BEATRICE, Neb. — United States Mint representatives joined National Park Service officials today to launch the Homestead National Monument of America Quarter, the 26th coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
The quarter’s reverse (tails side) design represents the three fundamentals of survival common to all homesteaders: food, shelter, and water. Inscriptions are “HOMESTEAD,” “NEBRASKA,” “2015,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
“This new quarter stands now as a tribute to the strength and the tenacity of the settlers who braved harsh conditions to build the American West,” said David Croft, United States Mint Associate Director of Manufacturing.
Additional speakers included Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, National Park Service Acting Regional Director (Midwest Region) Patty Trap, Homestead National Monument of America Superintendent Mark Engler, and city of Beatrice Mayor Stan Wirth.
Residents of Beatrice and the surrounding area who attended the event were among the first in the nation to get newly minted Homestead National Monument of America quarters during the coin exchange that followed the ceremony. Collectible bags and rolls containing circulating finish Homestead National Monument of America quarters will be available for purchase from the United States Mint starting on Feb. 24 at noon Eastern Standard Time. Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog and at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468), while hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468).
The America the Beautiful Quarters® Program is a multiyear initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites in each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The United States Mint is administering the program in accordance with Public Law 110–456, the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. Each year until 2020, the bureau will release five new quarters with reverse designs representing select national sites. The quarters are being issued based on the order in which the sites were established. The final coin in the program will be released in 2021.
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 taxpayers.