Denali National Park and Preserve Quarter Release on November 5

On November 5, the United States Mint will be launching the Denali National Park and Preserve quarter, the 15th quarter in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The design for the Denali National Park and Preserve quarter was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Jim Licaretz and will feature the image of a Dall sheep in front of Mount McKinley.

Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska was established in 1917 as a national site to protect Alaska’s dynamic wildlife; the ecosystem includes wolves, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, caribou, and moose. In 1980 the park was expanded from 2 million to 6 million acres. Featured within the park is North America’s highest mountain, Mount McKinley, standing an impressive 20,320 feet tall. The Alaska Range runs through Denali, and the park features many beautiful glaciers as well.

According to an article on CoinWorld.com, Denali public affairs officer Kris Fister said that Denali officials are seeking a ceremony site that can accommodate approximately 500 visitors. The Tri-Valley Community Center in nearby Healy, Alaska, is being considered to host the ceremony. The ceremony cannot be held in the Denali’s main visitor center because the center, and much of the park, is closed in November due to weather conditions.

The United States Mint launched the America the Beautiful Quarter series in 2010, and will introduce a total of 56 quarters into circulation, each representing a national park in each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The quarters will be released chronologically for when the park was established as a national park. The program will culminate in 2021.
 

Photo Source: U.S. Mint