BANGOR (AP) – The new Maine quarter became available Monday from the U.S. Mint, and the quarter was expected to begin circulating in Maine by week’s end, officials said.

The quarter, which features Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and the “Victory Chimes” schooner, went on sale on the U.S. Mint’s Web site.

All told, tthe U.S. Mint will produce between 400 million and 500 million Maine quarters over a 10-week period, far less than the 1.6 billion made for Virginia.

It is not known how many of the commemorative quarters will come to Maine, since officials do not set a certain number aside to circulate in featured states, said Michael White, a Mint spokesman.

John Moore of Bangor Savings Bank said the bank expects to receive the quarters by the end of the week and will immediately start putting them into circulation.

The bank will probably not be able to fill large orders from collectors, he said.

“There’s always someone who comes in and asks for $100 in quarters,” he said. “I doubt very much that any bank is going to be able to accommodate a large bulk order.”

The Maine quarter will be officially unveiled next Monday at a ceremony at the Pemaquid Point Light. Henrietta Holsman Fore, director of the U.S. Mint, will be among the state and federal officials attending the ceremony.

Capt. Kip Files, who owns the “Victory Chimes,” plans to be there, too. If the weather permits, he’ll bring along his schooner.

Files said it still hasn’t sunk in that his boat will be on the quarter honoring Maine’s entrance into the union.

“It’s really quite something,” Files said. “I’m overwhelmed by it.”

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