National Parks Quarters Coming in 2010
Michael Zielinski
December 28, 2008
On December 23, 2008, the President signed into law H.R. 6184 America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. This will establish a new series of circulating commemorative quarters with rotating reverse designs featuring National Parks or Sites.
The new program will follow the format of the highly successful 50 State Quarters Program. Five different quarters will be issued each year featuring a reverse design emblematic of a National Park or National Site in each US State, US Territory, and Washington DC. The designs would be released in the order each park or site was designated. The duration of the series would be 11 years, with the possibility for an extension of the program to 22 years at the option of the Secretary of the Treasury.
There have been both supporters and opponents of the new series. Supporters of the National Park Quarters series have drawn parallels to the benefits provided by the 50 State Quarters Program. The innovative program created millions of eager new coin collectors, encouraged people to take a closer look at their pocket change, and highlighted the uniqueness of each State. The National Park Quarters series may draw in new collectors as well. The series will also keep Americans looking at their change and teach them about our National Parks.
Another point of support is the potential for the government to earn money from the program through seiginorage. This represents the difference between the cost to produce coins and their value. When the public removes coins from circulation and retains them, it generates extra earnings since the US Mint must produce additional coins to replace them. The US Mint has estimated that the prior 50 State Quarters Program generated between $2.7 and $2.9 billion of extra earnings which were transferred to the Treasury General Fund.
Opponents of the National Park Quarters series state that the concept of constantly changing reverse designs for our coinage has been overused. Following the success of the 50 State Quarters Program, the concept has been used for the cent, nickel, another series of quarters, and two series of dollar coins. For 2009, there will actually be more coins featuring rotating designs that coins with static designs.
Opponents have also cited a potential oversupply of numismatic product created by the continually expanding coin programs. Next year, there will be a total of 18 different circulating coin designs produced. This will include four different 2009 Lincoln Cents, the Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington DC Quarter, five US Territories Quarters, four Presidential Dollars, and one Native American Dollar. Collectors may soon grow weary of the constantly expanding scope of our national coinage.
Regardless of opinions, the National Park Quarters series is now a reality. Look for the first coins in 2010.
Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Find more information on the National Park Quarters or stay up to date with the latest news and products from the US Mint.
The new program will follow the format of the highly successful 50 State Quarters Program. Five different quarters will be issued each year featuring a reverse design emblematic of a National Park or National Site in each US State, US Territory, and Washington DC. The designs would be released in the order each park or site was designated. The duration of the series would be 11 years, with the possibility for an extension of the program to 22 years at the option of the Secretary of the Treasury.
There have been both supporters and opponents of the new series. Supporters of the National Park Quarters series have drawn parallels to the benefits provided by the 50 State Quarters Program. The innovative program created millions of eager new coin collectors, encouraged people to take a closer look at their pocket change, and highlighted the uniqueness of each State. The National Park Quarters series may draw in new collectors as well. The series will also keep Americans looking at their change and teach them about our National Parks.
Another point of support is the potential for the government to earn money from the program through seiginorage. This represents the difference between the cost to produce coins and their value. When the public removes coins from circulation and retains them, it generates extra earnings since the US Mint must produce additional coins to replace them. The US Mint has estimated that the prior 50 State Quarters Program generated between $2.7 and $2.9 billion of extra earnings which were transferred to the Treasury General Fund.
Opponents of the National Park Quarters series state that the concept of constantly changing reverse designs for our coinage has been overused. Following the success of the 50 State Quarters Program, the concept has been used for the cent, nickel, another series of quarters, and two series of dollar coins. For 2009, there will actually be more coins featuring rotating designs that coins with static designs.
Opponents have also cited a potential oversupply of numismatic product created by the continually expanding coin programs. Next year, there will be a total of 18 different circulating coin designs produced. This will include four different 2009 Lincoln Cents, the Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington DC Quarter, five US Territories Quarters, four Presidential Dollars, and one Native American Dollar. Collectors may soon grow weary of the constantly expanding scope of our national coinage.
Regardless of opinions, the National Park Quarters series is now a reality. Look for the first coins in 2010.
Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Find more information on the National Park Quarters or stay up to date with the latest news and products from the US Mint.
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