America The Beautiful Quarters To Honor National Parks, Historic Sites & Monuments On 56 U.S. Quarters
The suspense is finally over for the coin collectors who have been anxiously awaiting news of the first designs to be featured in the U.S. Mint's new America the Beautiful Quarters program.
The America the Beautiful Quarters program will be a series of 56 quarters, each featuring a design that honors national parks, historic sites, and monuments throughout the United States and its territories, including the District of Columbia.
The America the Beautiful Quarters program begins in 2010.
Five quarters will be released each year, with the program slated to last 11 years. The only exception to that schedule is 2021 -- when the final quarter is struck, it will be the only quarter design in the series planned for release that year.
National Parks & Sites Featured
A U.S. Mint press release from September 9, 2009, lists all 56 sites to be honored during the America the Beautiful Quarters program.
See which national parks, historic sites, monuments, and other locations will be appearing on all of the quarters, through 2021.
Following is a list of the national parks that will appear on the America the Beautiful quarters during the first year, 2010:
- Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) Established April 20, 1832
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) Established March 1, 1872
- Yosemite National Park (California)Established October 1, 1890
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) Established February 20, 1893
- Mount Hood National Forest (Oregon) Established September 28, 1893
As you can see, the U.S. Mint will be striking quarters in the order that each park or site was established.
While Hot Springs National Park was the earliest to be established and be honored in the America the Beautiful Quarters program, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama was established November 6, 1998. That quarter is slated to be released in 2021.
Return Of Old George Washington Obverse
Fans of the Washington quarters made before 1999 may be missing the heraldic eagle which appeared on the reverse ("tail's side") from 1932 to 1998. But they will be glad to see the return of a familiar face... literally.
The old profile of George Washington, as seen on quarters made before the 50 State Quarters program (1999-2008) and District of Columbia & U.S. Territories Quarter program (2009), will return come 2010.
Place Your Orders Today!
The U.S. Mint is already gearing up for sales of the America the Beautiful Quarters series by offering a subscription purchase option for some quarter sets. The subscription plan automatically ships you new coins whenever they become available. Customers are being allowed to enroll now.
Here is a breakdown of the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters purchase options and current projected* prices, according to the U.S. Mint:
- Two-Roll Philadelphia & Denver Set, 40 coins in each of the 2 rolls: $32.95
- 100-Coin Philadelphia Bag: $32.95
- 100-Coin Denver Bag: $32.95
- Set of 2 100-Coin Bags (one each of Philadelphia & Denver): $65.90
- 1,000-Coin Philadelphia Bag: $309.95
- 1,000-Coin Denver Bag: $309.95
- Set of 2 1,000-Coin Bags (one each of Philadelphia & Denver): $619.90
- America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set (copper-nickel clad): $14.95
- America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set (90% silver): $29.95
*The prices are noted by the U.S. Mint as a guide to what products similar to those above sell for today; prices may change.
To learn more about the sales of these new America the Beautiful quarters, call 1-800-USA-MINT, or check out the U.S. Mint's online catalog.
11 More Years Of New Designs
Of course, not to be forgotten amid the flurry of new quarter designs coming out of the U.S. Mint every 10 weeks or so is the swarm of new collectors who will be coming into coin collecting thanks to interest in the new quarters.
The 50 States Quarters program brought millions of new collectors into the fold. It is likely the hobby will continue to see similar numbers of people entering into coin collecting (or returning after many years away), as the America the Beautiful Quarters program gets underway.
Along with that, dozens of new types of coin folders, maps, albums, and guides to help new coin collectors and advanced numismatists alike get to know and enjoy the brand new quarters.
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