National Parks Quarters Signed into Law
On December 23, 2008, President Bush signed H.R. 6184 into law. This bill was known as America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 and provided for a new series of circulating commemorative quarters.
The bill to produce a new series of National Park Quarters was first introduced on June 4, 2008 by Rep. Michael Castle of Delaware. The bill passed the House on July 9, 2008 and the Senate on December 10, 2008. Although the merits of another long series of state like quarters has been debated in coin collecting circles, it did not impede the passage of the bill.
The bill became Public Law No: 110-456.
Some of the specific features of the new quarter series are as follows:
- A unique reverse design will be created featuring a National Park or National Site in each US state, territory, and Washington, DC.
- Coins will be released in the order the park or site was designated.
- At least 56 quarters will be released over a period of 11 years.
- Optionally, the series can be extended for another round of designs, bringing the total to 112 quarters released over 22 years.
- Oversized replicas minted in 5 ounces of .999 fine silver will be produced for each release.
- The first year for the new series will be 2010.