The United States Mint kicked off August by unveiling the final reverse designs for its 2018-dated America the Beautiful Quarters® and counterpart America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Coins.
2018 marks the ninth year of coins commemorating national parks and other national sites in the United States and its territories. Issued at a rate of five each year, these latest designs are the 41st through 45th of the 56 scheduled. The year’s coins celebrate:
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan,
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin,
- Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota,
- Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, and
- Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
Release dates for the 2017 America the Beautiful Quarters and five-ounce silver coins have not been announced but they will be issued in intervals throughout the year.
Design Images of the Reverses
U.S. Mint-published line art images and brief descriptions of the five designs that will appear on the reverse or tails side of the quarters and companion coins are below. They were selected from among over four dozen candidate designs.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan)
The design depicts Chapel Rock and the white pine tree that grows atop with the inscriptions "PICTURED ROCKS," "MICHIGAN," "2018" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Paul C. Balan designed this reverse and Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso sculpted it.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin)
The design shows the sea caves at Devils Island with the lighthouse in the background and a kayaker paddling in the foreground. Inscriptions are "APOSTLE ISLANDS," "WISCONSIN," "2018" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
AIP Designer Richard Masters designed this reverse and Mint Sculptor-Engraver Renata Gordon sculpted it.
Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
The design depicts a common loon with a rock cliff in the background and the inscriptions "VOYAGEURS," "MINNESOTA," "2018" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
AIP Designer Patricia Lucas-Morris designed this reverse and Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna sculpted it.
Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia)
The design shows a snowy egret perched on a branch on the edge of a salt marsh, ready for flight. Inscriptions are "CUMBERLAND ISLAND," "GEORGIA," "2018" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
AIP Designer Donna Weave designed this reverse and former Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart sculpted it.
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge (Rhode Island)
The design depicts a black-crowned night-heron flying over a view from the beach at Cow Cove looking towards Sandy Point. The North Lighthouse is seen in the background. Inscriptions are "BLOCK ISLAND," "RHODE ISLAND," "2018" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
AIP Designer Chris Costello designed this reverse and Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.
Obverse Design
America the Beautiful coinage share the same obverse design, a portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. This image has been on quarter-dollars since 1932. The portrait underwent digital enhancements in 2010 to bring out more of the beauty of the original model.
Finally some great designs. First time in awhile I will be buying some 5 oz coins.
THey’re nice, but birds seem to be the main theme. Lots of other critters abound, the nice Honu reverse was approved, what happened?
will these grow in value at all beyond the spot silver