United States Mint Launches 35th America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin in South Carolina
Release of quarter honoring Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) marked with musket fire
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) joined the National Park Service today to launch the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) in South Carolina.
The coin's reverse (tails) depicts Sergeant William Jasper returning the regimental flag to the ramparts while under attack from British ships.
"This new coin stands as a tribute to the bravery and self-sacrifice of those who believed our fledgling Nation deserved a fighting chance," said Mint Chief Counsel Jean Gentry.
Additional participants in the ceremony included Barclay Trimble of the National Park Service Southeast Regional Office; Timothy Stone, Superintendent of the Fort Sumter National Monument; Pat O'Neil, Mayor of Sullivan's Island; Dan Head, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham; Kathy Crawford, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Tim Scott; Bill Saunders, Regional Director for U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn; and Laurie Turner, Regional Director for U.S. Representative Mark Sanford.
Event highlights included a coin forum the evening before the event; a special firing of reproduction muskets during the ceremony by National Park Service staff in period attire; and a coin exchange, where event attendees traded their cash for $10 rolls of newly–minted Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) quarters.
The Mint is offering products featuring the Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) quarter for sale directly to the public. To place an order, visit the bureau's online catalog at http://catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/ or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
The Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) quarter is the 35th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public sees five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
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 Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins. The Mint's numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- View b-roll of the Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) quarter at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61NZ8Wx4mlk&index=2&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9.
- View an interview with Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) quarter engraver Joseph Menna at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apy9EPmxPMg&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9.
- Information about Fort Moultrie (Fort Sumter National Monument) is available at https://www.nps.gov/fosu/learn/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm.
- Learn more about the United States Mint and the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program at http://www.usmint.gov/.
- Free lesson plans based on the America Beautiful Quarters Program are available at http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/.
- For information about the United States Mint, please visit /about/about.
- To subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, and public statements, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup.
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