December 13, 2004

THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY ANNOUNCES ISSUE PRICE OF SHARES FOR YEAR-END DISTRIBUTION PAYABLE DECEMBER 27, 2004

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- DECEMBER 13, 2004 - The price at which The Adams Express Company (ticker symbol: ADX) common stock will be issued in payment of the $0.11 income dividend and $0.64 capital gain distribution to stockholders who have elected to receive the distributions in stock, payable December 27, 2004, is $13.00 per share. This price is the mean between today's high and low sales prices of the Company's stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Adams Express Company is a Baltimore-based closed-end investment company. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Exchange, and its symbol is ADX.

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For further information, please contact:

Joseph M. Truta, President
Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
(410) 752-5900 or (800) 638-2479

E-mail: contact@adamsexpress.com
Website: www.adamsexpress.com

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