Grand Canyon quarter debuts

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The Grand Canyon quarter was given its ceremonial debut Sept. 21 at a special ceremony at the national park in Arizona.

Mint Director Ed Moy said, “The new Grand Canyon National Park quarter design echoes the ancient grandeur of this wondrous place.”

He presented a plaque containing two examples of the new quarter as well as an enlargement of the design to Steve Martin, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent.

“The introduction of a Grand Canyon quarter is a momentous occasion in the human story of the park; so we were thrilled when the Nankoweap granaries were chosen as the design for the reverse side,” Martin said in his remarks.

“The use of the granaries really seems to connect the coin and today’s event to the thousands of years of human history reflected in archeological sites throughout the canyon,” Martin added.

The ceremony for the fourth design in the America the Beautiful quarter series also included performances by the Native American Pollen Trail Dancers and a ceremonial quarter pour by the dignitaries.

After the ceremony, children under 18 were given free examples of the new quarter by Moy. Adults could purchase the coins in $10 rolls of 40 coins for face value.

For collectors who could not attend the ceremony, the Mint is selling uncirculated bags and rolls.

Bags of 100 uncirculated Grand Canyon quarters from either Denver or Philadelphia are priced at $35.95 each and a set containing an uncirculated roll from each of the two mints is priced at $32.95. A $4.95 shipping and handling charge is applied to each order.

The bags or the set may be ordered on the Mint’s website at www.usmint.gov, or by telephone at (800) USA-MINT.

The America the Beautiful quarter series will stretch over 56 issues at a rate of five designs per year with the final design appearing in 2021.

Silver versions of the Grand Canyon quarters are included in various sets sold by the Mint on its website.

Grand Canyon National Park was officially created in 1919, though it had been designated a national site in 1893. The quarters are being issued in the order in which the various sites won federal recognition.