By Office of Corporate Communications
August 2, 2019
In this video, U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Joe Menna and artist Chris Costello discuss their work on the quarter honoring San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
On Thursday, September 5, 2019, the U.S. Mint will launch a quarter honoring the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in San Antonio, Texas. The quarter is the fourth release of 2019 as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park quarter pays tribute to the San Antonio missions – which were among the largest concentrations of Spanish missions in North America – and their role in helping to create the foundation for the City of San Antonio. The construction of aqueducts and irrigation canals (acequinas) brought water to the missions and helped sustain farming and ranching. The missions’ toolmaking, carpentry, looming, spinning, and masonry also contributed to the community’s ability to be self-sustaining.
The design of the coin depicts elements of the Spanish Colonial Real coin. Within the quadrants are the symbols of the missions:
- Wheat symbolizes farming
- Arches and bell symbolize community
- Lion represents Spanish cultural heritage
- Water represents irrigation methods and life-sustaining resources of the San Antonio River
“The San Antonio National Park quarter was fun to sculpt because it’s almost a replica coin,” said Joe Menna, Chief Engraver for the Mint who sculpted the San Antonio quarter. “It harkened back to an older coin. It has great historical significance as a result.”
To learn more about the upcoming San Antonio quarter launch, visit our Events Page.
See more Inside the Mint articles.