The United States Mint has begun the America the Beautiful quarter program with the release on April 19, 2010 of the quarter honoring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. This program will honor five national parks or sites each year through 2021. The Secretary of the Treasury can expand the program for another ten years to honor more parks if that is desired.
The Current Washington Quarter
Since 1932, the head of George Washington has been on the obverse (heads side) of the quarter. In honor of the 200th anniversary of his birth, President Washington replaced Lady Liberty on the quarter. President Washington's portrait was done by John Flanagan and restored for the minting of the new quarters.
For most of the time since 1932, the reverse (tails side) has been the American eagle. An exception was made in 1976 for the bicentennial of the United States when a colonial drummer appeared on the reverse. Then, with the beginning of the fifty state quarter program a different design depicting each state was on the reverse of the quarter. This program begun in 1999 was expanded to include Washington D.C. and the other territories of the United States.
The state quarter program was a huge success making the mint and therefore, the United States over four billion dollars. Further, it educated a generation of school children on geography and history. The United States Mint Director Ed Moy was quoted, during the unveiling of the five designs for 2010, as saying "We hope that the America the Beautiful Quarters program will reconnect Americans to our country's National Parks and Sites."
America the Beautiful Quarters for 2010
While, the number of coins that will produced depends on the commerce need of the country, it will surely be a substantial number. Over thirty-four billion of the state quarters were minted. That large number means the value of the coins to collectors will not be much greater than the face value, since they will not be scare. With a new quarter to be released about every ten weeks the five coins for 2010 are: Hot Springs National Park in April, Yellowstone National Park in June, Yosemite National Park in July, Grand Canyon National Park in September, and Mt Hood National Forest in November.
Since the coins are common now and will be in the future, collecting them will usually not be for investments. Although special sets will be available may be purchased as an investment. Collecting these coins will be educational, to enjoy the wonderful art on and in the coins, and just for fun.
Kim Youmans - Kim Youmans is an acclaimed educator, teaching preschool through graduate school. He writes about Theology, travels, and the outdoors.
