2018 America the Beautiful Quarters is part of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Silver Proof Set series and was the 9th set to be released. The US Mint launched the series in 2010 to commemorate the most cherished National Parks and other National sites. Each year 5 quarters of different designs are minted and released as both Proof and Uncirculated. The series consists of 56 coins and runs from 2010 until 2021 inclusive.
Each obverse of the 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters shows John Flanagan’s 1932 portrait of George Washington. Each coin is 90% silver and weighs 6.25g with a diameter of 24.3mm (0.955 inches) and are available as Uncirculated or Proof. The edge is reeded. Coins are minted in either Philadelphia (P), Denver (D) or San Francisco (S).
The 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters set features the following National sites:
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Voyageurs National Park
- Cumberland Island National Seashore
- Block Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan is a park that runs 40 miles along the coast of Lake Superior. It was originally called our first national lakeshore when it was established in 1966. The lakeside has 200 foot sandstone cliffs, sand dunes and beaches and the area is bordered with hardwood forests, streams and lakes. Wildlife includes black bears, deers, bald eagles and porcupines.
The coin shows the Chapel Rock with a white pine on top.
Sculptor: Michael Gaudioso, Sculptor-engraver.
Designer: Paul Balan, Artistic Infusion Program.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was established in 1970 and includes includes 21 islands in Lake Superior and a 12-mile-long strip of mainland shoreline encompassing more than 69,000 acres. It has sand beaches, caves old forests, a number of lighthouses and many aquatic species and birds.
The reserve of the coins shows the sea caves at Devil’s island with a lighthouse in the background and a kayak in the foreground.
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, Sculptor-engraver
Designer: Richard Masters, Artistic Infusion Program
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
The Voyageurs National Park is more than 218,000 acres of shoreline, islands and lakes. It has 84,000 acres of water. Wildlife consists of black bears, loons, moose, wolves and bald eagles.
The reverse shows a common loon with a rock cliff in the background.
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, Sculptor-engraver
Designer: Patricia Morris, Artistic Infusion Program
Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Established in 1972, Georgia’s Cumberland Island National Seashore has almost 18 miles of quality beach for swimming and walking. It has one of the largest oak maritime forests remaining in the U.S.
The coin reverse shows a snowy egret (which is a small white heron) with it’s wings stretched on the edge of a salt marsh.
Sculptor: Don Everhart, Sculptor-engraver
Designer: Donna Weaver, Artistic Infusion Program
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, Rhode Island
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 133 acres site located 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island. It is a major site for birds.
The reverse shows a black-crowned night-heron flying over a view from the beach at Cow Cove looking towards Sandy Point with the North Light lighthouse in the background.
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, Sculptor-engraver
Designer: Chris Costello, Artistic Infusion Program
See other posts on USA Quarters