Plymouth, N.H. — Hundreds of local area school children joined United States Mint Acting Director Richard A. Peterson, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, and U.S. Forest Service Supervisor Tom Wagner to celebrate the release of the White Mountain National Forest quarter–dollar, the 16th coin in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
“My car has climbed Mt. Washington, and I have the bumper sticker to prove it,” remarked Peterson, a former resident of New Hampshire. “I put it on our car right next to the license plate that says ‘Live Free Or Die.’ Those words evoke the same spirit as ‘Liberty,’ which is the driving force behind what makes America great and evokes the iconic spirit of New Hampshire.”
Bill Dauer, the White Mountain National Forest’s technical service team leader, served as master of ceremonies for the event. Highlights included participation by Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster and the reading of letters by representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen. After the event, attendees exchanged their currency for $10 rolls of newly minted White Mountain National Forest quarters. Peterson hosted a coin forum the evening before the launch ceremony, answering questions about U.S. coinage and the bureau’s coin programs and initiatives.
The White Mountain National Forest quarter was released into circulation January 28. For information about bags and rolls of these quarters or to place an order, please visit the United States Mint’s online catalog at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog.
The United States Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters Program is authorized by Public Law 110–456. Five new quarters with reverse designs representing national sites will be released each year until 2020, with one final coin released in 2021. The bureau will issue these quarters in the order in which the honored site was first established as a national site.
The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792. It 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 numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. The United States Mint’s numismatic programs are self–sustaining and operate at no cost to the taxpayer.