Image credit: United States Mint; composite: CoinWeek
The United States Mint joined the National Park Service (NPS) today to officially launch the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
The coin’s reverse design features John Brown’s Fort, the site of John Brown’s last stand during his raid on the Harpers Ferry Armory.
“This new coin serves as a reminder that at a river-crossing established long before our country’s struggle for independence, in a West Virginia town that played an integral role in our nation’s Civil War, a diverse number of people and events came together to influence the course of our common history,” said William Norton, United States Mint Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Basketball Olympic Gold Medalist Vicky Bullett served as master of ceremonies for the event held at Lower Town located within the site. Additional participants included United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer Thomas Hipschen, the coin’s designer; NPS Regional Director Bob Vogel; Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Superintendent Rebecca Harriett; Keith McIntosh on behalf of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III (D-WV); Chris Strovel on behalf of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV); and Dr. Steve Smoot on behalf of U.S. Representative Alex Mooney (R-WV2).
The ceremony culminated in the Mint’s customary coin exchange in which the public traded their cash for $10 rolls of newly minted Harpers Ferry National Historical Park quarters. The Mint also hosted a coin forum the evening before the launch ceremony, where local residents gathered to express their views about future coinage and learn about upcoming Mint coin programs and initiatives.
The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park quarter is the 33rd release in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, a 12-year initiative authorized by Public Law 110-456 to honor 56 national parks and other national sites. Each year, five new national sites are depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The United States Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
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.
