| Coin | Quarter Dollar 2012 El Yunque National Forest |
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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 El Yunque National Forest quarter is the first to be released in 2012 and the eleventh overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program; it was released on 23 January 2012 and represents Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States.
El Yunque National Forest, located in Puerto Rico, is the sole tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Despite the forest’s relatively small 28,000-acre size, it is significant for its immense biodiversity and is popular with visitors for its year-round tropical climate. More than 1 million visitors from all over the world visit the forest each year to sample its eco-tourism pleasures while developing a greater understanding of its ecological importance by walking along the many beautiful trails. It was first established as a national site on January 17, 1903 (32 Stat. 2029).
El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico) Quarter Dollars issued in 2012 have now been in circulation for 11 years. |
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| Obverse | |
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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 | |
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The reverse design depicts a Coqui tree frog sitting on a leaf and a Puerto Rican parrot behind an epiphyte plant, with tropical flora in the background. The Puerto Rican parrot is a highly endangered species unique to Puerto Rico, and its recovery began with the few birds left in El Yunque.
Around above, the inscription EL YUNQUE. Around below left, PUERTO RICO.
The initials of the designer GW (for Gary Whitley) are on the leaf below left; the initials of the sculptor, MG (for Michael Gaudioso), are on the base of the plant below right.
The date of issue 2012 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 coins for collectors, not released into circulation: 2,689,601 in copper-nickel and 557,891 in silver. The other two mints only struck circulation coins.
Beginning with the El Yunque (Puerto Rico) design in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, the U.S. Mint began selling (at a premium) uncirculated 40-coin rolls and 100-coin bags of quarters with the San Francisco mint mark. These coins are not included in the 2012 uncirculated sets or the three-coin ATB quarter sets (which consist of an uncirculated "P" and "D" and proof "S" specimen) and no "S" mint-marked quarters are being released into circulation, so that mintages are determined solely by direct demand for the "S" mint-marked coins. |
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