New quarter celebrates the natural and cultural resources of Kisatchie National Forest
On Wednesday, April 22, representatives from the United States Mint and the United States Forest Service celebrated the official launch of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin honoring Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana.
The coin’s reverse (tails side) design features a wild turkey in flight over blue stem grass with long leaf pine in the background. Inscriptions are “KISATCHIE,” “LOUISIANA,” “2015,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
“As a Louisiana native, I am especially honored to be here to introduce the Kisatchie National Forest Quarter to the Nation,” said B.B. Craig, Associate Director for Environment, Safety, and Health for the United States Mint. “I know from first-hand experience that Kisatchie National Forest has many adventures and recreational activities to enjoy. With all its beauty and all that it has to offer, it’s easy to see why Kisatchie National Forest was chosen to represent the state of Louisiana.”
Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana and spans over 600,000 acres in seven central and north Louisiana parishes. Jim Caldwell, Public Affairs, Recreation, Heritage, and Administration Staff Officer at the site said, “We hope the Kisatchie National Forest quarter will inspire Louisianans to get outdoors and explore their national forest.”
Additional speakers included Tom Tidwell, Chief of the United States Forest Service; Tony Tooke, Regional Forester of the United States Forest Service; Eddie Taylor, supervisor of Kisatchie National Forest; Col. T. Glenn Moore, United States Army Garrison Commander for the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La.; and B. Cheryl Smith, Chief of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians. More than 850 schoolchildren were on hand for the event, which culminated in an exchange of coin rolls containing circulating quality Kisatchie National Forest quarters.
The public may purchase collectible bags and rolls of circulating finish Kisatchie National Forest quarters via the bureau’s online catalog at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters/ and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).
The Kisatchie National Forest quarter is the 27th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverse (tails side) of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins. The United States Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established. The final coin in the Program will be released in 2021.
About the United States Mint
The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792 and became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. It is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. The United States Mint’s numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
A digital image of the Kisatchie National Forest quarter is available at http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=photo#AmericaTheBeautiful.
Information about Kisatchie National Forest is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/kisatchie.
Additional information about the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program is available at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/atb/.
For information about the United States Mint, please visit http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/.
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