United States Mint to Launch Mount Rushmore Quarter November 6

Date: October 29, 2013
Contact: Maureen McGee-Ballinger, 605-574-3115

Keystone, S.D. – Join officials from the United States Mint and the National Park Service for the official launch of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial quarter on November 6, 2013. The ceremony will take place at the National Guard Armory in Custer, 527 Montgomery Street, South Dakota, at 10 a.m. Mountain Time (MT). Highlights of the free event include release of the new quarter, a coin exchange where the public can swap their cash for $10 rolls of the new Mount Rushmore National Memorial quarter, and the opportunity to purchase uncirculated Mount Rushmore quarter sets.

The evening before the launch ceremony — Tuesday, November 5, at 5:30 p.m. (MT) — the United States Mint will host a coin forum at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Carver’s Café. The coin forum is an opportunity for the public to express their views about future coinage, and to learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives.

Inspiration for the coin’s reverse design was drawn from photos of men putting the final details to Thomas Jefferson's face. This is the 20th coin in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, the United States Mint’s multi-year initiative to honor our national parks and other national sites.

"This new quarter reflects our continued fascination with the majestic Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the enduring legacies of the four leaders whose faces have become one with the Black Hills," said David Croft, Acting Associate Director for Manufacturing at the United States Mint.

On the same day, the United States Mint will begin accepting orders for collectible bags and rolls of coins with the Mount Rushmore National Memorial design struck at its facilities in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The bureau is accepting orders for these products at its online catalog, http://www.usmint.gov/catalog, and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

The bureau is administering the America the Beautiful Quarters Program in accordance with Public Law 110-456, the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. Each year until 2020, five new quarters will be released with reverse designs representing the honored national sites. The final coin in the program will be released in 2021. The quarters are being issued in the order in which the honored site was established.

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 the taxpayer.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Free lesson plans based on the America Beautiful Quarters Program are available at http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/.
• Digital images of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial quarter are available at http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=photo#AmericaTheBeautiful.
• Information about Mount Rushmore National Memorial is available at https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm.
• Information about the United States Mint is available at http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/.
• To subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases and public statements, visit http://www.usmint.gov/email/?action=EmailUpdates.
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