America The Beautiful Quarters History

America the Beautiful Quarters Program

From 2010 to 2021, the United States Mint introduced the "America the Beautiful Quarters" Program. This initiative produced a series of 56 distinctive quarter-dollar coins, each representing a national park or historical site across all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

Program Overview

Each coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters series features a unique reverse design that highlights one national park or site, chosen for its natural beauty or historical significance. This program followed the popularity of the state quarters campaign and aimed to further celebrate the rich heritage and diverse landscapes of the United States.

 

 

 

 

Notable Designs and Themes

Each quarter was carefully crafted to reflect the essence of the designated site. Notable examples include:

• Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, featuring the park headquarters and a thermal spring.
• Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, depicted with its famous bison and Old Faithful geyser.
• Yosemite National Park in California, showcasing the majestic El Capitan.
• Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, illustrated with Marble Canyon.
• Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon, displaying Lost Lake with Mount Hood in the background.

Minting and Collectability

The quarters were minted at various U.S. Mint facilities, each marked with a distinctive mint mark. In 2020, a special "V75" privy mark was included on quarters from the West Point Mint to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II's end.

America the Beautiful Quarters List

The America the Beautiful Quarters program, which ran from 2010 to 2021, produced a series of 56 quarter-dollar coins. Each coin features a unique design depicting a national park or national site from each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Here is a list of all the coin designs in the series, organized by year and location:

2010

1. Arkansas - Hot Springs National Park
2. Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park
3. California - Yosemite National Park
4. Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park
5. Oregon - Mount Hood National Forest

2011

6. Pennsylvania - Gettysburg National Military Park
7. Montana - Glacier National Park
8. Washington - Olympic National Park
9. Mississippi - Vicksburg National Military Park
10. Oklahoma - Chickasaw National Recreation Area

2012

11. Puerto Rico - El Yunque National Forest
12. New Mexico - Chaco Culture National Historical Park
13. Maine - Acadia National Park
14. Hawaii - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
15. Alaska - Denali National Park and Preserve

2013

16. New Hampshire - White Mountain National Forest
17. Ohio - Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
18. Nevada - Great Basin National Park
19. Maryland - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
20. South Dakota - Mount Rushmore National Memorial

2014

21. Tennessee - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
22. Virginia - Shenandoah National Park
23. Utah - Arches National Park
24. Colorado - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
25. Florida - Everglades National Park

2015

26. Nebraska - Homestead National Monument of America
27. Louisiana - Kisatchie National Forest
28. North Carolina - Blue Ridge Parkway
29. Delaware - Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
30. New York - Saratoga National Historical Park

2016

31. Illinois - Shawnee National Forest
32. Kentucky - Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
33. West Virginia - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
34. North Dakota - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
35. South Carolina - Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument)

2017

36. Iowa - Effigy Mounds National Monument
37. District of Columbia - Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
38. Missouri - Ozark National Scenic Riverways
39. New Jersey - Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument)
40. Indiana - George Rogers Clark National Historical Park

2018

41. Michigan - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
42. Wisconsin - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
43. Minnesota - Voyageurs National Park
44. Georgia - Cumberland Island National Seashore
45. Rhode Island - Block Island National Wildlife Refuge

2019

46. Massachusetts - Lowell National Historical Park
47. Northern Mariana Islands - American Memorial Park
48. Guam - War in the Pacific National Historical Park
49. Texas - San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
50. Idaho - Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

2020

51. American Samoa - National Park of American Samoa
52. Connecticut - Weir Farm National Historic Site
53. U.S. Virgin Islands - Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
54. Vermont - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
55. Kansas - Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

2021

56. Alabama - Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

Historical and Educational Impact

The America the Beautiful Quarters Program served not just as a collector's item but also as an educational tool, bringing the stories of America’s natural wonders and historic sites to a wide audience. Each new release was accompanied by educational content and community events, fostering a deeper appreciation for the United States' national heritage.

Legacy and Conclusion

As the program wrapped up in 2021, it left behind a legacy of celebrating America's natural beauty and historical achievements through numismatics. The quarters continue to be cherished by collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate their artistic value and the stories they represent.

Looking Forward

Following the conclusion of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, the series was succeeded by other thematic initiatives focusing on American women, significant events, and other cultural milestones, continuing the tradition of commemorating national pride through coinage.