2013 America the Beautiful Quarters are the fourth set coins from the United States Mint quarters series that honors 56 American sites. The featured coins, and in the order they will be released for the year include:
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New Hampshire – 2013 White Mountain National Forest Site Quarter
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Ohio – 2013 Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Site Quarter
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Maryland – 2013 Fort McHenry Site Quarter
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South Dakota – 2013 Mount Rushmore National Memorial Site Quarter
Together, these five sites comprise the sixteenth to twentieth quarter dollars to be issued in the program which launched in 2010. According to the stipulations of the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 which authorized the series, five national parks or other national sites are honored annually throughout the run of the program from 2010-2021.
One site from each state, Washington, D.C. and the five US territories have been chosen for the program. These sites are all under the control of the federal government, which was a main qualification under the program. A majority are national parks, but national forests, national memorials, national recreations areas, etc. are all included to showcase the beauty of the lands of the United States.
The chosen site featured on each quarter is shown on the reverse with an image representative of that location. Final design selections for the year should be known in the first quarter of 2013.
More information on the 2013 America the Beautiful Quarters sites below:
White Mountain National Forest
White Mountain National Forest was initially established in 1918 and lies mostly in the state of New Hampshire (a small part of the forest is located in the state of Maine).
The forest lays claim to over 100 miles of the 2,000 mile plus scenic hiking path known as the Appalachian Trail, which starts in Maine and ends in Georgia. When in the White Mountain area, visitors are treated to a multitude of recreational activities in addition to hiking liking camping and skiing.
White Mountain also boasts proximity as a main feature claiming 60 million US residents are within a days drive of its borders.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
While it commemorates a battle, the memorial truly honors the concept of peace. The monument, touted as the world’s most massive doric column is located in Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
The column was originally constructed from 1912-1915 to commemorate the Battle of Lake Erie which occurred during the War of 1812 between the United States and the British empire. During the battle, nine US vessels successfully captured six British vessels insuring US control of Lake Erie.
Lasting peace was at the heart of the construction of the memorial. It celebrates the close bond between the United States, Great Britain and Canada that has occurred since the War of 1812.
Great Basin National Park
Consisting of 77,000 acres in Nevada, Great Basin National Park is located about 290 miles north of Las Vegas.
One of the best known features of the park, its limestone caverns, was also the reason for its initial federal protection when the Lehman Caves National Monument was created in 1922. The park also contains groves of ancient bristlecone pines.
Less than 100,000 visitors are estimated to visit the park annually making it an ideal getaway for those seeking some seclusion.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort McHenry, located in Maryland, is best known today for the role it played in the creation of perhaps the country’s most famous song, the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Written as a poem by Francis Scott Key, the song recalls the 25-hour bombardment of the fort by British war ships during the War of 1812. The US forces within the fort were able to fend of the British despite having inferior weapons and prevented the Baltimore Harbor from being invaded.
In the years since the War of 1812, the area has seen many different uses including a prison during the American Civil War, a hospital during World War I and a Coast Guard Base during World War II. Virtually no signs of these facilities remain today, with the fort still closely resembling the structure as it was during the War of 1812.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Located near Keystone, South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is considered one of the most iconic symbols of the United States.
Initial carving on the monument started in 1927 and did not end until 1941, with all but one season completed under the watchful eye of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Due to Gutzon’s death, the finishing touches were completed by his son (along with dozens of other workers.)
The memorial consists of the 60-foot faces of four of the nation’s best known Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt representing 150 years of the history of the United States.
Obverse Quarter Design
The obverse (heads) of each quarter-dollar still contains a portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. He has been seen on the coin since 1932, with a design by John Flanagan. William Cousins slightly modified that original design, and his version has been used since the 1999 introduction of the State Quarter series.
Massive 3-inch, 5-ounce silver bullion coins have also been authorized as companions to the quarter dollars. They will feature the same designs as those seen on the quarters, but be struck from .999 fine silver.
For the latest news on the series, see America the Beautiful Quarters News.
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