2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Ceremonies

The three remaining dates for the ceremonial releases of the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters™ are now available, having been published by the United States Mint with the suggestion that Americans consider including the locations and launches as part of their vacations plans. "We hope families across the country will join us," said U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy.

Already released into circulation this year were the quarters honoring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The next three quarter ceremony launches will occur at and on:

• Yosemite National Park – Thursday, July 29, 11:00 AM Pacific Time, Valley Visitor’s Center, Yosemite Village Loop, Yosemite, California.

• Grand Canyon National Park – Tuesday, September 21, 1:00 PM, grounds adjacent to El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon, Arizona.

• Mount Hood National Forest – Wednesday, November 17, 10:00 AM, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Oregon.

At each of these events, the Mint will give a free quarter to children 18 and younger, while offering adults the opportunity to swap paper money for rolls of new quarter-dollars through special coin exchanges.

These quarters are available in two America the Beautiful Quarters silver products, including the already released 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set and the upcoming August 26 issuance of the 2010 United States Mint Silver Proof Set (See silver proof set information here.)

The first quarters-only product contains each of the five 2010 quarters struck in 90 percent silver with proof finishes. The second set contains the same silver quarters, plus proof versions of the other circulating 2010 coins, for 14 in total. The Kennedy Half Dollar and the Roosevelt Dime are also minted in 90 percent silver.

The ceremonies are also a reminder of the upcoming America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Coins. The bullion silver coins are exact duplicates of the 25-cent pieces, with the exception of their dimensions and edge inscriptions. At 3 inches in diameter, they are nearly double the size of the American Silver Eagle. Their edges will include the .999 fineness and 5 ounce weight inscriptions.

The Mint has not provide their official release time, only saying the first one will debut later this summer with the remaining following in equal intervals throughout 2010. As bullion coins, only authorized dealers will be able to purchase them directly from the Mint. These buyers will then resell the coins to the public for a small premium over the cost of their precious metal content. In essence, just like the bullion versions of the American Silver Eagles.

The authorizing law also enabled the National Park Service (NPS) to purchase quantities of the coins, and resell them. To date, no announcements have been made regarding the NPS plans, if any, to offer them.

The 2011 versions are expected to be released around the same time as their quarter counterparts. For more information on the new quarter series, see sister site America the Beautiful Quarters.