The United States Mint has been releasing quarters and 5 oz silver rounds in the America the Beautiful series since 2010. Five designs are released each year, with a total of 56 coins in the whole series (to be completed in 2021). These coins honor national parks and sites within the US states and territories.
Quarters have featured a portrait of George Washington, by John Flanagan, on the obverse since 1932. This design was given digital enhancements in 2010 to bring out more details from the original model.
The five annual designs for 2017—numbers 36 through 40—will be featured on the coins’ reverse. Let’s break down the designs and the history that lies in them.
Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa
Designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Renata Gordon, the Iowa design shows an aerial view of the mounds built by American Indians over 1,000 years ago. These mounds were created to commemorate deceased loved ones. Over 200 mounds are preserved at the national monument, which spreads across 2,500 acres. Visitors are welcome year-round to see the mounds in the Marching Bear group, pictured on this coin, along with many others.
Inscriptions on this coin read “EFFIGY MOUNDS,” “IOWA,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, DC
The coin for Washington, DC was designed by Thomas Hipschen and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, featuring Frederick Douglass seated at a writing desk in front of his home. Douglass was born into slavery and later escaped, after which he spent his life fighting for equal rights. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site welcomes visitors to tour Douglass’ home, known as Cedar Hill.
The inscriptions include “FREDERICK DOUGLASS,” “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri
With a design by Ronald D. Sanders and a sculpt by Gordon, Missouri’s coin depicts Alley Mill. This steel roller mill was built in 1894 and was used to convert wheat into flour. Also present are the two spring-fed rivers that flow through the area. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established in 1964 as the first national park to protect a wild river system. Visitors can tour the mill and see much of the original equipment, along with visiting the springs and caves in the area. It’s a prime location for hiking, kayaking, and other water sports.
This coin includes the inscriptions “OZARK RIVERWAYS,” “MISSOURI,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument) in New Jersey
Designed by Barbara Fox and sculpted by Hemphill, New Jersey’s coin features a family of immigrants coming to America through Ellis Island. The hospital building lies in the background. Ellis Island opened in 1892, and saw over 12 million immigrants pass through. In fact, approximately 40 percent of the current US population can trace their ancestry back to Ellis Island. In 1990, Ellis Island reopened as a museum after 30 years of abandonment.
Inscriptions on this coin read “ELLIS ISLAND,” “NEW JERSEY,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
George Rogers Clark National Historic Park in Indiana
Featuring a design by Frank Morris and a sculpt by Michael Gaudioso, the Indiana coin honors the site of an important moment in the Revolutionary War. George Rogers Clark, an American Colonel, marches with his men through the flooded plains to Fort Sackville in 1779, where they overthrew the British army residing there. This skirmish helped the US stake claim on an area nearly the size of the original thirteen states. Visitors to the park can learn about this historical event while viewing murals and the Clark Memorial.
The coin includes the inscriptions “GEORGE ROGERS CLARK,” “INDIANA,” “2017,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
If you’ve been collecting the quarters or silver rounds in the America the Beautiful series, you won’t want to miss the newest 2017 editions. Which design appeals most to you?
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