WASHINGTON — The United States Mint today announced the new designs that will appear on the reverses (tails sides) of the 2012–dated coins in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The national sites to be honored next year are El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico, Acadia National Park in Maine, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii and Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
El Yunque National Forest Quarter
The reverse of the first quarter of 2012 depicts a Coqui tree frog sitting on a leaf and a Puerto Rican parrot behind an epiphyte plant with tropical flora in the background. Inscriptions are EL YUNQUE, PUERTO RICO, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Gary Whitley and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Michael Gaudioso.Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarter
The reverse of the second quarter of 2012 illustrates a view to the west of two elevated kivas that are part of the Chetro Ketl Complex. The design also shows the north wall of Chetro Ketl and the north wall of the canyon. Inscriptions are CHACO CULTURE, NEW MEXICO, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Phebe Hemphill.Acadia National Park Quarter
The reverse of the third quarter of 2012 depicts a view of the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Acadia’s rough coastline. Inscriptions are ACADIA, MAINE, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP Associate Designer Barbara Fox and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Joseph Menna.Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Quarter
The reverse of the fourth quarter of 2012 depicts an eruption on the east rift of Kilauea Volcano. Inscriptions are HAWAI’I VOLCANOES, HAWAII, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. It was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Charles L. Vickers.Denali National Park and Preserve Quarter
The fifth quarter of 2012 depicts a Dall sheep with Mount McKinley rising in the background. Inscriptions are DENALI, ALASKA, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Jim Licaretz.
All coins in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program feature a common obverse (heads side) with the 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan, restored to bring out subtle details and the beauty of the original model. Inscriptions on the obverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
The multi–year United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program is authorized by Public Law 110–456 – the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (Act). The Act directs the bureau to mint and issue 56 circulating quarter–dollar coins with reverse designs emblematic of a national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories – Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The quarters are being released in the order in which the featured site was first established as a national park or site. The designs will rotate five times each year through 2020, with the final coin being released in 2021.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing 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.