The official 5-coin United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof Set for 2001. Each of these five new proof quarters celebrate the unique heritage of its state:
- New York’s "Gateway to Freedom"
- North Carolina’s "First Flight"
- Rhode Island’s "Coastline"
- Vermont’s "Maple Trees"
- Kentucky’s "Federal Hill"
Few coins today have the degree of artistry and detail that’s so beautifully revealed in a proof coin. United States Mint Proof coins are extraordinarily brilliant with sharp relief and a mirror-like surface. Their frosted, sculpted foregrounds give them a special "cameo" effect, created by the exacting proofing process. Proof blanks are specially cleaned, polished and treated to ensure high-quality strikes. The blanks are then fed into presses fitted with hand-polished dies and struck at least twice to ensure sharp, high relief. The coins are then packaged in presentation cases to showcase and preserve their exceptional finish.
