Six different products debut from the United States on Monday, January 27, 2014 with the release of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarters in rolls and bags.

 

Shown on the reverse of each of the included quarter-dollars is a design emblematic of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the state of Tennessee. These coins mark the first of five America the Beautiful Quarters® to be issued in 2014 and the twenty-first in the series overall.

The six new products all contain circulation quality Great Smoky Mountains Quarters struck at one of three US Mint facilities depending upon the product chosen — the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint or the San Francisco Mint. On each is a ‘P’, ‘D’, or ‘S’ mintmark.

The six available products and their listed prices are:

• Great Smoky Mountains Three-Roll Sets, (40 P, 40 D, & 40 S), for $46.95
• Great Smoky Mountains Two-Roll Sets, (40 P & 40 D), for $32.95
• Great Smoky Mountains Quarters in 40-Coin Rolls, San Francisco, for $18.95
• Great Smoky Mountains Quarters in 100-Coin Bag, San Francisco, for $34.95
• Great Smoky Mountains Quarters in 100-Coin Bag, Philadelphia, for $34.95
• Great Smoky Mountains Quarters in 100-Coin Bag, Denver, for $34.95

Yet to appear in this year’s national park quarters are those honoring Shenandoah National Park of Virginia, Arches National Park of Utah, Great Sand Dunes National Park of Colorado and Everglades National Park of Florida. They will be issued in intervals throughout the remainder of 2014.

All coins of the series contain the same basic obverse portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The image, by artist John Flanagan, first appeared on circulating quarter dollars in 1932 and was updated for use in this series. Obverse inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.

Reverse designs for the America the Beautiful Quarters showcase designs emblematic of the selected site of national interest. In this case, the reverse contains a design honoring Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 

The image was completed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Chris Costello and executed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Renata Gordon. It depicts a historic log cabin found within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Reverse inscriptions surrounding the design include GREAT SMOKYMOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE, 2014, and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Ordering Rolls and Bags

The Federal Reserve Bank system also starts releasing Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarters on January 27th. As such, some may eventually make their way into pocket-change. However, these will only be coins struck at either the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia or Denver as they are the only two locations charged with producing coins for circulation.

It may also take some time for any of the new national park quarters to make their way into use as banks and financial institutions are not able to specify the quarters by design when they order. Accordingly, the fastest and most assured way of obtaining the new coins is to order them directly from the US Mint.

To obtain yours, place an order with the US Mint via the website at http://www.usmint.gov/, or by phone, at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

Additional Products with Great Smoky Mountains Quarters

The six new bag and roll products from the United States Mint are not the only numismatic items to be issued containing Great Smoky Mountains Quarters. These national park quarters also appear in several other releases and featured in other finishes. Some examples include:

• 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set for $14.95 (released on January 7, 2014)
• 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set (released on January 21, 2014)
• 2014 United States Mint Proof Set for $31.95 (scheduled for release in March)
• 2014 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set (scheduled for release in May)
• 2014 United States Mint Silver Proof Set for $53.95 (scheduled for release in May)

Also struck and released by the United States Mint are five ounce .999 silver versions of the quarter with an extremely large diameter of three inches. This includes the 2014 Great Smoky Mountains Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins and the 2014 Great Smoky Mountains Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins.

When issued, the bullion coins are sold through the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for a small premium above the current spot price of the five ounces of silver contained in each coin. The uncirculated coins will be sold directly to the public by the US Mint.

Official Public Release Event for Great Smoky Mountains Quarter

David Croft, Acting Associate Director for Manufacturing, United States Mint, will be joined by several other officials in a public release ceremony for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at 10 a.m. (ET).

The location of the release ceremony is:

Mills Auditorium – Gatlinburg Convention Center
234 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Following the event, a coin exchange will be held. Attendees will be able to exchange cash for rolls of the quarters.

The previous night, a coin forum is scheduled. The forum offers the public the opportunity to ask questions of US Mint officials. It is planned for 5PM (ET) and will be held at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Sugarlands Visitor Center, 1420 Little River Road,
Gatlinburg, TN 37738.