America the Beautiful Quarters Continue Rotating Designs
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.
The prior programs and the new America the Beautiful Quarters program share some similarities, but also have some differences. Similarly, the new program will feature unique reverse designs for each subject, released at a rate of five new designs per year. The obverse of the coins will feature a constant design, which is a restored portrait of George Washington. The quarters will be issued for general circulation, allowing anyone to collect the coins from change received at everyday transactions.
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.
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 entire register of sites to be depicted on the America the Beautiful Quarters Program were recently released by the United States Mint. The sites will be featured in the order that the sites were federally designated. Collectors can look for the first release of the series featuring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, expected to be released in April 2010.
Find detailed information about the upcoming America the Beautiful Quarters Program. View the America the Beautiful Quarters Release Dates.