WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) today officially launched the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts. This is the first quarter of 2019 and the 46th coin overall in the program.
The reverse (tails) design of the quarter representing this national site reflects Lowell’s role in the Industrial Revolution. The design depicts a mill girl working at a power loom with its prominent circular bobbin battery. A view of Lowell, including the Boott Mill clock tower, is seen through the window.
According to Marc Landry, the Mint’s Acting Associate Director for the Numismatic and Bullion Directorate, “The depiction of the mill girl takes us back to the past at the forefront of America’s Industrial Revolution. The physical coin takes us to present day manufacturing processes; and finally, the coin in its entirety takes us into the future—inspiring tomorrow’s innovators, workforce, and generations to follow.”
More than 1,500 enthusiastic school-aged children from the Lowell area celebrated the release of the new quarter. Guest speakers included former Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, National Park Service Regional Deputy Director Rose Fennell, and park superintendent Celeste Bernardo. An exchange of $10 rolls of the new quarter rounded out the event.
Products featuring the Lowell National Historical Park quarter are available for purchase directly from the Mint’s online catalog at catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/ or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
The America the Beautiful Quarters® Program is a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year until 2020, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins, with a final coin scheduled for release in 2021. The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
About the United States Mint
Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint 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; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.