On this day, Jan. 27, 2014, the United States Mint started selling bags and rolls of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarters, the first 2014-dated coin in the Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® series.
These coins are struck in circulation quality, the same quality as strikes released today into commerce via the Federal Reserve Bank system, and the Mint is selling them directly to the public in 40-coin rolls, two-roll sets, three-roll sets, and 100-coin bags with choices of quarters struck at San Francisco, Philadelphia or Denver. San Francisco quarters, it should be noted, are only issued for collectors via numismatic sales and will not be found in banks.
Great Smoky Mountains Quarters are the first of five to be issued this year and the 21st overall in the series. Artwork on their reverse represents the national site for the state of Tennessee, but technically Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses both sides of the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.
Designs for Great Smoky Mountains Quarters
Each America the Beautiful Quarter features the 1932 portrait of President George Washington on its obverse. It was designed by John Flanagan. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
On the reverse is a historic log cabin sitting slightly off-center and nestled in the lush forest with a view of the mountains in the background. A hawk circles above while a log fence zigzags in the foreground. The scene was designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by Renata Gordon. Inscriptions are GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE, 2014 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Numismatic Bags and Rolls – Prices and Options
Broken out, buyers have six products from which to choose that solely feature 2014 Great Smoky Mountains Quarters. In order of highest to lowest priced, they are as follows:
- single roll of 40 quarters from San Francisco, $18.95
- two-roll set, containing 40 coins from Philadelphia and 40 from Denver, $32.95
- three-roll set: 40 from San Francisco, 40 from Philadelphia and 40 from Denver, $46.95
- 100-coin bag of quarters from San Francisco, $34.95
- 100-coin bag of quarters from Philadelphia, $34.95
- 100-coin bag of quarters from Denver, $34.95
Where to Order Great Smoky Mountains Quarters
Consumers can order bags and rolls of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarters directly from the United States Mint online via this product page or by phone at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). A standard shipping and handling charge of $4.95 applies to all domestic orders.
There are no household ordering limits or mintage limits at this time. Final mintages will be based on customer demand.
Coin Forum and Quarter Launch Ceremonial Release
As described in an earlier coin news article, the U.S. Mint in conjunction with the National Park Service will be hosting an official Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter Launch and Coin Exchange that is free for the public. Briefly, here are the details:
- Ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wed., Jan. 29
- At the Mills Auditorium in the Gatlinburg Convention Center
- Followed by a coin exchange for $10 rolls of the new quarter
Also, there is a free coin forum for the public the night before the ceremony where attendees can ask U.S. Mint officials questions about the Mint and U.S. coinage. It will be held in a smaller venue, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The forum will start at 5 p.m. ET on Tues., Jan. 28.
About America the Beautiful Quarters
The America the Beautiful Quarters® Program debuted in 2010, following the huge success of the U.S. Mint’s 50-state quarter series. The newer program differs from the old series by depicting national parks and other national sites on the reverse of the coins. In total, 56 quarters will be released, covering every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Five quarters are released per year, honoring selected sites in the order that the sites were first established as a national park or site. The final quarter will launch in 2021.
Other 2014-dated America the Beautiful Quarters include Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Arches National Park in Utah, Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado and Everglades National Park in Florida.
To keep up to date on the series, visit this site’s news section about quarters.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
First established as a national site on May 22, 1926, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves the beauty of its ancient forests and mountains as well as the southern Appalachian mountain culture. Today it holds the title of America’s most-visited national park.
I was given change back at a store with the 2014 “Great Smoky Mountains Quarter. The front side has a “strike” starting at the D, goes through the o and over the tops of the L’s, Ar and hits the top of the R and ends about even with the height of the place stamp. Is this common?