The America the Beautiful (ATB) bullion program from the United States Mint is a one-of-a-kind program that honors America’s National Parks and important national sites for each state and U.S. territory. This series is a popular choice with collectors, partly because of its uniqueness and what it honors. There are 56 National Parks and other important national sites. Millions of people visit them every year. The ATB program includes circulating quarters and the uniquely sized accompanying 5 oz silver coin, which are the largest silver bullion coins ever issued by the U.S. Mint. It is important to note that this bullion program differs from the 50 States quarters.
How are the designs chosen for the coins? A specialized process ensures each coin captures the spirit and unique design of every coin within the program. At the time, the Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, chose each America the Beautiful coin design through a collaborative process with multiple government organizations, including the United States Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Background of the America the Beautiful Coin Program
The America the Beautiful coins series started in 2010 and ended in 2021 with all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories represented. With the quarters and accompanying 5 oz silver coin, buyers can own a bullion item with a piece of history necessary to each state. The following America the Beautiful coins are available:
2010: Arkansas, Wyoming, California, Arizona and Oregon
2011: Pennsylvania, Montana, Washington, Mississippi and Oklahoma
2012: Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska
2013: New Hampshire, Ohio, Nevada, Maryland and South Dakota
2014: Tennessee, Virginia, Utah, Colorado and Florida
2015: Nebraska, Louisiana, North Carolina, Delaware and New York
2016: Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Dakota and South Carolina
2017: Iowa, District of Columbia, Missouri, New Jersey, Indiana
2018: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Georgia and Rhode Island
2019: Massachusetts, Guam, Texas, Idaho, and the Northern Mariana Islands
2020: American Samoa, Connecticut, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, and Kansas
2021: Alabama
The Process of Selecting the Design
At the time, the Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, was responsible for the design selection and approval process for each coin’s designs according to the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Series Act of 2008. Each host jurisdiction’s governor or chief executive was consulted, along with former Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar.
Each coin was designed and released chronologically according to the established date of the national park sites. How were the sites chosen?
The United States Mint initiated the coin design process by formally requesting each host jurisdiction’s chief executive to identify up to three national sites from a provided list. The Mint then consulted with the Secretary of the Interior to confirm these sites’ historical significance and establishment dates. Finally, the Secretary of the Treasury determined the release order for each quarter and the corresponding silver bullion coin.
The obverse side of the coin pays homage to the 1932 image of President George Washington, designed by artist John Flanagan.
The reverse of each coin depicts the national site’s most notable features. Who designed each America the Beautiful coin?
A talented artist carefully created each site design in the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. Typically, 3-5 designs were submitted for each coin. The line art for the designs was then reviewed by the United States Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. Finally, the U.S. Mint Director recommended the review redesigns to the Treasury Secretary, who ultimately decided on the design. The Mint’s sculptor-engravers then engraved the coins.
