarters began circulating within the last two weeks after being produced at the Mint's facility at 6th and Arch streets.

Hollis encouraged people to keep an eye on their change.

"If you're, you know, always paying attention to your coins over the next, you know, two or three months. Number one, find the new, freshly minted coins that are semi-quincentennial dual dates, and then look for that July 4th notation on those quarters," he said.

The Mint designed the coin to celebrate two and a half centuries of American history, with a special nod to Philadelphia's iconic Liberty Bell.

Hollis said the number of coins produced was intentional.

"We wanted it to be not so rare that it would be impossible to find. Somebody mentioned, like, a Wonka Golden Ticket, and I said, no, not just five. We figured 250 years of independence, let's do 250,000 coins," he said. "That number is obviously a nod to the nation's birthday."

He added that "probably fewer than 1 out of 1,300 Americans will have the opportunity to own one."

The commemorative quarters are now in circulation nationwide.