1181) America The Beautiful Quarters (11) - 2020 & 2021: Eleventh and Twelfth Annual Quarters sets being issued by the US Mint in 2020 & 2021:
The five quarters being released in 2020:
This is the eleventh year in the "America the Beautiful Quarters Coin Programme", which was launched in 2010. Every year five quarters (only one in 2021 at the conclusion of the Programme) are issued featuring five different National Parks or National sites. The Series will run through 2021, with a total of 56 different coins featuring a site for each US State, US Territory and the District of Columbia, presented in the order in which these Parks/Sites were federally designated.
I have put up posts on each of the previous year issues i.e. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2020 & 2021, the links for which are given at the bottom of this Post.
The 2020 coins will commemorate - National Park of American Samoa (AS), Weir Farm National Historic Site (CT), Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve (VI), Marsh-Billings-Rockfeller National Historical Park (VT) and Tallgrass Priarie National Preserve (KS).
The five silver coins set issued by the San Francisco Mint (Mint Mark "S") together with its cover jacket.
The Coin set on a stand-alone basis
The Back of the Cover jacket
The details of the five designs selected for 2020 representing the 51st to 55th overall coin releases are as under:
51) National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa):
The National Park of American Samoa is distributed across three islands - Tutuila, Ofu and Ta'u. The Park preserves and protects coral reefs, fruit bats, tropical rain-forests and Samoan culture.
The Park's area of 13,500 acres has 9,000 acres of land and 4,500 acres of coral reefs and ocean. It is the only American National Park Service System unit South of the Equator, near the International Date Line.
Because of its remote location, diversity among the terrestrial species is low. About 30% of the plants and one bird species - the Samoan starling - are endemic to this archipelago.
Three species of bat are the only native mammals - two large fruit bats (Samoa flying fox and white-naped flying fox) and a small insectivore (the Pacific sheath-tailed bat).
The details of the five designs selected for 2020 representing the 51st to 55th overall coin releases are as under:
51) National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa):
The National Park of American Samoa is distributed across three islands - Tutuila, Ofu and Ta'u. The Park preserves and protects coral reefs, fruit bats, tropical rain-forests and Samoan culture.
The Park's area of 13,500 acres has 9,000 acres of land and 4,500 acres of coral reefs and ocean. It is the only American National Park Service System unit South of the Equator, near the International Date Line.
Because of its remote location, diversity among the terrestrial species is low. About 30% of the plants and one bird species - the Samoan starling - are endemic to this archipelago.
Three species of bat are the only native mammals - two large fruit bats (Samoa flying fox and white-naped flying fox) and a small insectivore (the Pacific sheath-tailed bat).
The Reverse design of the National Park of American Samoan Quarter depicts a Samoan Fruit Bat mother hanging in a tree with her pup. The image evokes the remarkable care and energy this species puts into its offspring.
The design is intended to promote awareness of the species' threatened status because of habitat loss and commercial hunting. The National Park of American Samoa is the only site in the US National Park System, that is home to the Samoan Fruit Bat.
The inscriptions are - "NATIONAL PARK" (on the Upper periphery) and "AMERICAN SAMOA", "2020" and "E. Pluribus Unum" ("One Out of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The Reverse has been designed by Richard Masters and sculpted-engraved by Phebe Hemphill, whose initials "RM" and "PH" appear on the actual coins.
52) Weir Farm National Historic Site (Connecticut):
Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in Ridgefield and Wilton, Connecticut.
It commemorates the life and work of American impressionist painter J. Alden Weir and other artists who stayed at the site or lived there - like Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, John Singer Sargent and John Twachtman.
Weir Farm is one of two sites in the National Park service devoted to the visual arts, the other being Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.
These two sites still maintain ongoing artist-in-residence programmes, with Weir Farm Art Centre hosting more than 150 artists for month-long stays at the site. Weir Farm also runs an on-going "Take Part in Art" programmes, under which, visitors can create their own works on site.
The Reverse design of the Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut Quarter depicts an artist wearing a painter's smock, painting outside Julian Alden Weir's studio at Weir Far,. It was inspired by various images of the studio and Weir's paintings created on the property, as well as, Weir's and his fellow artists' descriptions of their creative inspiration from the rural environment.
The inscriptions are - "WEIR FARM" (on the upper periphery) and "CONNECTICUT", "2020" and "E.PLURIBUS UNUM" ("One Out of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The Reverse has been designed by Justin Kunz and sculpted-engraved by Phebe Hemphill, whose initials "JK" and "PH" appear on the actual coins.
53) Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, U.S. Virgin Islands:
Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve is a unit of the National Park Service on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
It preserves upland watersheds, mangrove forests and estuarine and marine environments that support threatened and endangered species. The Park also contains a Columbus Landing Site, remains of earthwork fortifications from the French period of occupation around 1617 and also preserves pre-historic and colonial-era archaeological sites.
Salt River is home to one of two bio-luminescent bays or bio bays on the island of St. Croix, in the mangrove lagoon (a second bio bay can be found at Altona Lagoon) where every year thousands of people flock to see the glowing water of the Bio-bay that is created by a micro-organism, the dinoflagellate "Pyrodinium bahamense". The bay is also home to other bio-luminescent marine life.
53) Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, U.S. Virgin Islands:
Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve is a unit of the National Park Service on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
It preserves upland watersheds, mangrove forests and estuarine and marine environments that support threatened and endangered species. The Park also contains a Columbus Landing Site, remains of earthwork fortifications from the French period of occupation around 1617 and also preserves pre-historic and colonial-era archaeological sites.
Salt River is home to one of two bio-luminescent bays or bio bays on the island of St. Croix, in the mangrove lagoon (a second bio bay can be found at Altona Lagoon) where every year thousands of people flock to see the glowing water of the Bio-bay that is created by a micro-organism, the dinoflagellate "Pyrodinium bahamense". The bay is also home to other bio-luminescent marine life.
The Reverse design of the Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve in US Virgin Islands Quarter depicts a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the Park's endangered mangrove forests and the unique and delicate nature of how the species reproduces in salt water.
The inscriptions are - "SALT RIVER BAY" (on the upper periphery) and U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS", "2020" and "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" (One Out Of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The Reverse has been designed by Richard Masters and sculpted-engraved by Joseph Menna, whose initials "JM" and "RM" appear on the actual coins.
54) Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Vermont):
This Historical Park preserves the site where Frederick Billings established a managed forest and a progressive dairy farm. The name recognises Billings and the other owners of the property - George Perkins Marsh, Mary Billings French, Laurence Rockefeller and Mary French Rockefeller.
The Rockefellers transferred the property to the Federal Government in 1992.
The Reverse design of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Quarter depicts a young girl completing the planting of a Norway spruce seedling near an established tree, continuing the life-cycle of the forest. The child represents the conservationist, seeking to maintain a sustainable forest for future enjoyment and education.
The inscriptions are - "MARSH-BILLINGS-ROCKEFELLER" (on the upper periphery) and "VERMONT", "2020", "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" ("One Out Of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The Reverse has been designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted-engraved by Michael Gaudioso, whose initials "DW" and "MG" appear on the actual coins.
55) Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas:
This Preserve, located in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, North of Strong city, protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tall-grass prairie eco-system.
Of the 4000,000 square miles (or 1,000,000 sq. kilometres) of tall-grass prairie that once covered the North American continent, less than 4% remains, primarily in the Flint Hills. Presently, the National Park system and The Nature Conservancy work towards conserving/preservation of the Tall-grass prairie, while sharing the story of ranching legacy (which began in 1878), American Indian history et al.
Since 2009, the Preserve is home to a Tall-grass Prairie bison herd, introduced by the Nature Conservancy.
The Reverse design of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Kansas Quarter depicts a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, National Preserve.
The inscriptions are - "TALLGRASS PRAIRIE" (on the upper periphery) and "KANSAS", "2020", "E.PLURIBUS UNUM" ("One Out Of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The Reverse has been designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted-engraved by Renata Gordon, whose initials "ED" and "RG" appear on the actual coins.
The Obverses of all these coins feature the 1932 effigy of George Washington, facing left, designed by John Flanagan.
Also seen on the Obverse are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "QUARTER DOLLAR". The Mint marks "P" (Philadelphia), "D" (DENVER) and "S" (San Francisco) appear on this face depunding on the mint which has minted these coins - Uncirculated Sets ("P" & "D") and Proof and Silver Sets (S).
The specifications of each of the Proof & Uncirculated Coins are:
Metal Composition: Copper - 91.67%, Nickel - 8.33%; Weight: 5.67 grams; Diameter/Size: 24.30 mm (or 0.955 inch); Edge: Reeded.
The lone quarter being released in 2021:
56) The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama:
This Site commemorates the contributions of African-American airmen in World War II.
Moton Field was the site of primary flight training for the pioneering pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen. This site is now operated by National Park Service to interpret their history and achievements.
It was constructed in 1941 as a training base and is named after former Tuskegee Institute principal Robert Russa Moton who had died in 1940.
This Site commemorates the contributions of African-American airmen in World War II.
Moton Field was the site of primary flight training for the pioneering pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen. This site is now operated by National Park Service to interpret their history and achievements.
It was constructed in 1941 as a training base and is named after former Tuskegee Institute principal Robert Russa Moton who had died in 1940.
The Reverse design of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama commemorates the heroic actions and achievements of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The term "Tuskegee Airmen" pertains to both men and women of diverse nationalities. They were composed of nearly 1,000 pilots and more than 15,000 support staff - including navigators, bombardiers and mechanics).
The site preserves five historic structures used during primary flight training in World War II
The design depicts a Tuskegee Airman pilot suiting up to join the fight during World War II, with Moton Field control tower in the background. The pilot looks upward with pride and confidence as two Mustangs pass overhead.
The inscriptions are - "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN", "THEY FOUGHT TWO WARS" (on the upper periphery) and ALABAMA", "2021", "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" (One Out Of Many" - on the lower periphery).
The inscription - "They fought two wars" stands for the dual battles the Tuskegee Airmen fought - fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home.
The Reverse has been designed by Chris Costello and sculpted-engraved by Phebe Hemphill, whose initials "CC" and "PH" will appear on the actual coins.
Links:
25) An Uncirculated $1 US Federal Reserve Banknote from the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, rings in the "Year of the PIG" (2019) from the Chinese Zodiac Cycle/Lunar Calendar titled "Lucky Money Collection"
26) Year of the Rat: An Uncirculated $1 US Federal Reserve Banknote rings in the "Year of the Rat" (2020) from the Chinese Zodiac Cycle/Linar Calendar titled "Lucky Money Collection"
This is a great series. I particularly like that it is a good starting point to get kids interested. There is enough coins to go after, not too hard to find, but best of all, great conversation topics to help kids learn about their country in a fun way. Of course, in the US, though I'm sure it could be educational for kids in other countries.
ReplyDeleteI entirely agree Tom. Some of my friends who were visiting a few National Parks in the USA collected these quarters as souvenirs of their visits. I have learnt a lot from this Series about the National Park Service and the Sites they depict. Each quarter is indeed a wonderful learning experience for a budding numismatist. I believe that people were so fascinated by these quarters and the State Quarters that many of them collected them mint-wise from circulation pieces. My first few posts had a lot of visitors from the US, which was rather interesting. I too have a collection of all these quarters barring a few. I met a lady numismatist/coin dealer a few years ago from a remote district in Maharashtra, India, who had collected all the quarters issued till that time.
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