The U.S. Mint has formally revealed the final designs for this year’s four 2010 National Park Quarters and the first National Forest Quarter.

In a start to the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, which honors 56 different sites on the reverse of the quarter-dollars between 2010-2021, the five new designs were unveiled at a short ceremony at the Newseum Museum in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2010.

"Through America the Beautiful Quarters coins, we will be transported to national parks, forests and wildlife refuges, part of a vast public land legacy belonging to all Americans-natural and cultural treasures protected for our recreation, relaxation, education, inspiration and transformation," Mint Director Moy said at the ceremony.

For 11 years, 48 National Park sites, two U.S. Fish and Wildlife sites, and six U.S. Forest Service sites will be commemorated from each state, D.C. and U.S. territory.

The 2010 quarter-dollars will feature reverse ("tails side") design themes honoring:

• Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas,
• Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming,
• Yosemite National Park in California,
• Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and
• Mount Hood National Forest Site in Oregon

Nineteen 2010 park quarter design candidates, with emphasis on the word "candidates," were made public by the Mint in late 2009. These were reviewed by various individuals and entities, and eventually five tweaked designs were selected by Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner after receiving recommendations from US Mint Directory Moy.

The following quarter pictures reveal the line art images of this year’s quarters:

2010 Hot Springs National Park Quarter Design

The design depicts the Hot Springs National Park headquarters building in the background. It was built in the Spanish colonial revival style and completed in 1936. The National Park Service emblem is featured to the right of the door. The site’s fountain is featured in the foreground. Inscriptions include HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The quarter will be released on April 19, 2010, with an official ceremony held at the park on April 20, 2010.

2010 Yellowstone National Park Quarter Design

The design features Old Faithful with a bison in the foreground. Inscriptions include YELLOWSTONE, WYOMING, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The quarter is set for release on June 1, 2010.

2010 Yosemite National Park Quarter Design

The design depicts El Capitan, which is 3,000 feet at the tallest point and is the largest monolith of granite in the world. Inscriptions include YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The quarter is set for release on July 26, 2010.

2010 Grand Canyon National Park Quarter Design

The design depicts a view of the granaries above the Nankoweap Delta in Marble Canyon near the Colorado River. Inscriptions include GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The quarter is set for release on September 20, 2010.

2010 Mount Hood National Forest Quarter Design

This reverse design portrays a view of Mount Hood with Lost Lake in the foreground. Inscriptions include MOUNT HOOD, OREGON, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

The quarter is set for release on November 15, 2010.

 

The obverse ("heads side") of each coin bears a restored version of the historic George Washington portrait, which was first featured on quarters back in 1932.