Yosemite National Park Quarter
The third 2010 coin to be issued in the America the Beautiful State Quarters Program is the Yosemite National Park Quarter. Probably best known for its waterfalls, Yosemite in California also offers abundant wildlife, amazing scenery, ancient giant sequoias and much, much more.
Yosemite National Park Quarter, Design Candidate CA-01 - Click to Enlarge |
Yosemite National Park Quarter, Design Candidate CA-02 - Click to Enlarge |
Yosemite National Park Quarter, Design Candidate CA-03 - Click to Enlarge |
Yosemite National Park Quarter, Design Candidate CA-04 - Click to Enlarge |
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) along with the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) both have the responsibility of recommending a design for all of the new quarters. Several designs options, shown above, were presented to both groups and include scenes of Yosemite’s Bridalveil Fall, one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, the famous Half Dome granite cliff and the granite cliff called El Capitan.
The CCAC preferred and chose design CA-03 depicting El Capitan. The CFA selected design candidate CA-04 which depicts the granite Half Dome, but did recommended adjustments. Following potential changes by the US Mint, the recommendations are forwarded to the United States Secretary of the Treasury who makes the final selection.
As the third issue in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, the Yosemite coin will be released around the middle of 2010, with no firm date yet scheduled. It will follow the Hot Springs National Park quarter and the Yellowstone National Park Quarter. The two sites to be featured in 2010 after the Yosemite coin are Grand Canyon National Park and Mount Hood National Forest.
Yosemite National Park information
Yosemite Falls at Yosemite National Park (NPS Photo) - Click to Enlarge
The unique landscape of Yosemite is the work of millions of years of natural forces. Around 10 million years ago, the area was uplifted and tilted which formed the relatively gentle slope of the land. Then around 1 million years ago giant glaciers started to contour the massive valleys out of the granite hills.
Native Americans were known to frequent the area for many years before the Mariposa Battalion first entered it in 1851. Based on their impressive accounts, other visitors started to arrive.
Intent on protecting the area, concerned citizens lobbied the United States Congress which passed the Yosemite Grant which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. In setting aside the land for public use, the grant paved the way for the creation of the first national park in Yellowstone less than a decade later.
Unfortunately, the Yosemite Grant failed to protect the area as much as supporters had hoped because it left control of the area to the State of California. Powerless to evict homesteaders, the board controlling Yosemite achieved little to aid the fragile area.
Finally, in the early 1900’s, naturalist John Muir camped with President Theodore Roosevelt near Glacier Point during which he extolled the virtues of Yosemite. Roosevelt agreed and in 1906 he signed a bill placing Yosemite under the control of the federal government.
Today, an estimated 3.5 million annual visitors enjoy the benefits the park has to offer. Most only spend time in Yosemite Valley enjoying the granite El Capitan and the more famous Half Dome. However, the park features much more scenery, with over 95% of it designated wilderness. Wildlife runs abundant and Yosemite is also home to groves of ancient giant sequoias.