MOSCA, Colo. — The United States Mint joined National Park Service officials today to launch the Great Sand Dunes National Park quarter, the 24th coin in the bureau’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
“With its awe–inspiring combination of desert dunes, high mountain peaks, and flowing Medano Creek,” Associate Director of Manufacturing Dave Croft said during the ceremony, “I can see why Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was chosen to represent the state of Colorado in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.”
The quarter’s reverse (tails) design depicts a father and son playing in the sand next to the creek bed, with the distinctive mountains and sand dunes featured in the background.
In addition to Mr. Croft, guest speakers included Erin Minks, Senator Mark Udall’s San Luis Valley representative; Brenda Felmlee, Congressman Scott Tipton’s San Luis Valley representative; Laura Joss, National Park Service Deputy Regional Director, Intermountain Region; Lisa Carrico, Great Sand Dunes National Park Superintendent; and Fred Bunch, Great Sand Dunes National Park Chief of Resource Management. More than 1,400 schoolchildren attended the launch. Following the ceremony, those in attendance traded their currency for collectible rolls of the new quarter.
The Federal Reserve released millions of Great Sand Dunes National Park quarters into circulation Aug. 25, 2014. In addition, collectible bags and rolls of Great Sand Dunes National Park quarters from the United States Mint’s facilities at Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco became available the same day. To purchase these products, please visit the bureau’s online catalog at http://www.usmint.gov/catalogor call 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468).
The United States Mint is administering the America the Beautiful Quarters Program in accordance with Public Law 110–456, the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. Each year until 2020, five new quarters will be released with reverse designs representing select national sites. The final coin in the program will be released in 2021. The quarters are being issued based on the order in which the sites were established.
About the United States Mint
The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792 and became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. 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.