Coin | Quarter Dollar 2010 Yosemite National Park |
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The Quarter Dollar is a United States coin worth 25 cents. It has been produced on and off since 1796 and consistently since 1831. From its inception until 1964, the denomination was issued in silver; it underwent several design changes, including finally the silver Washington quarter (1932 - 1964) featuring the first President of the United States on the obverse and the American Eagle clutching a bunch of arrows on the reverse. Initially meant as a one-year design to commemorate 200 years since the birth of George Washington in 1932, the obverse became the definitive design for the denomination and has been used ever since. The reverse was issued in this form until 1998, after which time a large number of circulating commemoratives started being issued instead; the State Quarters series of 50 coins featuring each State was issued from 1999 to 2008; in 2009, a six-coin series represented the District of Columbia and five US territories.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program (abbreviated ATB) running from 2010 until 2021 was then introduced; it is a 56 quarter-dollar coin series featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites in each state, federal district or territory.
The Yosemite National Park quarter is the third of 2010 and the third overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program; it was released on 26 July 2010. Yosemite National Park in California, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles are deep valleys, grand meadows and ancient giant sequoias. It was first established as a national site on 1 October 1890 (26 Stat. 650).
Yosemite National Park (California) Quarter Dollars issued in 2010 have now been in circulation for 15 years. |
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Obverse | |
At its centre, the obverse of the coin shows the portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States (1789 - 1797), facing left. He has long hear, tied below the neck with a ribbon.
The designer's initials JF (for John Flanagan) are in relief on the neck truncation, followed by those of the engraver: WC (for William Cousins).
To the left of the portrait, the inscription LIBERTY. On three lines to the right, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Around above, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around below, the value and denomination in words: QUARTER DOLLAR.
The mint mark is a small letter behind George Washington's neck.
Mint marks this year are D, P or S for Denver Mint, Philadelphia Mint or San Francisco Mint respectively. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin depicts the iconic El Capitan, which rises more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor and is the largest monolith of granite in the world. The initials of the designer JFM (for Joseph Menna) are below left; the initials of the engraver PH (for Phebe Hemphill) are in the ground below right.
Around above, the inscription YOSEMITE. Around below left, the name of the state, CALIFORNIA.
The date of issue 2010 is below, followed by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of many, one" - signifying unity in diversity). |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Authorising Legislation: Public Law 110-456.
The San Francisco Mint only struck proof coins for collectors, not released into circulation: 1,400,215 in copper-nickel and 859,435 in silver.
The other two mints issued both circulation coins and "Satin Finish" coins for collectors. Their mintages were: - Denver Mint: 34,800,000 circulation coins plus 583,897 in "Satin Finish" - Philadelphia Mint: 35,200,000 circulation coins plus 583,897 in "Satin Finish" |
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