WASHINGTON — The brilliant colors and panoramic landscapes of the Grand Canyon will be the backdrop as the United States Mint and National Park Service introduce the fourth coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The new quarter–dollar coin, featuring Grand Canyon National Park, will be officially presented at a ceremony on September 21 at 1:30 p.m. (MST), on the park’s South Rim, between Hopi House and Verkamp’s Visitor Center.
Those planning to attend are strongly encouraged to park in one of the lots at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center or the Backcountry Information Center and ride the park’s free shuttle to a stop near Hopi House as parking in the vicinity is extremely limited. Those unable to attend will be able to view a live broadcast of the ceremony on the Web at: http://www.americathebeautifulquarters.gov.
Following the event, $10 rolls containing Grand Canyon National Park quarters will be available for purchase at face value. Children 18 years old and younger will receive a free quarter to commemorate the event.
In addition, on the evening prior to the ceremony launching the Grand Canyon Quarter, the United States Mint will host a Collectors Forum. The public forum will provide collectors an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the future of the Nation’s coinage with United States Mint Director Ed Moy.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program is authorized by Public Law 110–456. The program is a 12–year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites. Starting this year, the public began seeing five different quarter–dollar coin designs, each featuring a new national site depicted on the coin’s reverse (tails side). The United States Mint is issuing the quarters in the order in which the honored site was first established as a national site.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.