Release dates have been announced for the U.S. Mint to release in 2020 through the Federal Reserve the 51st through 55th America the Beautiful quarter dollars.
The quarter dollars to be issued will recognize national parks or historic sites in American Samoa, Connecticut, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont and Kansas.
America's National Park Quarters (2010-2021) National Park Quarters – celebrating the beauty of America Following up on the wild success of America's 1999-2008 Statehood Quarter program and one-year D.C. Territories quarters program, the U.S. Mint introduced the National Park Quarter series in 2010. 2020 National Park Quarters P& D Yearly Uncirculated coin All 5 sets 10 Coins. 2019 S CLAD National Park Quarters Proof Set No Box.
2020-W Privy Mark America the Beautiful Quarters The 2020-W V75 Privy Mark National Park Quarters celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the ending of World War II. There are only two million coins produced for each of the five releases for 2020, many of which will end up in circulation leaving less brilliant uncirculated coins in existence.
2021 will close out the 12-year, 56-coin program with a quarter dollar recognizing Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama releasing Fe. 1, 2021.
The release dates into circulation are Feb. 3, 2020, for the National Park of American Samoa; April 6, 2020, for Weir Farm National Historic Site; June 1, 2020, for Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve; Aug. 31, 2020, for Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park; and Nov. 16, 2020, for Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
Designs
U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Richard Masters designed and Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill sculpted the National Park of American Samoa coin.
Masters’ design, according to the Mint narrative, “depicts a Samoan fruit bat mother hanging in a tree with her pup. The image evokes the remarkable care and energy that this species puts into their offspring. The design is intended to promote awareness to the species’ threatened status due to habitat loss and commercial hunting.”
“The National Park of American Samoa is the only park in the United States that is home to the Samoan fruit bat.”
The Weir Farm National Historic Site coin was designed by AIP artist Justin Kunz and sculpted by Hemphill. The design “portrays an artist, wearing a painter’s smock, painting outside Julian Alden Weir’s studio at Weir Farm. It is inspired by various images of the studio and Weir’s paintings created on the property, as well as descriptions of Weir and his fellow artist’s creative inspiration from the rural environment,” according to the Mint.
The Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve quarter dollar reverse design is by Masters and sculpted by Mint Chief Engraver Joseph F. Menna.
The design, according to the Mint’s narrative, “depicts a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle, as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the park’s endangered mangrove forests and the unique and delicate nature of how the species reproduces in salt water.”
Donna Weaver, an AIP aritst and retired Mint sculptor-engraver, designed the reverse for the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park quarter dollar, with the sculpting by Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso.
The design, according to the Mint, “depicts a young girl completing the planting of a Norway spruce seedling near an established tree, continuing the life cycle of the forest. The child represents the conservationist, seeking to maintain a sustainable forest for future enjoyment and education.”
AIP artist Emily S. Damstra designed the reverse for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve quarter dollar. Damstra’s design was sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon.
Damstra’s design “depicts a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, iconic to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.”
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2020 National Park Quarters Release Dates
By Office of Corporate Communications
February 18, 2020
In this video, U.S. Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill discusses her work on the National Park of American Samoa Quarter.
On February 13, 2020, the U.S. Mint released a quarter honoring the National Park of American Samoa in Utulei, American Samoa. The quarter is the first release of 2020 and the 51st release of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.
Despite the tropical downpour, the quarter launch ceremony was attended by approximately 800 people, including 500 children. The ceremony included cultural performances by local students. Following the launch ceremony, the Territorial Bank of American Samoa exchanged $7,000 in quarters.
The National Park of American Samoa Quarter features a Samoan fruit bat mother hanging in a tree with her pup, evoking the remarkable care and energy that the species puts into their offspring. The design promotes awareness to the species’ threatened status due to habitat loss and commercial hunting. The National Park of American Samoa is the only park in the United States that is home to the Samoan fruit bat.
“This is the first time a bat has been featured on a U.S. coin,” said Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill. “It’s a kind of a neat little texture on the skin on the wing itself, so it was a really fun sculpt to do, especially the eyes. I used some interesting sculpture techniques for the eyes. I had a lot of fun sculpting it.”
Located some 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii, National Park of American Samoa is one of the most remote in the U.S. National Park System. The site includes sections of three volcanic islands: Tutuila, Ta’ū, and Ofu. The park’s area totals 13,500 acres, 4,000 of which are underwater. Almost all of the land area is tropical rainforest.
2020 National Park Quarters Price
Additional Resources
Lesson Plans
2020 National Park Quarters Images
Looking for ideas or resources related to the American Samoa and Samoan fruit bats? Check out our free lesson plans:
- Discovering the Role of the Fruit Bat (Grades 3-5): Students will learn about the fruit bat, its role in the ecosystem of the American Samoa, and design and play a game about fruit bats.
- Patterning in the Pacific (Grades K-1): Students will identify, understand, and create simple patterns.
- Trading Traditions (Grades 2-3): Students will identify the purpose and duties of an orator. Students will identify and share personal family traditions.
- In with the Imports (Grades 4-6): Students will understand exporting and importing. Students will be able to recognize where resources are located, who needs them, and how they are transported. Students will understand interdependence in the production of goods and services.
2020 National Park Quarters Gold
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