Kisatchie National Forest Quarter Launch Ceremony Highlights

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On Wednesday, April 22, 2015, representatives from the National Forest Service and the United States Mint officially introduced the new Kisatchie quarter to the public.

Kisatchie National Forest Quarter Ceremony Photos
Kisatchie National Forest Quarter Ceremony Photos

Wednesday’s ceremony was held at the Alexandria Riverfront Center in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, which is about 30 minutes away from the national forest that is represented on the new coin’s design.

"We hope the Kisatchie National Forest quarter will inspire Louisianans to get outdoors and explore their national forest," said Jim Caldwell, Public Affairs Officer for Kisatchie National Forest.

Around 1,500 people attended the ceremony, including more than 850 schoolchildren who received one of new quarters for free.

Attendees at Kisatchie Quarter Launch Ceremony
Approximately 1,500 people filled the Alexandria Riverfront Center for the ceremonial launch of the Kisatchie National Forest quarter. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Students from the Caroline Dorman School
Students from the Caroline Dorman School tell the story of Louisiana’s famous author and horticulturist Caroline Dorman during the Kisatchie National Forest quarter launch. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Children hold their new Kisatchie National Forest quarter
Children hold their new Kisatchie National Forest quarters after the ceremonial launch. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Others swapped cash for $10 rolls of the new coin. Red River Bank exchanged $34,000 in quarters.

Rolls of Kisatchie National Forest Quarters
Attendees at the quarter ceremonial launch exchange their paper currency for rolls of new quarters. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Pile of Kisatchie National Forest Quarters
The quarter’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.

Special guests at the event 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.

Officials at Kisatchie National Forest Quarter Launch Ceremony
United States Mint associate director of environment, safety and health B.B. Craig presents Kisatchie National Forest quarters struck on the first day of production to U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell, Regional Forester Tony Tooke, and Kisatchie National Forest Supervisor Eddie Taylor during the launch ceremony in Alexandria, La., April 22, 2015. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell, staff director for public affairs, heritage and recreation at Kisatchie National Forest, greets the people gathered for the ceremony. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

In other ceremony highlights, the Pineville High School Choir performed and the Leesville High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors.

Pineville High School Choir at Quarter Launch Ceremony
The Pineville High School Choir performs America the Beautiful during the ceremony. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

Leesville High School JROTC Color Guard
The Leesville High School JROTC Color Guard presents the colors at the Kisatchie National Forest quarter launch ceremony. U.S. Mint photo by Sharon McPike.

On Monday, April 20, the U.S. Mint started selling Kisatchie quarters in single rolls, 2-roll sets, 3-roll sets and 100-coin bags at prices ranging from $18.95 to $34.95. It is the second of five quarters for 2015 and the twenty-seventh from the Mint’s series of America the Beautiful Quarters. The series, which started in 2010, is a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites throughout the United States and its territories.

For more photos of the event, see the United States Mint’s Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/129211989@N07/sets/72157651662446407/.

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Vadim

You know, banks are not getting these coins anymore. I’ve asked 3 different banks and I hear same story. I think US Mint raised the limit of how much of these coins can any bank get. What do you say people?

anne

Welcome to the club. I’ve been trying to collect uncirculated rolls of these almost since inception. Very difficult to find in circulation. They’re not like the States’ quarters. I’m in Boston, MA. fyi