New quarter coin series to feature park theme designs

Americans will see revolving quarter designs for at least a dozen more years, thanks to legislation President Bush signed into law Tuesday.

America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act authorizes "circulating quarter dollar coins that are emblematic of a national park or other national site in each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States."

The series will continue for at least 11 years and feature five varying park themes per year beginning in 2010, or directly after the D.C. and U.S. Territories quarter program concludes.

The quarter-dollars are to be issued in the order a park or site was designated, with the selection determined by the Treasury Secretary in "consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the governor or other chief executive of each State with respect to which a coin is to be issued."

The law also provides authority for the Secretary to extend the program for another round, which would push the park quarter series length into two decades.

The coin legislation was jointly introduced by Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, and Carolyn Maloney on June 4, 2008. It passed the US House of Representatives on July 9.

"The parks program is a natural follow-up to the state quarters. Nothing could be more logical than recognizing the sites all Americans hold most dear, such as our seashores, forests, wildlife refuges, and monuments," Rep. Castle said at the time.

The bill then stunned watchers when it passed in the lame duck US Senate session on December 10.

"I believe these coins will increase awareness and promote efforts to preserve America's national treasures for generations to come," Senator Barrasso, a supporter of the quarters program commented.

The Senator's state, Wyoming, would launch the first coin in the new series as Yellowstone is the nation's first national park.

A notable section in the new law also calls for a silver bullion duplicate of each quarter that is 3.0 inches diameter and struck in 5.0 ounces of .999 fine silver. While these super-sized collector coins would have a legal tender inscription of "quarter dollar," their bullion value at Tuesday's London silver price of $10.70 an ounce would be $53.50.

When the new series ends, the quarter reverse will depict George Washington crossing the Delaware River prior to the Battle of Trenton.

Additional resources and information for the new coins may be found at National Park Quarters, The National Parks State Quarter Program, or the text of the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act.