The 2020-21 America the Beautiful Quarters is part of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Silver Proof Set series and the 11th and final set to be released. This is a six coin release, five in 2020 and one in 2021.
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 2020 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) or Denver (D).
The 2020 America the Beautiful Quarters set features the following National sites:
- National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa
- Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut
- Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama
National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa is the most remote of the US National parks, being some 2.600 miles southwest of Hawaii. The site include three islands called Tutuila, Ta’ū, and Ofu. The 13,500 acres of land (4,000 of it under water) consists of volcanic islands, mountains and tropical rainforests.
The Reverse shows a Samoan Fruit Bat mother with a pub.
Release Date: 03-Feb-2020
Mints: D, P
Designer: Richard Masters
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut
The Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut includes a 60-acre cultural landscape consisting of 15 historic structures (houses, barns, studios, and outbuildings). The artistic tradition at Weir Farm is through a variety of Art in the Park programs, including an artist-in-residence program, free art supplies, night painting, and art lessons.
The reverse shows an artist, wearing a painter’s smock, painting outside Julian Alden Weir’s studio at Weir Farm.
Release Date: 06-Apr-2020
Mints: D, P
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, Sculptor-Engraver
Designer: Justin Kunz, Artistic Infusion Program
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, U.S. Virgin Islands
Salt River Bay National Historical Park is a living museum on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a 2,000 years old ecosystem that supports many threatened and endangered species.
The reverse design shows a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle, as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the park’s endangered mangrove forests.
Release Date: 01-Jun-2020
Mints: D, P
Sculptor: Joseph Menna, Sculptor-Engraver
Designer: Richard Masters, Artistic Infusion Program
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont
The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont, and is the only national park dedicated to telling the story of conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. It was the boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, one of America’s first conservationists, and later the home of Frederick Billings. The property was given to the American people by its most recent owners, Laurance S. and Mary French Rockefeller.
The Reverse shows a young girl (represents the conservationist) the planting of a Norway spruce seedling near an established tree, continuing the life cycle of the forest.
Release Date: 31-Aug-2020
Mints: D, P
Sculptor: Michael Gaudioso, Sculptor-Engraver
Designer: Donna Weaver, Artistic Infusion Program
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas has about 11,000 acres and located in the heart of the Flint Hills–the largest expanse of tallgrass prairie left in North America. Besides being a tallgrass prairie, a portion of the preserve is still grazed by cattle.
The reverse shows a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, common in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
Release Date: 16-Nov-2020
Mints: D, P
Sculptor: Renata Gordon, Sculptor-Engraver
Designer: Emily Damstra, Artistic Infusion Program
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama
The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama commemorates the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The term ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ pertains to heroes, both men and women of diverse nationalities. They were composed of nearly 1,000 pilots and more than 15,000 support staff (including navigators, bombardiers, and mechanics). The site preserves five historic structures used during primary flight training in World War II.
The reverse shows a Tuskegee Airman pilot suiting up to join the fight during World War II with the Moton Field control tower in the background. Two P-51 Mustangs pass overhead. The inscription ‘THEY FOUGHT TWO WARS’ is arced across the top as a reference to the dual battles the Tuskegee Airmen fought – fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home.
Release Date: 01-Feb-2021
Mints: D, P
Sculptor: Phebe Hemphill, Sculptor-Engraver
Designer: Chris Costello, Artistic Infusion Program