New US Mint Quarters Feature National Parks and Sites
In 2010 a new series of quarters will be launched by the United States Mint. The America the Beautiful Quarters series will issue a total of 56 circulating quarter dollar coins over the course of twelve years, featuring National Parks or other National Sites from each of the states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
The new series begins two years after the conclusion of the popular 50 State Quarters Program. From 1999 to 2008, the US Mint released a total of fifty different coins to honor each of the states. Average Americans were able to learn more about history and geography by examining the coins received in change. A separate program was launch in 2009 to feature the remaining United States Territories and Washington, DC.
America the Beautiful Quarters will share some aspects of the prior programs, but take a different focus and introduce a new collectible. Similarly, the 56 coins will feature unique reverse designs paired with a constant design for the heads side of the coin. The obverse will feature a restored portrait of George Washington, as it originally appeared on the 1932 Washington Quarter. The quarters will be released at the same rate of five new designs per year, released in roughly equal intervals. Since the coins will be issued for circulation, once again anyone can collect the series through pocket change.
The focus of the series will shift National sites. Under the authorizing legislation, this includes any site under the supervision, management, or conservancy of the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or similar department or agency of the federal government. Sites selected for the program include National Parks, National Forests, National Preserves, and National Wildlife Refuges.
To accompany the quarter series, a new program of silver bullion coins will also be introduced. The coins will be over sized replicas of each quarter, weighing five ounces and struck in .999 fine silver. These coins will be issued on the same annual schedule as the quarters and are expected to be available throughout the year when the corresponding quarter is issued.
The America the Beautiful Quarters scheduled for release during the inaugural year of 2010 will feature Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon.
Find more details about America the Beautiful Quarters including release dates, design proposals, and coin descriptions. Find information on the separate series of America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins.
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