The fourth quarter to be released by the United States Mint in 2012 as part of a multi-year series is the 2012 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarter. This specific strike honors the park in the state of Hawaii and it will be the fourteenth overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The scheduled release date for the coin is August 27, 2012.
The America the Beautiful Quarters series will see a total of fifty-six strikes released as part of it, including of course, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarter. The program debuted in 2010 with five strikes issued annually and will end with a single strike to be released in 2021.
Design suggestions for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarter were submitted and reviewed by several appointed groups and individuals, including the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee and the United States Commission of Fine Arts. Taking recommendations into account and with the U.S. Mint’s input, the Treasury Secretary selected the final designs for Hawaii’s quarter and the other four 2012 quarters. The decision was announced by the Mint on December 8, 2011.
The following three quarters will be released in 2012 before the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Quarter: El Yunque National Forest Quarter, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarter, and the Acadia National Park Quarter. The Denali National Park Quarter follows the Hawaii Volcanoes Quarter.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park information
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 on the big island of Hawaii. However, the features of the area had been a tourist destination for years before it became a national park.
More recently, the volcano Kilauea, which has been erupting since 1983, offers visitors glimpses of lava flows as they pour down the mountain and into the ocean. These lava flows have contributed to the island’s expansion as they cool when they hit the water and become rock.
The terrain in this park is unique as there are volcanic deserts, rain forests, and other varieties of terrain. The elevations range from sea level to over 13,000 feet at the top of Mauna Loa.
The park was significantly expanded in 2004 with the purchase of over 110,000 acres of land from the Samuel Mills Damon Estate. As a result, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park grew by 56% because of this purchase.
It’s no wonder that each year, over 1.5 million tourists make their way to the park. Not only does Hawaii offer excellent beaches, but also a chance to see an active volcano up close.