HISTORY OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL COINS
Inspired by the success of the 50 State Quarters Program launched in 1999, the United States Mint embarked on the America The Beautiful Quarters Program. This initiative was set into motion by the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act passed by Congress in 2008, expanding on the original concept by featuring treasured sites from across the U.S. territories in addition to the 50 states. Unlike the first series, which utilized standard quarters, the America The Beautiful coins are struck on fresh blanks, marking a new chapter in U.S. numismatic history.
Spanning from 2010 to 2021, this ambitious series comprises 56 coins, issuing five new designs annually to represent each U.S. state, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Washington D.C. The selection process for each coin’s reverse design involved a collaborative effort between the U.S. Mint, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Treasury, and state officials, ensuring that only sites of significant historical and cultural importance were featured.
ABOUT AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL COINS
Available in both proof and bullion versions, the America The Beautiful quarters cater to both collectors and investors. Proof coins are distinguished by their matte finish and are accompanied by the mint mark of their respective U.S. Mint facility, presented in individual plastic capsules and a U.S. Mint box. The bullion coins, with their mirror-like finish, are distributed in mint tubes containing 10 coins each or monster boxes of 100 coins. Each coin in the series is composed of .999 fine silver, weighing 5 oz. with a diameter of 3 inches, significantly larger than the standard circulation quarter.
DESIGN OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL COINS
The obverse of each coin proudly displays John Flanagan’s 1932 left-profile portrait of George Washington, based on an original bust by William Cousins from 1786. This enduring design has graced the obverse of U.S. quarters for over eight decades and includes the inscriptions “United States of America,” “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “Quarter Dollar.”
The reverse side is dedicated to America’s natural wonders and historic sites, featuring national parks, forests, and monuments. While most states showcase new imagery, California, Arizona, and South Dakota retain their iconic designs from the original series. The reverse also includes the name of the state, the designated site, the year of minting, and “E Pluribus Unum.”
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