The first set of five America the Beautiful Quarters (also referred to as National Park Quarters), became available to the public in 2010. Collectors quickly added these newly designed coins to their collections. Then, in 2011, and continuing with the program’s release of five new coins per year, five additional National Park Quarters were introduced to United States’ coinage and earnestly grabbed by collectors. The year 2012 brings the same anticipation and eagerness with its year’s issuing of the America the Beautiful Series.
2012 National Park Quarters Release Dates
The El Yunque National Forest quarter is the first of the America the Beautiful Quarters to be issued into circulation in 2012. The reverse of the quarter represents Puerto Rico and depicts animals and vegetation from the only tropical rainforest in the nation’s National Forest System. The official release date for the coin is January 23, 2012. However, proof sets for all five 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters are now available for direct purchase through the United States Mint. For those collectors who would rather have them all at once or want the magnificent proof set, ordering the complete collection from the U.S. Mint is the perfect option.
Collectors who patiently wait to collect circulated coins will be able to start searching for the second 2012 public released quarter on April 2nd. This quarter features Chaco Culture National Historical Park of New Mexico. It prominently displays the ancient pueblos discovered in the area and honors the people who once lived there. The other three 2012 America the Beautiful Quarters, along with a brief description and release dates, are as follows:
- June 11: this release honors Acadia National Park in Maine. The coin’s reverse shows the rocky coastline below the Bass Harbor Lighthouse.
- August 27: this coin depicts the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. The volcanic eruption presented on the coin is that of the Kilauea Volcano.
- November 5: this quarter portrays Denali National Park of Alaska. Mount McKinley is remarkably illustrated behind a Dall sheep.
Collecting the America the Beautiful Quarters
Although a thrill and a joy can be found in searching and hunting for a complete set of the different America the Beautiful Quarters in circulation, there is another or added option. Many collectors actually choose to do both. For collectors who wish to ensure they won’t miss out on any one coin, the U.S. Mint offers a subscription program. The subscription program will guarantee a collector receives the coins he subscribes for, as soon as they become available from the U.S. Mint. If interested, a collector should visit the official U.S. Mint website and decide which of the many different kinds of plans best suit his needs.
The National Park Quarters Program will continue to run until 2021. A final collection of these coins will illustrate fifty-six extraordinary locations across America. The designs express and share the beauty of the country. These coins inspire and encourage a viewer to realize a deeper appreciation for the amazing places and history found all around them.
Sources:
United States Mint, America the Beautiful Quarters Program, reviewed January 16th, 2012
United States Mint, Subscription Program, reviewed January 16th, 2012
Bressett, Ken, National Park Quarters Collector’s Folder, Whitman Publishing
Jenny Kile - Jenny Kile enjoys the freedom to explore, question, learn, and the opportunity Suite101 gives in order to then share with her readers.
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