CHEYENNE - After years of anticipation, the state quarter became available this week at three banks in southeastern Wyoming - and on eBay.

Account holders at the Cheyenne, Guernsey and Chugwater branches of the Oregon Trail Bank - the official bank of the state quarter - were allowed to buy individual quarters and up to two rolls of quarters worth $10 each.

The general public was allowed a maximum of two rolls per customer, bank teller Shane Bustillo said Wednesday, adding that inquiries about the limited-run�coins have been strong.

Rolled coins were already available on the Internet auction site eBay Wednesday night for $9.99, plus shipping cost of nearly the same amount.

Dealers have been offering pre-order deals for weeks, but rolls of uncirculated quarters made their first appearance after the coin's release from the Federal Reserve Bank on Tuesday.

Shipments of rolled quarters will arrive at other banks across Wyoming in the coming days and weeks, said Linda Reynolds, administrative services manager for the state Department of Parks and Cultural Resources.

�Most banks will get it in their normal change request to the Federal Reserve,� Reynolds said.

All banks across the state will sell single quarters in commemorative cards beginning on Sept. 14. That is also the day of the official celebration in Cheyenne to honor the release of the quarter, which is the 44th in the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program. The mint will produce around 500 million Wyoming quarters over 10 weeks.

Meanwhile, the state has ordered an additional 10,000 of the commemorative cards after demand threatened to exceed the original 50,000.

One factor driving demand was state Department of Education plan to distribute a commemorative card and coin to every Wyoming fourth-grader.

The Cheyenne-based company Unicover is producing the cards, which feature images of the Tetons, Devils Tower and Old Faithful and each contain an uncirculated state quarter.

The Wyoming quarter features the state's trademark bucking bronco and rider logo and the inscription, �The Equality State,� a reference to the state's role in women's suffrage.

* Last we knew: Commemorative Wyoming quarters were slated for release from the Federal Reserve Bank starting Tuesday.

* The latest: Customers of Oregon Trail Bank in southeast Wyoming were the first to get the quarters.

* What's next: Shipments of rolled quarters will arrive at other banks across Wyoming in the coming days and weeks.]]>

In Sunday's Casper Star-Tribune, you'll find in-depth coverage of the Wyoming state quarter release, including:

* How the coins are made.

* How they stack up against other states'.

* Debate over the bucking horse and rider logo.

* Is Wyoming really "The Equality State?"]]>