News Release, September 9, 2009 - United States Mint, Department of the Treasury Announcement

Immediate Release                                              For more information:
September 9, 2009                                                Carolyn Fields (202) 354-7222

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge to be Featured in
United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters™  Program

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint announced today that Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware will be honored through its new quarter-dollar program.  The Bombay Hook design will be the 28th to be featured on coins released under the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, and will be issued in 2015.

Since 1937, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge has hosted hundreds of thousands of migrating ducks, geese, shorebirds, and neotropical songbirds in their spring and fall migrations. Tired and hungry between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, they seek shelter at Bombay Hook and feast on marsh grasses, fish, and other important foods before continuing their flight. Bombay Hook’s 16,000 acres include freshwater pools, swamps, upland forests, agricultural fields, and one of the largest unaltered tidal salt marshes in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program is a multi-year initiative authorized by Public Law 110-456 — the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008.  The act directs the United States Mint to strike and issue 56 circulating quarter-dollars with reverse (tails side) designs emblematic of a national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.  The quarters will be issued sequentially each year, in the order in which the featured site was first established as a national park or site.  The coins’ obverse (heads) will feature the familiar “restored” 1932 portrait of George Washington, including subtle details and the beauty of the original model. 

The complete National Site Registry, which lists all 56 sites to be honored under the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program in chronological order by year, is available at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/NSQuartersProgram/?action=siteRegister.

“These new quarters will honor some of our most revered, treasured and beautiful national sites – majestic and historic places located throughout the United States and its territories that truly make us ‘America the Beautiful,’” United States Mint Director Ed Moy said.  “The designs will help reinvigorate interest in our national parks, forests and wildlife refuges and educate the public about their importance to us and history.”

Beginning today, customers may sign up to receive the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters released each year through several new Online Subscription Programs – a two-roll set  (one roll of 40 coins with the “P” mint mark for Philadelphia and one roll of 40 coins with the “D” mint mark for Denver); 100-coin bag (P); 100-coin bag (D); two 100-coin bags (P and D); 1,000-coin bag (P); 1,000-coin bag (D); two 1,000-coin bags (P and D); United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set™; and United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set™, with the five coins struck in 90 percent silver.   

To place subscription orders for these products, visit the United States Mint Web site at www.usmint.gov/catalog or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).  Prices for these products have not yet been established.  However, similar product prices are $32.95 each for the two-roll sets and 100-coin bags; $309.95 each for the 1,000-coin bags; $65.90 each for the two 100-coin bags; $619.90 each for the two 1,000-coin bags; $14.95 for the proof set; and $29.95 for the silver proof set. 

Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner approved the list of sites recommended by the United States Mint on August 25, 2009, after consultation with the governor or other chief executive of each host jurisdiction and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Additionally, under the United States Mint America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin™ Program, the United States Mint will strike and offer for sale silver bullion coins that are duplicates of the quarters.  The bullion coins, to be struck in .999 fine silver, will be three inches in diameter and weigh five ounces.  The fineness and weight will be edge-incused.

For more information about the Untied States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, please visit http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/NSQuartersProgram/index.cfm.

Created by Congress in 1792, The United States Mint is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage.  Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce.  The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and gold, silver and platinum bullion coins.

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