U.S. Mint art for the top contenders for the Yellowstone quarter design.
Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, holds the honor of being America’s first national park, and the second National Park commemorative series quarter. In September 2009, both the Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reviewed designs for the reverse of this new commemorative and submitted recommendations to Treasury officials. The Yellowstone National Park quarter is expected to be released around June of this year.
All three of the proposed Yellowstone quarter designs feature the Old Faithful geyser, one of this park’s most famous attractions. Old Faithful erupts between every 65-92 minutes on average, more frequently than other big geysers. The CCAC favored the 2010 quarter showing the bison in front of Old Faithful over the other designs, because it also represented the wildlife found in Yellowstone National Park. But ultimately the Treasury Secretary makes the final decision for this quarter design.
Although the most of Yellowstone National Park is in Wyoming, it is also located in Montana and Idaho. It covers an area larger than Rhode Island and became a park during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Whether it’s the bison with Old Faithful in the background, the geyser with Old Faithful Inn in the background or the walkway with the famous natural wonder at the center, each candidate design captures the geological features and rich history associated with Yellowstone National Park.
