ATBs ready for 2012

Final designs for the five America the Beautiful quarters that will be issued in 2012 were released by the U.S. Mint Dec. 8.

The first new quarter of the new year will honor El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. It will depict a Coqui tree frog sitting on a leaf and a parrot behind an epiphyte plant, according to the Mint. It was designed by Gary Whitley, an Artistic Infusion master designer, and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso, a Mint sculptor-engraver.

The Chaco Culture National Historic Park of New Mexico will be represented on the second quarter of the year by what the Mint describes as a view to the west of two elevated kivas that are part of the Chetro Ketl Complex. AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver created it and it was executed by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

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Maine’s Arcadia National Park will be represented by Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. AIP Associate Designer Barbara Fox created it and it was sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.

The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park quarter will show an eruption on the east rift of Kilauea Volcano. Mint-Sculptor-Engraver Charles L. Vickers did both design and sculpture work.

Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve quarter will offer a Dall sheep with Mount McKinley in the background. It was designed by AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz.

The common obverse depicts John Flanagan’s George Washington. The Mint said the portrait is restored to bring out subtle detail and the beauty of the original work.