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 quarter series follows the success of the 50 State Quarters Program. This series of fifty different quarters ran from 1999 to 2008 and allowed Americans learn about the history and diversity of the different states simply by examining their pocket change. A one year program featuring the United States Territories and District of Columbia followed in the year 2009.
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 new series will shift its focus to sites of natural beauty or historical significance. Sites selected for the program may include any park or site which has been federally designated and remains until the supervision, management, or conservancy of a federal entity. Eligible sites include National Parks, National Preserves and Forests, and Wildlife Refuges.
A program of silver bullion “quarters” will be introduced to accompany the series. The coins will contain 5 ounces of .999 fine silver and bear designs which are duplicates of the circulating quarters. Collectors have shown interest in the series since it will provide a large 3 inch diameter to display the unique designs of the series.
The United States Mint has already established the order of release for the entire 56 quarter program. The America the Beautiful Quarters will issue the different designs in the order the sites were federally designated. The first year of release will include Hot Springs National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Hood National Forest.
Learn more about America the Beautiful Quarters. Find more detailed information on the separate America the Beautiful Bullion Coins.
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