The United States Mint published images and release dates for the five 2020 quarters that recognize national parks and sites located in American Samoa, Connecticut, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont and Kansas.
They represent the 51st through 55th coins from the U.S. Mint’s program of America the Beautiful Quarters®. The series calls for one quarter celebrating a site in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. A combined 56 sites will be honored with the final quarter design released in 2021.
Release dates and the locations commemorated on the 2020-dated quarters are:
- Feb. 3, 2020 – National Park of American Samoa in American Samoa.
- April 6, 2020 – Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut.
- June 1, 2020 – Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Aug. 31, 2020 – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont.
- Nov. 16, 2020 – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas.
In August, the U.S. Mint unveiled line art images for these quarters (and the one for 2021), describing their designs and disclosing the artists who created them. More than 50 candidate designs were in the running before the final five selections were made.
The quarters will begin their journey into general circulation through the Federal Reserve on the above published dates, with each minted at the United States Mint facilities in Denver and Philadelphia. The San Francisco Mint also produces quarter dollars but only for specially packaged numismatic products. The U.S. Mint throughout 2020 will offer quarters struck from all three facilities in several products, including:
- rolls and bags of them in circulating quality,
- circulating versions in coin sets,
- uncirculated editions in annual sets, and
- proof versions in annual sets.
The U.S. Mint will also use the same designs on companion bullion and collector coins that are composed from five ounces of 99.9% fine silver and struck to a diameter of 3 inches. CoinNews will talk more about these larger coins and each new quarter product when they become available.
2020 Quarter Images
U.S. Mint-published images and brief descriptions of the five designs appearing on the reverse or tails side of the quarters are presented below.
2020 – National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
Designer: Richard Masters
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
Mr. Masters’ design depicts a Samoan Fruit Bat mother hanging in a tree with her pup evoking the remarkable care and energy that this species puts into their offspring. The design is intended to promote awareness of the species’ threatened status due to habitat loss and commercial hunting. The National Park of American Samoa is the only park in the United States that is home to the Samoan Fruit Bat. Inscriptions are "NATIONAL PARK," "AMERICAN SAMOA," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
2020 – Weir Farm National Historic Site (Connecticut)
Designer: Justin Kunz
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
Mr. Kunz’s design portrays an artist, wearing a painter’s smock, painting outside Julian Alden Weir’s studio at Weir Farm. It is inspired by various images of the studio and Weir’s paintings created on the property, as well as descriptions of Weir and his fellow artist’s creative inspiration from the rural environment. The inscription "A NATIONAL PARK FOR ART" is included. Additional inscriptions are "WEIR FARM," "CONNECTICUT," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
2020 – Salt River Bay National Historical Park & Ecological Preserve (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Designer: Richard Masters
Sculptor-Engraver: Joseph Menna
Mr. Masters’ design depicts a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle, as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the park’s endangered mangrove forests and the unique and delicate nature of how the species reproduces in salt water. Inscriptions include "SALT RIVER BAY," "U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
2020 – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Vermont)
Designer: Donna Weaver
Sculptor-Engraver: Michael Gaudioso
Ms. Weaver’s design depicts a young girl completing the planting of a Norway spruce seedling near an established tree, continuing the life cycle of the forest. The child represents conservationists seeking to maintain a sustainable forest for future enjoyment and education. The inscription "LAND STEWARDSHIP" anchors the design. Additional inscriptions are "MARSH-BILLINGS-ROCKEFELLER," "VERMONT," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
2020 – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (Kansas)
Designer: Emily Damstra
Sculptor-Engraver: Renata Gordon
Ms. Damstra’s design depicts a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of Big Bluestem and Indian grasses, iconic to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Inscriptions are "TALLGRASS PRAIRIE," "KANSAS," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Quarter Obverses
America the Beautiful coinage share the same obverse design, a portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. This image has been on quarter-dollars since 1932. The portrait underwent digital enhancements in 2010 to bring out more of the beauty of the original model.
For information about past releases from the series, visit our news section on quarters.
In 1939, Congressman John Cochran got legislation through Congress to end the long-running commemorative series such as the Oregon Trail and Boone. Where is the Cochran who will put an end to the interminable series that plague the quarter and dollar? Yes I know the parks end in 2021 but they’re already talking about series to take us into the 2030s.
I assume they will keep the design relatively static until 2026 when you can assume the 250th anniversary (sestercentennial, apparently) of independence rolls around, you know the mint isn’t going to miss that marketing opportunity… heck maybe they’ll even bring normal size ike dollar coins back for that…
I think new 25c series for every time Trump gets impeached, or pays off a concubine……Happy Holidays!!!
Just put him on a $3 bill. Equally phony.
well they did’nt do that for Clinton so they should’nt do it for Trump, that is just my opinion.
They should do a series on the great Americans who contributed to the advancement of civilization through science, health, personal freedoms and liberty.
The bats look very interesting & will be a good circulation coin to give out during Halloween next year with candy to trick or treaters for sure! (I live not far in Austin, Texas from a large cave with the largest population of Mexican bats in the world!).
NumisdudeTX
Is there going to be W mintmarks for 2020 and S mint uncirculated quarters as well?
S is expected W who knows. Wish they would do 6 now and be done with it
They have tricks up their sleeves.
Be ready.
Doesnt it concern anyone that their is a bat on the back of the coin? Also, a coin that says Land Stewardship…..Rockefeller? Hello? Is there a deep state plan? Hmmm.
I think you’re right. BATS, REALLY ??? WHERE’S THE FLAGS ??
Right!! Wonder how long theyve had this up their sleeves
I found four of the 2020 W mint mark in one row
You lucky rascal. I haven’t found one yet.
I have two quarters that I got back and changed and one of them is the one with the mangrove so are they all valuable?