Arches National Park Quarter
Arches National Park Quarter will be the third strike in 2014 to be released as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The release of this quarter will mark the 23rd released overall out of a total of 56 strikes due in the series.
Design suggestions for the Arches National Park Quarter should be available to the public sometime in 2013. At that time, the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine arts will review these designs and make recommendations to the Treasury Secretary. The Secretary has the final say on the design with that choice likely announced by the Mint in late 2013.
The designs emblematic of the selected site will be featured on the reverse of the coins. The obverse, or heads side, of each strike in the series will contain the same portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It was designed by John Flanagan.
Before the Arches National Park Quarter is released in 2014, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter and the Shenandoah National Park Quarter will be issued by the Mint. Following the Arches quarter will be the Great Sand Dunes National Park Quarter and the Everglades National Park Quarter.
Arches National Park information
Arches National Park of Utah was founded originally as a national monument in 1929. After several changes, and with additional land acquired, in 1971 it was finally declared a national park.
There are over 2,000 sandstone arches in Arches National Park, including the most famous Delicate Arch. Tourists can hike to see many of these arches, but must be prepared for extremes in weather. During the summer, temperatures can reach over 100 degrees, while in the winter temperatures can drop to below zero.
The arches were developed by thousands of years of erosion, which still occurs today, causing over 40 arches to collapse since 1970.
Tourists can come hike many of the trails in the 119 square miles of the park, ranging in elevations of just over 4,000 feet to over 5,500 feet. With over 800,000 visitors a year, it is clear that this is a hit destination spot.