Cumberland Island National Seashore to be Featured in United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters(TM) Program

/PRNewswire/ -- The United States Mint announced today that the nation will honor Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia through its new quarter-dollar coin program. The Cumberland Island design will be the 44th to be featured on coins released under the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, and will be issued in 2018.

Cumberland Island is Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Hiking in the pristine maritime forests, sunning on undeveloped beaches and bird watching in the wide marshes are among the favorite pastimes of island visitors. Cumberland Island contains four major historic districts and 87 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the oldest known ceramics in North America and shell middens from early natives. On Cumberland Island, you can follow the stories of both man and nature, and walk the paths of early natives, explorers, and wealthy industrialists. It was established as a national site in 1972.

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 mint and issue 56 circulating quarter-dollar coins 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 a restored version of the familiar 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, fish and wildlife refuges, and other national sites, as well as educate the public about their importance to us and our history."

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 chief executive of each host jurisdiction and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

"The America the Beautiful series demonstrates our nation's commitment to the legacy of conservation while celebrating its natural beauty," said Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios. "Like other commemorative coins, these quarters will be a valuable addition to the U.S. Mint's collection."

"Since our Nation's founding, our coins have celebrated American ideals such as liberty and justice, our rich history and heritage, and the great Presidents and other leaders who have guided us," Salazar said. "I am pleased that these new quarters will now celebrate America the Beautiful, the spectacular natural wonders that are found in our national parks, wildlife refuges and public lands."

"From Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon to White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, America's landscape is blessed with unmatched beauty," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who oversees the National Forest Service, said. "Our national forests are national treasures and honoring them is an important step in preserving them for future generations."

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