An official release ceremony and coin exchange for the Acadia National Park Quarter has been announced by the United States Mint. The public ceremony marking the release of the third 2012-dated America the Beautiful Quarter® will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
According to a media advisory issued by the US Mint, the ceremony will commence beginning at 9:30 AM (ET). It will be located at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
On the evening before the official release, a coin forum will be held which is described by the Mint as an opportunity "where the public can express their views about future U.S. coinage and learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives." The coin forum will take place at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center Auditorium from 6:30 – 7:30 PM.
Then on the morning of the 26th, the official release ceremony will occur. Several dignitaries are slated to attend the function including B. B. Craig, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, United States Mint; Sheridan Steele, Superintendent, Acadia National Park; Timothy Harrison, Founder, American Lighthouse Foundation and Bill Green, Host, WCSH-TV’s "Bill Green’s Maine."
As is standard at official coin launches like this, a coin exchange will take place following the ceremony. At the event, guests will be given the chance to exchange cash for $10 rolls of the 2012 Acadia National Park Quarters containing 40 circulation quality strikes.
This official release ceremony comes two weeks after the Acadia Quarter officially entered circulation. The coin was issued through the Federal Reserve Bank system on June 11, 2012. On that same day, the US Mint began offering bags and two-rolls sets of the quarters for sale to the public.
Acadia National Park Quarter is the third 2012-dated strike of the America the Beautiful series and the thirteenth to appear in the program overall. Shown on the reverse of the coin is a design emblematic of Acadia National Park of Maine.
It depicts a view of the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Acadia’s rough coastline. Reverse inscriptions include ACADIA, MAINE, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The design was completed by AIP Associate Designer Barbara Fox and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program debuted in 2010. It features five new quarters annually each featuring a unique new reverse design emblematic of a different site of national interest. One site was chosen from each state, the District of Columbia and the five US territories for a total of fifty-six locations to be honored before the program is scheduled to end in 2021.
Where can one purchase these coins, i have missed a couple of the issues. thank you