The 2019 America the Beautiful quarters mark the 10th year since the inception of the program in 2010. This year the U.S. mint has come up with some great designs for the next 5 quarters for Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts, American Memorial Park in Northern Mariana Islands, War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.

Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts

American Industrial revolution started in Massachusetts. It is known as the ‘cradle of American industrial revolution’. With growing number of immigrants at its’ shores who provided labor as well as new inventions from Europe, the United States was poised for a tremendous boom in its’ industrial prowess.

East Chelmsford or Lowell as it was renamed later was settled by the immigrants along the Merrimack River in the 1800s. This was among the first of the mill towns established in the United States during the industrial revolution. Compared to the British mills which were considered inhumane to work in, these were constructed with ample greenery and clean dormitories for workers to live in. But as millions of unskilled immigrants came to the mills for some easy coin, the working conditions in the American mills became as appalling as in Europe. In the 1900’s, because of an economic downturn and two world wars the mills in Massachusetts became run down. By 1960’s the last mill was shut down. In 1978, Lowell was accorded the National Historic Park status.

This year the Lowell National Historical Park quarter was released on February 4th. It was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The design depicts a woman working at a power loom with its prominent circular bobbin battery. A view of Lowell, including the Boott Mill clock tower, is seen through the window. Inscriptions are “LOWELL,” “MASSACHUSETTS,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

American Memorial Park in Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean were first ceded to Germany by Spain and later given to Japan after the First World War. Japan invaded Guam during the Second World War just hours after the Pearl Harbor attack. At the end of war, in the Battle of Saipan, the United States army defeated the Japanese and invaded the Mariana islands. After the war, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands became a common wealth of the United States. To honor the sacrifices of the 5204, both soldiers and civilians who died during the Marianas Campaign of Second World War in Saipan, the American Memorial Park was established in Saipan in 1978.

The U.S. mint will be releasing the American Memorial Park Quarter on April 1 st this year. It was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The design depicts a young Chamorro woman in traditional dress at the front of the Flag Circle and Court of Honor. She is shown resting her hand on the plaque whose text honors the sacrifice of those who died in the liberation of Saipan. Inscriptions are “AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK,” “N. MARIANA ISLANDS,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam

Guam has been a United States territory since the Spanish-American War in 1898, when it was ceded to the U.S.A by Spain. The other Mariana Islands were annexed by Japan after the First World War. The Imperial Japanese forces invaded Guam in 1941, a few hours after Pearl Harbor. In hindsight, this should have been expected as an allied controlled land was geographically near to one that was axis-controlled. During the end of the war, in the Pacific Campaign the United States forces defeated the Japanese and recaptured Guam. The Pacific National Historical Park established in Guam in 1978, honors the martyred in the Pacific theater of the war.

The U.S. mint will be releasing the Pacific National Historical Park Quarter on June 6th this year. It was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso. The design portrays American forces coming ashore at Asan Bay, strengthening the number of troops on the island in the fight for Guam and its liberation from the Japanese. Inscriptions are “WAR IN THE PACIFIC,” “GUAM,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas

Five Spanish Catholic Missions were established in the 17th century north of Mexico in Texas along the San Antonio river, in order to spread Spanish New World influence and Catholicism. These were the Alamo, San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion and Espada. These missions were centers of religious and cultural activities of the Texans under the Spanish. Four of the five missions, except for the Alamo were included under the San Antonio Missions National Historical park in 1978.

The U.S. mint will be releasing the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Quarter on August 26th this year. It was designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by Joseph Menna. This design depicts elements of the Spanish Colonial Real coin to pay tribute to the missions. Within the quadrants are symbols of the missions: wheat symbolizes farming, the arches and bell symbolize community, a lion represents Spanish cultural heritage, and a symbol of the San Antonio River represents irrigation methods and life-sustaining resources. Inscriptions are “SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS,” “TEXAS,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest contiguous protected federally managed wilderness outside of Alaska in the United States. It is named in honor of U.S. Senator Frank Church, who was responsible for sponsoring the Wilderness Act of 1964 that protected 9 million acres of United States land. Later he also introduced the Wild and Scenic rivers act to preserve rivers and the surrounding environment. The River of No Return Wilderness was established in 1980 and was renamed for Frank Church in 1984.

The U.S. mint will be releasing the Frank Church River of No Return Quarter on November 4th this year. It was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Renata Gordon. This design depicts a piloted drift boat on the rushing river encompassed by the trees and rock formations of the Wilderness. Inscriptions are “RIVER OF NO RETURN,” “WILDERNESS,” “IDAHO,” “2019,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

The obverse (heads) of the 2019 quarters will continue to feature the restored 1932 portrait of George Washington by sculptor John Flanagan. Required obverse inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”

This entry was posted in General on March 20, 2019 by lavanya kannan